Wednesday 28 September 2011

Maria Callas- Vocal Range/Profile



Vocal TypeSoprano
Vocal Range: 3 Octaves  F3-E6 (though the E6's vibrato touches an F6, so will count as 3 octaves)
Whistle Register: No
Vocal Pluses:Callas's voice was noted for its three distinct registers: Her low or chest register was extremely dark and almost baritonal in power, and she used this part of her voice for dramatic effect, often going into this register much higher on the scale than most sopranos. Her middle register had a peculiar and highly personal sound—"part oboe, part clarinet", as Claudia Cassidy described it—and was noted for its veiled or "bottled" sound, as if she were singing into a jug. Legge adds, "Even in the most difficult fioriture there were no musical or technical difficulties in this part of the voice which she could not execute with astonishing, unostentatious ease. Her chromatic runs, particularly downwards, were beautifully smooth and staccatos almost unfailingly accurate, even in the trickiest intervals. There is hardly a bar in the whole range of nineteenth century music for high soprano that seriously tested her powers."

Vocal Negatives: Rodolfo Celletti states, "In certain areas of her range her voice also possessed a guttural quality. This would occur in the most delicate and troublesome areas of a soprano's voice—for instance where the lower and middle registers merge, between G and A. I would go so far as to say that here her voice had such resonances as to make one think at times of a ventriloquist. . .or else the voice could sound as though it were resonating in a rubber tube. There was another troublesome spot. . . between the middle and upper registers. Here, too, around the treble F and G, there was often something in the sound itself which was not quite right, as though the voice were not functioning properly."

Note:I am in no position to be a judging a voice like this- you need college degrees and schooling to do that- so I pinched the positives and negatives from Wikipdiea. I am forever in your debt! Read the article here, its fascinating stuff.




41 comments:

  1. Yes!! She was *the* Soprano :D

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  2. Yes!! She was *the* Soprano :D

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  3. To "ANON": Don't copy me. Thank you.

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  4. Amazing. One of my favourite voices in classical singing.

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  5. "I am in no position to be a judging a voice like this- you need college degrees and schooling to do that"- You need them to be judging pop voices too.

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  6. I listen to pop/ contemporary  music. I do not listen to classical music, therefore I have no point of reference to be judging against.  Hence that comment.

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  7.  Even nicer than that you made the effort. It was a pleasant surprise to find Callas on the list. I don't listen much to opera singing as well but I make an exception for Callas and Sumi Jo. Both have a style more accessible to non opera fans. And voices even the layman can tell are exceptional.

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  8. Dear DD and all the readers,
    even though I admire Ms Callas i find her... boring in comparison with legendary polish singer (both popular and operatic) Violetta Villas.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violetta_Villas
    She was coloratura soprano with over 4 octaves vocal range and amazing skills, but what truly made her special was wild incredibly theatrical, but spontanous character of her performances. Sadly, she never had a career she truly deserved (probably because of her background), but is still unforgettable. She sang with Barbra Streidand once, and B she still remembers and loves this amazing person and performer.Her glissandos:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkibP9Q69gw
    Vocal range:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQvLtRDpaNM
    There are plenty of her performances on youtube and each of them is worth watching.Her signature song (it's actually an old russian love song about this man with incredible, yet terryfing black eyes, but she made it her own, just like Whitney rocked Dolly's I will always love you):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvRMrIzTwvI

    or Violetta singing Habanera from Carmen:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3URAtUUhqGo



    I would be really happy and somehow... grateful if anyone will notice this comment.
    Cheers

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  9. Well, I noticed your comment and fail to see why you compare her to Callas.
    Callas was an opera singer, Violetta was not. If we can believe Wikipedia in this case?
    And that link to her singing Habanera pretty much sums up the difference. I mean, seriously don't know how you can say it's her "signature song" or that she "rocked" it. Not sure which you meant but I do think you must be joking either way. Least, that's how I can only take it. Because...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCj658xbwj0

    Or if you want to go outside of opera ( like this Violetta) and speaking of making it your own...Celine did a better job imo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-KXAULqz80&feature=related

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  10. To be honest I don't like Celine's rendition. Her singing doesn't hit the operatic quality in any way. It's more cabaret version. Why doesn't she wear top hat, tuxedo and stockings with garter? I would like it much better;)
    As for Villas - her Carmen seems to be mentally unstable hysteric.
    I've got just one answer for Callas singing "Habanera" - Elina Garanca
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFUKsv1epk

    She's absolutely perfect. I love her voice. Along with Cecilia Bartoli's voice of course.

