It ain't necessarily so. Bryn Terfel is, however, an extraordinarily chameleon-like performer, whose unmistakable timbre is used on his latest CD to evoke a remarkably diverse cast of unsavory characters. I treated myself to Terfel's Bad Boys CD in the holiday mood inspired by the unexpected chance to hear his Scarpia last month; I've been enjoying it as much as I had hoped. What I had not expected was for listening to it to be a feel-good experience. It is impossible for me to hear Terfel's Dulcamara brazenly charming Donizetti's rustici without doing a little dance step around the apartment. "When the Night Wind Howls" from Ruddigore is simply a treat (and I think it would be even if I did not have a sentimental fondness for the piece, which I tried to make my father teach me by rote when I was about seven.) Even in the portentous finale of Don Giovanni--sung by Terfel, Terfel, and Terfel, with the help of good sound engineering and great voice characterization--Leporello draws a chuckle. In Terfel's hands, the Devil--whether from Gounod's Faust or Boito's Mefistofele--is a perfect charmer.
I don't mean to imply a lack of effective characterization in keeping the various villains distinct; in this I think Terfel succeeds remarkably well. Moreover, I was quite impressed, on the whole, with the organization of this musically eclectic album (for complete track listing go here.) A few of the arias do inevitably wrest one into the world of the opera and then drop one unceremoniously out again. "Tre sbirri, una carrozza, presto," purrs Terfel, and I'm in Sant'Andrea. Iago's credo is another such piece for me. I thought the tempo for "Ha! welch ein Augenblick!" fast--shouldn't Pizarro be luxuriating in sadistic pleasure?--but loved the smooth snarl Terfel brought to it. A special treat is Anne Sofie von Otter (no less!) as Mrs. Lovett in "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd. I'm not really an enthusiast for Sweeney Todd (Really Shameful Confession?) but with their vivid and subtle and intensely human characterization, the scene comes across brilliantly. I'd say I'm getting as much enjoyment out of the CD as those involved in its creation did, but the competition looks stiff:
You are a girl after my own heart. I have been inseparable from 'Bad Boys' since its release- having Bryn's Scarpia on record (even if it's just a little bit of it) was almost excitement enough! Did you go meet Bryn and Jonas on the 3rd?
ReplyDelete@opera chat :) Scarpia is worth the album for me too, but the whole thing's so much fun. I did go to the signing! By the time I got through the line, at least, staff were keeping us briskly moving, but both singers were pleasant and welcoming. Terfel very sweet and soft-spoken... I now have a nice dedication-signature across the scowl on the cover. Irrepressible likeability wins again.
ReplyDeleteLucy, did you tell them that you're a very important, influential critic and that they had better see to it that their record companies get all of their CDs, DVDs and such to you post haste? (Indeed you could have informed the record company types that were not doubt in attendance).
ReplyDelete@marcillac Missed opportunity! Was quite proud of self for not babbling, actually. Unfortunate that I did not see, or even think to look for, Record Company Types, as I would of course welcome CDs, DVDs, and such for review with open arms. Will think on this.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE how he says "Dulcamara" in that video.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Jonas in the signing... was he reserved or fending off a harem of women?
@DTO Lovely, isn't it? Wish there were a chance of seeing him in the role, but at least there's YouTube and the CD! No, Mr. Kaufmann was very cordial, if seeming slightly fatigued (possibly from harem-fending, though this is of course mere speculation!) He was nearly offended at my timid suggestion that my bringing an older recording to be signed amounted to an imposition, and did not have to ask how to spell the name my mother got from a great-aunt whose coming-to-America trunk we have, so really most gratifying.
ReplyDeleteI absolutley love this recording. It's about time we get to hear Bryn's demonic side on CD. This man is one of my favourite artists in the world opera today and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
ReplyDelete@Josh W. Thanks for commenting. Perhaps obviously, Mr. Terfel is a favorite of mine as well. I wish I could agree with you about him showing no signs of slowing down... but, however selfishly, I certainly hope he doesn't do so for quite some time yet!
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