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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Amadeo Zambon: The Authenticity of Voice


It is a real pleasure —and distinct honor—for me to welcome the return today of our very distinguished guest writer, Mr. Gioacchino Fiurezi Maragioglio, Italian industrialist from Naples, opera critic and historian. Mr. Fiurezi Maragioglio was an intimate friend of the great Italian tenor Giacomo Lauri Volpi, and is a life-time subscriber to the Teatro San Carlo, one of the world's historically great opera houses. Mr. Fiurezi Maragioglio's knowledge of Italian opera and opera singers —past and present—is simply vast, and I do not believe that there is anyone among my acquaintances whose knowledge exceeds his own, and there are precious few who could match it. I know that I certainly could not. It is a rare pleasure to be able to feature this piece on the Italian tenor Amadeo Zambon.

 

Given the current judgement of many critics, it would be easy to believe we live in an era without the large and powerful voices of the past, and in a time of unsure and unaware artists. While such a comment would be an inaccurate and inappropriate one, it is nevertheless refreshing to visit a world where such a statement would have been unthinkable.

Amadeo Zambon represents just such a singer. The generation that included Gianfranco Cècchele, Nicola Martinucci, Lando Bartolini, Mario di Felici and Mario Malagnini  kept alive the flame that had been nurtured by a previous generation that included such giants as Francesco Merli, Aureliano Pertile and Galliano Masini, not to mention post-war stars such as Mario del Monaco and Franco Corelli.

Lirico-spinto, drammatico spinto, drammatico, robusto, di forza; these are the categories of tenor of which we speak — big voices, sure technique and style. Style? Yes, style in the sense that there is no further proof of innate style than an absolute commitment to the way one sings! This is the case with Amadeo Zambon: he was possessed of a blooming and luminous tenor, with strong high notes.  It was voice that he understood how to use.  Though small at close distance, the voice was laden with such clarion overtones and squillo that it could fill even spaces such as the Arena di Verona  while at the same time  permitting the use of  diminuendo and other dynamic effects. 

His career is a testament to correct vocal production and firm knowledge of one’s vocal abilities; a trademark of the aforementioned generation. Thus, it is no surprise that Zambon maintained his presence on the stage across three decades, always in abundant vocal health.  Notwithstanding a certain resemblance to Mario del Monaco, we can safely say that the glorious sound that he poured forth, especially in regard to tone and timbre, were his and his alone.  

It seems appropriate then to begin our introduction to Zambon at an earlier moment in his career. The following recording of Celeste Aïda comes from 1969, at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino:


The golden voice and secure high B-flats are a joy to listen to, and of course were produced without the benefit of a lengthy recitative to warm the voice. One need not be concerned by the ending: the forte approach was approved by Verdi, should it fit the tenor’s vocal ability better than the written morendo, which the master certainly did NOT wish to be sung in falsetto! In any case, the progression in the orchestra and the mood of the music lend themselves as easily to exultation as they do to trance. What cannot be debated however, is that this is a mighty voice, utilised with complete commitment by the singer. There would be nothing so unpleasant as a tenor who attempted the stentorian ending but could not sustain it!

Proceeding to a more lyric mode, let us look his recording of the Flower Song, from Prato, in 1976:


The richness and fluidity of the timbre are amply displayed, and Zambon displays an elegant diminuendo as well as firm legato. The power of his voice is equalled by the restraint with which he uses it, and the legato is never disturbed solely for the sake of a trumpet blast. Of course, we do not delude ourselves: we listen not to Don José, but Don Giuseppe: and taken for what it is, rather than what it is not, we must all agree it is a very pleasing interpretation. Some may listen and simply remark, “this is not how one such as Thill would sing it,” and true though this may be, we must invariably consider that an artist of Thill’s calibre would certainly respect Zambon in a way that would not be accorded to a mere provincial bellower.

Continuing in the chronology of the career, we take ourselves to 1980, Bari. The opera, Turandot, and the aria, Non piangere Liù.


Once again, the tonal quality immediately commands attention. It is clear and produced without any hint of strain or force, again possessing power and restraint in equal measures. Zambon displays once again his innate sense of style, with the broad shaping of dynamics and a masterful and very lively rendering of the aria that reminds us that once upon a time, singers learned their roles not note by note or word by word, but breath by breath from the great ones, so they that too might become great. Of course, one cannot but take the ringing high A interpolated toward the end of the ensemble following the aria per se, and the masterful technique that permits it!

On this theme, I would feel culpable not to highlight another example of this stupendous acute that recalls Lauri-Volpi and Filippeschi in the firmness of production and levity of tone. The phrase, again from Turandot, non non, principessa altera, ti voglio tutt’ ardente d’amor:


Glorious notes, sung with tonal integrity and absolute reliability — the two excerpts represent not merely a very good night for the tenor, but instead what was a common occurrence.

Now, moving later in the career, but without the slightest hint of decline, is this performance of Manon Lescaut, the moving aria Pazzo son, from 1984.


In the style of Gigli, with the sobs, interpolated cries and second high B, it would be difficult to argue that Zambon here displays good taste. It would be equally difficult to argue that his interpretation is displeasing — the spontaneity is overwhelming, and just like Gigli, the sobbing does nothing to impede the forward progress of the music. Further, the high note retains its primary importance, while the voice is always capable of the demands made of it. The nuance of phrasing and diction is not lost in search of further decibels, but utilised to further the aria’s impact.