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  11. I mentioned Cecilia Bartoli's name and I simply can't refrain myself from attaching a link. Absolutely mindblowing! Now, as she's got older, her voice has become even darker and deeper in lower register.
    Opie, please do not compare video below to Sumi Jo's performance of the very same aria. As you have mentioned you have great respect to Jo's vocal abilities. Such comparison might be a little... painful?
    Regards
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rISjBGOtHhs

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  12. I agree regarding Celine but my comparison there was between Celine, not an opera singer, and this Violetta, not an opera singer.
    I wouldn't dream of comparing Celine's version to any real opera singers'.

    Like this Elina.
    Her rendition btw though excellent of course, is too standard opera, too smooth for my taste. But comparing her to Callas is a matter of taste I think, not quality. I personally prefer the delivery and "rougher edge" of Callas. But again..that's a statement of preference not criticism as such.

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  13. First of all..sorry for the late response. Had missed your replies in this thread.

    I'd say I have a great liking for Sumi Jo's voice and delivery. I wouldn't make any statement regarding her ability in comparison to other operatic singers as I lack both the knowledge and the experience of listening to enough opera to do so.
    I am actually not at all a fan of opera and like Callas and Sumi Jo because their delivery is not standard opera.

    Bartoli's IS. And I do know enough to hear that between those two, when it comes to that aria, Bartoli's is far superior technically.
    Did I like it? Not really. Like I said..too "opera" for my taste.
    Also between you and me the difference, I get the impression, is that you prefer mezzo soprano where as I prefer soprano voices.

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  14. Right, I prefer mezzo indeed. I'm not opera fan either, however there are days I listen only operatic repertoire (or Chopin piano works). It really calms me down. There are days I can't stand pop music and then opera or classical music is relief. I don't have knowledge to compare operatic singers, so I base upon my ears and taste. I just like Bartoli's voice and Garanca's voice - warm and nicely rounded. Callas was freak of nature and possibly one of the very best, nevertheless her bottle-like guttural tones irritate me a bit.
    You said you preferred soprano. Have you heard Kathleen Battle? I really like her "Baroque Duet" with Wynton Marsalis (there was also a movie - quite decent). She worked with jazz and pop musicians, so she crossed line between "standard opera" and other genres. You can check this out watching video attached.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWo8848cSU

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  15. I hear you re days you can't stand pop music. Except to me that is most days and I go for Americana or classical. ( in classical mostly the violin of Anne Sophie Mutter( but not the modern pieces) or Beethoven)

    Because of the discussion under the Mariah Carey on AI thread, last night I tried to listen to her album Emotions. And though I really liked it, I once again find that this kind of music is great to have on in the background but when I try to really listen, the way I'd listen to classical or Americana...most pop music gives me a headache after 30 minutes or so.

    Thanks for the link, I enjoyed that much like I enjoyed House Of The Flying Daggers. I am a bit of a fan of China and Chinese culture.

    In light of that...here's another artist for you to check out if you want. One whose base is also bluegrass but who marries it with Chinese influences. You seem to have an eclectic taste and maybe you'll like this. :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj_WIqZc9KA

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  16. Maria was a Soprano Sfogato, not just a soprano.

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  17. Ricky Yong Chin Yuan30 June 2013 at 16:58

    WHAT. WAS I BLIND. I SEARCHED FOR HER NAME IN THE LIST AND DIDN'T FIND IT THE OTHER DAY. LMFAO.

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  18. Rosdromeda_Kalos3 July 2013 at 05:08

    She was wonderful

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  19. Maria Callas was a dramatic coloratura soprano...

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  20. That doesn't matter. Listening to pop music doesn't make you authority or give you credibility to judge pop voices. The majority of information on the human singing voice stems from classical pedagogy and teachings. In addition, 99% of the things on this site said about the voice are completely incorrect.

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  21. Hudson Morrigan30 July 2013 at 00:24

    If you think the best Callas sang was "Habanera", you don't know music at all.

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  22. Aaron Dave Chiang Abante24 August 2013 at 17:55

    her picture here is eerie and frightening...but her low notes are gorgeous...sometimes it sounds like a man's

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  23. I have always been a fan of the Great Maria Callas, Diva devotee can make their vocal negatives all they want about her voice but everybody understands why she still remains the Soprano of the century. She could sing everything from Coloratura, Lyric, spinto and full dramatic arias. she was indeed versatile. A Dramatic coloratura Soprano with a slight darker tone quality than Joan sutherland who is also a Dramatic Coloratura with a lighter weight than Callas'.

