Online graphics may or may not convey what this album is about, but even without the knowledge, you are likely to find it a highly enjoyable operatic recital. American tenor Michael Spyres here explores the repertory of France's Gilbert Duprez (1806-1896), sometimes called the first modern tenor, and reputedly the first to deliver high Cs in a chest voice rather than in the mixed falsetto register. He executed this to tremendous effect in Lucca in 1831, performing in Rossini's Guillaume Tell (William Tell), an opera that, ...
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Online graphics may or may not convey what this album is about, but even without the knowledge, you are likely to find it a highly enjoyable operatic recital. American tenor Michael Spyres here explores the repertory of France's Gilbert Duprez (1806-1896), sometimes called the first modern tenor, and reputedly the first to deliver high Cs in a chest voice rather than in the mixed falsetto register. He executed this to tremendous effect in Lucca in 1831, performing in Rossini's Guillaume Tell (William Tell), an opera that, except for its famous overture, remains sparsely performed due to its difficulty. Perhaps that's why you don't hear any Guillaume Tell here, but you do get a fine selection of lesser-known arias of the 1830s and 1840s, and yes, plenty of high Cs from Spyres. He has a nice, effortless touch in the Italian arias, including one from Verdi's little-heard Jérusalem, but you might sample one of the two scenes by Fromental Halévy to get an idea of what Duprez sounded like in his home...
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