Post
by Lance » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:24 pm
You probably won't believe this, but a man billed as the highest, deepest, darkest, richest bass voice in the world is IVAN REBROFF. I have many of his recordings, and though I "suspect" some knob-fiddling in the studio [to bring out this lowest range], I must confess that I have never heard such a low bass sound so magnificent. Rebroff's recording of the Death Scene from Boris Godunov brings tears to one's eyes. Russia had many basso-profundos, which were required for a capella choir singing in that country. Alexander Kipnis had a deep, rich voice, Tito Gobbi, too, and especially Owen Brannigan (hear his "O Ruddier than the Cherry" by Handel). Brannigan had a resonance that I have never heard in any other singer's voice; it was imbued with a very special quality - and his diction was impeccable. Pinza had a great bass voice, but I wouldn't consider his the deepest. Nikolai Ghiaurov also had a boomy, deep voice. Gottlob Frick may have had a deep voice, but there were other areas within his range that I thought were lacking. It's not, to me, a voice to "remember," particularly. Samuel Ramey has a deep resonance, but George London also had a range with depth and refinement.
Lance G. Hill
Editor-in-Chief
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When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down and personally
rubbed his name off the piano. [Speaking about pianist &*$#@+#]
