DESCRIPTION:
Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu's spine-tingling rendition of La Mamma Morta (Aria di Maddalena, act III, Andrea Chénier, 1896; Umberto Giordano). Commenting on Gheorghiu's "fetching musicality", La Cieca/James Jorden (opera critic & the host of the opera blog Parterre Box) summarized this gloriously beautiful rendition with the following words:

"Gheorghiu negotiates the chest voice easily, using mostly a "closed" tone that matches the cool, smoky middle register. For special emphasis, she can also open up the chest to a throaty, throbbing cry. This finesse in the lower register also informs "La mamma morta," where Gheorghiu's very slim tone in the opening section (admittedly not a valid approach in a staged production) suggests Maddalena's emotional fragility. The shift to very soft dynamics early on also enables Gheorghiu to build the climax of the aria into the effect of a fortissimo even though in absolute terms the top of the voice doesn't get all that loud. The long phrases banging at the passaggio (which almost all Maddalenas simplify to save up for the high B) hold no terrors for Gheorghiu: as she leans into the voice more here, the vibrato widens just a bit, thrillingly, and the top note again is in the context of the whole paragraph of music, the crest of the phrase and not a whole separate event."

Check out also the playlist "Angela Gheorghiu - A Vocal Portrait of the Great Diva": it contains 200 clips adding up to more than 25 hours of superb music - it is Youtube's most comprehensive resource on Angela Gheorghiu (you find the playlist by doing a Youtube search with the full name of the playlist).

Frequently compared with MARIA CALLAS for her innate musicality, dramatic flair, sense of style, and exquisite musicianship, and with RENATA TEBALDI for the extraordinary quality of her voice and her natural affinity for verismo roles, Romanian soprano ANGELA GHEORGHIU is the most known contemporary soprano and probably the only one from the current generation who will be remembered 100 years from now. Gheorghiu's luscious, ravishingly beautiful timbre is instantly recognizable and her stage presence, glamour, and charisma are legendary. Situated in the transition zone between full lyric and spinto, her velvety, silvery, slightly veiled voice conveys morbidezza and is remarkably phonogenic and rich in harmonics.

"Vocally, Angela is leagues above any other soprano in recorded history. Not only is the voice thick, luscious, and velvety, but she is also able to emote her VOICE in a way that to me is unprecedented. I have yet to hear a singer who carries emotion into the voice better" (comment made on Youtube by user longliveclassicmusic).

"I continue to feel that Angela Gheorghiu's voice comes the closest to Maria Callas's in tone, texture, and focus. There is a voltage factor in her voice that I have yet to match in any modern classical soprano. I am never disappointed. And I am always energized by her incredible concentration. She always draws me into wanting more....." (comment made on Youtube by user johntmarohn1)

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