What a wonderful performance. Love the warble!

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Yes, it is great isn't it ? Quite a performer ! Many thanks.

Another great side by Sembrich - lovely!

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Very many thanks.

How brilliantly Madame Sembrich's voice is heard via the EMG !

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Yes, she is exciting to listen to isn't she ? What a coloratura ! Very many thanks.

One of my favourite waltzes… and Marcella Sembrich glides through it in an utterly delightful, virtuoso way, light and bright, so that her voice and whole being seem to shine from the inside… ✨✨✨ Thank you for the beautiful post! 🙏🍀

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Many thanks for your appreciation but here's a question for you if I may please? Playback speed is always a very fraught area with discs of this age so, do you think the pitch on this recording is correct ? She had an enormous range---2 1/2 octaves ?---so it is hard to be sure.

@hrbooksmusic7878

Ай бұрын

@@grahamrankin Unfortunately I don‘t have what in German is called „absolutes Gehör“ - perhaps „perfect - or absolute - hearing“ in English…? I‘m not sure. I can usually tell when someone is off key in the middle of a song or aria, realizing that a wrong note is sung - unless the singer is simply „composing“ but staying in the correct key. Then it depends on how familiar I really am with the music. I‘m so sorry I can‘t help you with that question… To me the pitch sounds right, but if the whole thing were played let's say a semitone higher, it would be like a transcription and still be consistent in itself…. Difficult to judge for someone without absolute hearing...

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

@@hrbooksmusic7878 Many thanks for taking the time to answer---greatly appreciated. I do not have "perfect pitch" either (mostly a curse I think !) but can certainly tell wrong notes ! These early recordings were often made at anything but 78rpm and I get picked up on wrong speeds quite a bit. However, I shall have to continue to trust my judgement until told otherwise !

@hrbooksmusic7878

Ай бұрын

@@grahamrankin No need to thank me, I‘m just sorry I couldn’t be of any help. On the contrary, I learned something from you - „perfect pitch“, I must try to remember that - and something about you, namely that you have a great musical feel and a keen hearing. Not that I ever expected otherwise… It‘s obviously a good thing to trust your (own) judgement! I trustingly place myself in your hands! Or your perception. 😊

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

@@hrbooksmusic7878 You are very kind. Many thanks indeed.

There is one elusive quality in singing, and that quality is charm. Many very great singers do not have charm. I think of, for example, Melba, Tetrazzini, Flagstad, Callas, Sutherland, and Horne. Others do, such as Patti, Galli-Curci, Pons, Ivogun, Sayao, and Supervia. Sembrich is not particularly noted for charming singing. However, in this particular performance, she comes near to it. What Sembrich does have, in abundance, is coloratura brilliance, tonal beauty, and skillful phrasing.

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Thank you for this interesting analyis.

@ElizabethPoet

Ай бұрын

Such a brilliant point. Will research these singers and listen for charm.

@andysnashall6140

Ай бұрын

Mme Sembrich has a voice that most modern singers should be placed in front of and learn many lessons!

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

@@andysnashall6140 Yes indeed.

Loved it my friend!

@grahamrankin

Ай бұрын

Excellent ! Very many thanks.