A te o cara

24 November was the birthday of one of the greatest singers who ever lived: Alfredo Kraus, who would have been 81 years old. Apologies for mistaking his birthday for 24 September.

The voice has always interested me, as well as the technique. If you watch his masterclasses (some of which are on youtube I think), he always scolds students for 'covering' through the passaggio. Interestingly, Kraus himself considered covering both unnecessary and an obstacle. No one is able to argue the fact that Kraus's technique was second to none. How he managed to sing open throughout his register and maintain a rich, beautiful, easily produced sound is quite intriguing.
Carlo Bergonzi once stated that any technique without the application of 'covered sound' is a poor technique...Kraus, among other singers, proves this wrong. The issue of technique is sketchy at best...there is not, as Bjorling stated 'only one technique', there are several correct methods of singing all of which produce different but equally fantastic results...at least this is my opinion on the matter.

I find it rather annoying when I see people here rant about their dislike for Kraus when clearly all they have heard of him are youtube videos featuring him singing concerts in his 60s.

Here, we listen to the real Alfredo Kraus in his prime, a 1962 production (26 December performance) of Puritani in Modena (Teatro Comunale). He sings here 'A te o cara' with Mirella Freni, whose voice is also in its wonderful youth, a beautiful, sweet instrument. I highly recommend this performance, Kraus here is in my opinion unmatched in this role. I don't care about that silly 'high F' in that Act 3 'Credeasi misera'...but I don't think anyone does.