In a word, Zambon is authentic. An authentic tenor, with an authentic sense of style that betrays no artifice, no superficial style foisted upon it. In operatic singing, style for style’s sake alone is surely the quickest path to artistic oblivion, while authenticity in the voice and the kind of commitment so amply displayed by Zambon are the harbingers of a long and successful career. Such a career, of Radamès, des Grieux, Calàf, Giuseppe, Chénier, Pollione and many other taxing roles, sustained over a period of more than thirty years, is the sign of an authentic tenor; both in the physicality of vocal production, and in the mental attitude of the singer — an aspect that must never be underestimated. 

 

 

 

12 comments:

DanPloy said...

Dear Gioacchino, (and Edmund),

Thank-you so much for this article; I am sorry to say I did not know of this wonderful singer.

Following some of the other links on YouTube I found the improviso from Andrea Chenier which I sort of use as a benchmark for singers. As the aria proceeded my smile became a grin and at the last phrase with its emotional stutter and long held note I actually laughed in joy.

You are so right, as always. Singers such as this carry us to other places, something a singer that is straining to hit the notes cannot do. The latter singers we are there on the stage with them, breathing with them, willing them to hit that note as we wish to hear it. (Actually some of the latter singers we wish we weren't actually there at all but that is another discussion).

But not Amadeo Zambon. So secure is the voice that we allow him to transport us, to Egypt, to Paris, wherever he wants to take us.

I think someone once said of a ringing del Monaco high note, 'if only you could bottle that'. Indeed.

Thank-you again for a lovely article and for allowing Mr. Zambon to transport me to that other place.

Edmund St. Austell said...

Thanks, Dan. WOW! What a comment! So accurate, so penetrating. Bravo! You hit the nail right on the head. This is one of the (many) reasons I love these guest articles by Mr. Fiurezi-Maragoglio. He has an absolute understanding of opera, singers, singing, quality of voice, and, in a word, what real singing is all about. Opera singing is an Italian art, since forever, and until one can understand that perfectly (something I can't do, alas) one cannot grasp what it is all really about. Many students have asked me what the best thing they can do to really learn how to sing well is, and I always say "save your money and go to Italy." The same thing I would say to a talented young ballerina. "Save your money, start learning Russian, and start auditioning to see if you can get a place at one of the schools at the Bolshoi or the Mariinski. Every nation has its own artistic greatness. Better to recognize it!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to Mr. Fiurezi Maragioglio for the excellent article. I know mainly the most famous tenors, and Zambon was not among them, though he is definitely a great singer. . It seems strange that such a gorgeous (“golden” – I totally agree) voice and skilful singing didn’t make him one of the greatest stars.

n.a.

Edmund St. Austell said...

Thank you, Natalie. I"m not sure either. I don't know the whole story is there. I will ask Mr. Fiurezi Maragoglio and see if he can give us some suggestions on that. Thanks as always for the comment!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Edmund. It is a pleasure to have Mr. F-M back on your blog. I have to admit that I was not familiar with Mr. Zambon and I am happy to hear these selections. I also agree that Mario Del Monaco was the first voice I thought of when I heard Zambon’s power, vibrato, and energy. Again, thanks!

J.D. Hobbes

Edmund St. Austell said...

Thank you so much, Mr. Hobbes. Excellent comment, and much appreciated. It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

Anonymous said...

A really great blog! So nice to see Mr. Fiurezi back again. He really knows his singers! I just love learning about those, such as Zambon, that I did not know of! Thank you, Edmund.

Martha

Edmund St. Austell said...

Thank you very much, Martha! Yes, I agree with you, certainly! Good to hear from you again.

Darren Seacliffe said...

I can't understand how such a powerful heroic dramatic tenor like Amedeo Zambon could be so badly neglected. By forgetting him, I'm sorry to say that we have been giving terribly short shrift to this great singer.

Personally, I don't know about style. He sounds almost as spontaneous as the great Di Stefano did with less histrionics. All the while, some of us have been complaining why we end up hearing recordings of Calaf's, Canio's and Otello's arias that always leave us with the nagging feeling that there must be more to these performances and here we are introduced to this feller all of a sudden.

My jaw literally dropped when I heard him the first time. Here was a more recent tenor who actually not only was as heroic as his great predecessors but also could be as sentimental and captivating as they were. In my humble opinion, he has nothing to fear from del Monaco, Corelli, etc. They may have had more stage presence than this tenor but this tenor sounds certainly well able to give the fans they left behind the performances they've been long used to.

I totally agree with Edmund: this tenor is definitely the real deal, as the Americans would say. I've really enjoyed the excerpts posted here. Thank you very much to Mr Fiurezi-Maragioglio for doing an article on this grossly undeservedly neglected singer.

One thing I'd like to ask is how this singer has become so forgotten? There's info on the Net which says that Mr. Zambon did perform outside Italy but I wonder why he didn't make a bigger career out of the one he already had..I wonder if it could be because of his lack of ambition, something behind the scenes or perhaps even some personal problems.



Unknown said...

And what about his performance in Poliuto with
Gencer in 1975!!!

Lew Schneider

Unknown said...

And what about his performance in Poliuto with
Gencer in 1975!!!

Lew Schneider

Anonymous said...

Only a small correction: Zambon's first name is Amedeo and not Amadeo.

Thank you.