    The voice has a solid full tone even in the light upper register like a powerful horn or whistle blown. she was really an incredible instrument. She would sound so good that it's like she's not even human but like a box or statue up there with sound coming from it effortlessly with no strain. It's like the sound came out quick before she fully opened her mouth.

    Maria Callas will never be forgotten. We salute this wonderful incredible woman

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  24. Unlimited soprano /Soprano assoluta. She was able to extend the upper range and encompass the whole coloratura soprano tessitura. She could basically sing every single part ever written for a soprano.

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  25. only soprano assoluta can reach 5 octaves ?

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  26. From the last century, 'til today, Callas remains the greatest singer in music.

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  27. I love Maria, Leontyne and her are my favorites opera singer....


    Great technical skills that is done only by training and natural gift.


    No matter how hard you train you can not achieve their voices...

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  28. Primo Uomo Assoluto23 February 2014 at 15:34

    The nature of Maria's voice was being multi-colored and not traditionally beautiful. It's simply how the Assoluta voice is. A voice capable of singing contralto, mezzo soprano and high coloratura soprano. She did not have weak spots in her voice, she simply had points as which the color would shift, and those vocal differentiations were used for dramatic purpose in the greatest operatic roles she sang such as "Norma", "Anna Bolena", "Armida", etc.

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  29. Primo Uomo Assoluto23 February 2014 at 15:36

    Not every single part written for a soprano. Every single part written for the female voice.

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  30. Primo Uomo Assoluto23 February 2014 at 15:36

    No, but only an Assoluta can sing contralto as well as high soprano with equal ease, power and agility at both extremes.

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  31. Primo Uomo Assoluto23 February 2014 at 15:40

    Carmen's "Habanera" doesn't even begin to give an accurate impression of the miracle that Callas' singing was. For that begin with "D'amore al dolce impero", which is probably the greatest vocal performance ever given by a female singer.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSZOSTkCWNA

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  32. I just do not like her voice at all. There is something unattractive in its quality and rather a lot of vibrato. But she is one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century. Who cares what I think!

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  33. Don't sell yourself short bro! There's always people who care what you think. :-)
    And there are loads of people who don't like Callas.
    I myself love her voice but it indeed has a quality which is either loved or abhorred.

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  34. I don't get what was so ugly about her voice. It doesn't sound ugly to me. There's a video where a stan compares her to other opera singers quite well, and one thing he noted was that she didn't really have gaps in her range. It was all connected but just vastly different in color; her lows sounded almost like she was a baritone and her upper could be girlish and light. Given a microphone, she could probably go an octave lower as her lows never sounded like it was "it," only the limit she felt classically usable.

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  35. In your opinion, what actually did happen to Maria Callas' voice post- 1963?

    Did she truly lose her "confidence" in being able to sing? Was it "diaphragmatic/respiratory problems" or did she just "abuse/overuse" her voice by singing such heavy repertoires in her prime (her 20's/30's) that lead to her early vocal demise?


    I've watched so many documentaries on her, regarding this topic, and every one of them come to their own conclusions - mostly that it was her weight loss and the "diaphragmatic/respiratory" problems that followed.

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  36. I did hear from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY. that the sudden - and too long of a wait to change up - especially mid to high register drove her to near conniptions. Use of a "voice controlist" (breathing, nasal release of air, diaphram control, sprays to lubricate the cords) couldn't erradicate the error. It seemed unnoticiable to most - but to her and other's she thought of as contemporaries - it was an embarrassment. Onassis heard from others of this apparent "flaw" - (wouldn't have known himself) - and it brought her one step closer down into being of his World not her own. The "vibrato continuoso" of "pulling" her instrument into the revilie of the song which she tried over and over to mask it didn't work - and the "voice" seemed to "stop" on a dime - and a lack of sound prevailed for but a mille-second. She was a Diva of the highest standards and La Scala was "Callas's House" - I think much of her anger about this fed into the demise of her relationship with Aristotle. Of course she blamed Puccini, Bartok and it was THEIR work that no soprano could adequately portray on stage. Which we know is incorrect - her renditions still stand as some of the ultimate finest.

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