Friday, June 8, 2012

Great Historical Singers (Fernando Corena)

Fernando Corena was perhaps the greatest basso-buffo to ever grace this earth, because of his comic flare, great coloratura technique, and ability to sing many different types of roles. His main strength was in the real character buffo roles such as Don Bartolo in "Il Barbiere di Siviglia", Don Magnifico in "La Cenerentola",and Dr. Dulcamara in "L'elisir d'amore" to name a few. He also excelled in more noble buffo roles such as Mustafa in "L'Italiana in Algeri", and more serious roles such as Rodolfo in "La Sonambula." He was good in serious roles, but the comic roles were his real bread and butter. Stefan Zucker describes two types of buffo basses in his article "Fernando Corena" from the Belcanto Society. The "buffo nobile" (noble buffo), and "buffo caricato" (exagerrated comic or character buffo). Basso-Cantante singers often cross into "buffo nobile" parts because those parts require more lyrical and noble singing than "buffo caricato" parts. The quality of the voice in "buffo caricato" roles is not as important as it is in "buffo nobile" parts. Both types of buffo parts have pattering, but "buffo caricato" parts has more pattering and faster pattering. A great example of some quick pattering is in "Un dottor della mia sorte" from "Il Barbiere di Siviglia." Corena was an absolute master at singing that particular aria. The character who sings this aria is Don Bartolo, who is a prime example of a character buffo. Whereas, the role of Don Basilio is a "buffo nobile", because the singer has to sing with a noble sound. A lot of bassi profondi, and bassi cantanti sing Don Basilio. Fernando Corena was the quintessential character buffo. In addition, he also had a really beautiful voice which I listen to frequently. I first heard his voice when I was a senior in High School. I picked up this cd called "Ten Top Baritones and Basses 2", and heard him sing Dulcamara's monster entrance aria from "L'elisir d'amore." It is magnificent. The aria is very high, and he makes it sound easy. Buffo roles whether they are character or noble, sit very high for bass singers. Many of them actually go higher than the typical bass range of approximately low E2 to high F4. Corena was able to sing up to high G4, which is the g above middle c with good ease. Also, he was able to sing below a low E2 down to a D2. There are many recordings which represent this great artist in a great light. His cd of various arias by Mozart, Paisello, Saint-Seans, Cimarosa, Lully and Donizetti, which is available on Amazon is the best introduction to Corena that I can think of. It shows his versatlity, and also his ability to sing into old age. He is 64 years old in some of the recordings. He was a magnificent singer. There have been many fine buffo basses who followed him, but I cannot think of a true successor.

No comments:

Post a Comment