Comments on: Why should we transpose operatic music?

By: Mr. Ioli

Mr. Ioli — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 03:00:29 +0000

Many errors in this article. Queen of night has been transposed many times by greatest singers, also many arias has been written in many keys; for example Una furtiva lagrima you can find two versions in completely different keys written by composer. Many operatic composers approved for transposing. Puccini and Caruso correspondance: Caruso said to Puccini, “Don’t expect me to sing the high C.” To which the composer replied, “Never mind, sing me all the aria well, and I don’t care for the high C, because generally the tenors sing the aria badly in order only to sing the high C.” Examples from go on and on. So if you are puritanist you should allow transposing. Not approving with transposing is very new thing. Also you should study more about history of these things to avoid spreading misinformation.

By: James McCray

James McCray — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 03:44:31 +0000

You’re welcome Rohit! 🙂

By: rohit aggarwal

rohit aggarwal — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 02:46:01 +0000

thank you mccraystudio for giving me wonderful information

By: James McCray

James McCray — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:34:32 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. I'm not quite sure I understand...are you referring to the article as mediocre or to the above comment? I think you could expand a bit on your comment

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 02:36:59 +0000

This is a mediocre take, but I dont disagree. Please try to get an actual personality istead of acting anti-PC for clout.

Here’s a hot take: Arias should not be transposed, but art songs are all game.

Kisses!

By: John

John — Sat, 25 May 2019 20:30:52 +0000

In reply to Iggy.

Good for you. I think it’s rubbish. To me there’s a very simple rule : can you sing it? Do it. You can’t? Don’t.
This politically correct attitude is creating hoards of mediocre singers, critics and audiences.

By: John

John — Sat, 25 May 2019 20:27:48 +0000

In reply to Gerry. Karajan played Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik with the full strings of the Berlin Philharmonic. Does it make it ok just because it was done by such a giant of conducting? I don't think so.

By: Iggy

Iggy — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 16:10:33 +0000

In reply to Iggy. *or many singers, especially tenors and sopranos, will

By: Iggy

Iggy — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 11:30:27 +0000

I found a 1999 NYT piece and letter of solidarity persuasive in favor of its judicious application. I’d provide links but doing so in the very first comment usually flags it as spam so I’ll just give you the specific titles so you can find them (any search engine should locate them easily for you): New York Times Archives, 17oct1999, MUSIC; Tailoring Arias to Suit the Vagaries of the Voices, by Will Crutchfield, and 31oct1999, TRANSPOSITION; Making It ‘Final’ by Helen Greenwald.
I happen to not be a fan of the unwritten high C in Di quella pira yet I do favor the use of transposition, up or down, where required and collaboratively concluded. Otherwise, some works will not be performed – or many will have a too short stage career.
Are you aware of the 2008 BBC Music Critic Survey results? I happen to agree with them.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 17:32:52 +0000

Well… Sembrich did sing “Holle rache” a minor third down in B minor, and Traubel gave the battle cry in B flat.