tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post7323683941226771823..comments2024-03-05T22:44:45.962-05:00Comments on Great Opera Singers: Jozef Sterkens: Golden Voice of the Royal Flemish OperaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-78723316213048439222012-08-13T12:14:18.672-04:002012-08-13T12:14:18.672-04:00To Natalie: Yes, the political problems have been...To Natalie: Yes, the political problems have been very severe, as so often happens when different cultures square off in the same geographical area. I suppose it is somewhat similar to the situation of Quebec in Canada, at least during some periods when nationalistic forces arise. The forces of Flemish nationalism have become focussed again quite recently, and there has been increasing discussion, since 2008, of the whole issue, which is vexed to say the least. Thanks for mentioning Lemeshev. I had neglected to do so in the article, but there are passages where I also think of Lemeshev's voice.<br /><br /><br />To Mr. Santos: Thank you!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-89065774199550403102012-08-13T11:09:31.511-04:002012-08-13T11:09:31.511-04:00I Love this post, so much great information that&#...I Love this post, so much great information that's really really useful to know! .... Awesome post!!! Have a beautiful Monday Evening! Thanks, dear Edmund and *GOD BLESS*Gerhard Santoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407517517439439662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-5225548513395425392012-08-13T11:09:06.385-04:002012-08-13T11:09:06.385-04:00He could have made a big international career, if ...He could have made a big international career, if it were not for politics. Sad. Thanks for the article on this wonderful artist. The voice is beautiful and the singing is masterful and intelligent. His high C sharp reminded me of Lemeshev;it sounded almost as his high notes on mezzo voce. <br /><br />I didn’t know that there were such political problems in Belgium.<br /><br /><br />n.a.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-53835665406674219072012-08-13T08:14:14.635-04:002012-08-13T08:14:14.635-04:00Thank you very much, my friend! A superb comment; ...Thank you very much, my friend! A superb comment; knowledgeable and incisive. You are right in that you establish the proper delineations, cultural, personal, and vocal, within which his career must be considered. That makes all the difference, as it makes it possible to appreciate him for what he was and what he did. Everyone points first and foremost to the beauty of the voice--that is key. Putting all other considerations aside, the beautiful voice in and of itself merits our admiring attention. Again, thanks!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-51205514447216640712012-08-13T03:20:09.772-04:002012-08-13T03:20:09.772-04:00A voice of quality. I have to resist calling him a...A voice of quality. I have to resist calling him a "leggero" because we are not in Italy or the Italian repertoire. We must learn the language. I am not aware of any specific Flemish or Dutch categories, but it would seem appropriate to call him a Lyrischer Tenor or perhaps a light Jugendlicher Heldentenor. Of course those with more experience with Germanic classifications can please correct me if necessary. Certainly if he was of the French-speaking part of Belgium he would have been a demi-caractère, and probably one good enough to challenge Thill. <br /><br />As often, a shame that nasty politics interfered with his career. I think, besides any vocal questions, singing a role such as Don Carlo would have been completely unacceptable for a tenor in his position. <br /><br />Gioacchino Fiurezi-Maragioglio Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-56347096398160738982012-08-12T20:04:13.035-04:002012-08-12T20:04:13.035-04:00That's a pretty good, if very succinct descrip...That's a pretty good, if very succinct description, Mark:-)Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-89826110203355629462012-08-12T20:02:48.987-04:002012-08-12T20:02:48.987-04:00Not a very big voice, but it sure is pretty!
Mark...Not a very big voice, but it sure is pretty!<br /><br />Mark G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-20678520757904308012012-08-12T15:40:34.618-04:002012-08-12T15:40:34.618-04:00Well, as some of my readers know, I have a kind of...Well, as some of my readers know, I have a kind of thing about the many shadings of terminology applied to operatic voices. If you like the term "leggiero," then I certainly would not disagree. It's a light voice, call it what you will. I personally think "lyric" covers a pretty wide range. I have even made the point, on at least one occasion I can recall, that as far as I'm concerned, we could go with the choral SATB distinctions and make as much sense as we currently do:) So many of the finer distinctions in voices, when you get down to it, are simply the qualities of individual voices, as opposed to being the characteristics of types of voices.Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-90972326279578757532012-08-12T15:33:17.325-04:002012-08-12T15:33:17.325-04:00The voice is certainly beautiful, I agree. I pers...The voice is certainly beautiful, I agree. I personally feel he is more of a leggiero than a lyric, however.<br /><br />JeffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-79440888038533324622012-08-12T12:33:46.632-04:002012-08-12T12:33:46.632-04:00Thank you, Martha. Always nice to hear from you! ...Thank you, Martha. Always nice to hear from you! Yes, there are few recordings. You can hear a little more if you go to the Youtube channel Jozefsterkens2.com That's where they all are.<br /><br />Thanks again,Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-47409264103954570222012-08-12T12:32:09.111-04:002012-08-12T12:32:09.111-04:00Oh, wow! What a beautiful voice! I have to admit...Oh, wow! What a beautiful voice! I have to admit I have never heard Josef Sterkens sing, but what a treat. Such a pretty voice. I wish there were more recordings of him!<br /><br />MarthaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-71576735947029660682012-08-12T12:30:38.079-04:002012-08-12T12:30:38.079-04:00Thank you, Mr. Hobbes, for your comment, which I a...Thank you, Mr. Hobbes, for your comment, which I appreciate. I understand what you mean. I would only suggest that perhaps it was not so much a question of dying young in this particular case, at least; it was more a question of dividing his time between singing and administrative work. He was a man with a cause, and that takes a lot of energy and time away form the artistic career. Thanks, again!Edmund St. Austellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14490721790447218365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6166918155946600787.post-58643379643472111852012-08-12T12:16:55.805-04:002012-08-12T12:16:55.805-04:00Thank you again for an excellent article on a man ...Thank you again for an excellent article on a man we hardly know. I like your comparison to Gigli et al. But I still think I hear shades of Tauber in his voice in the video clip. I am always tickled by the videos in which a person sings arias and suddenly all the people around are suddenly inspired to listen and gather. Yes, "what if?" How many "what ifs" are there in artists who died too young? At any rate, thanks again.JD Hobbeshttp://cinci.rr.comnoreply@blogger.com