KOSTAS PASKALIS MACBETH PIETA RESPETO 1

[@aetion]

One of the best renditions I have ever heard. Voice, dramatic artistry, feeling, everything is there. Thank you for the post.

[@jefolson6989]

The Verdi baritone sound.

[@charleshamilton3630]

I worked with Kostas on the 1964 Glyndebourne production and later at Covent Garden and asked him to sing on my Madrid production, but sadly he was not well. In my opinion, he was the best interpreter of this role. Charles Hamilton.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Wow, what an fantastic experience that must have been. Such a great artist. Sadly no one can sing like this anymore.

[@lucianogualtieri6721]

Che bravo! E' la prima volta che lo ascolto.

[@Huaimek861]

Exquisite !!!

[@lilianamartabarsellini4517]

Muy buena voz y excelente interpretación

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

It will always confuse me why Paskalis didn’t record Macbeth in the studio, and a singer like Fischer-Dieskau did. Paskalis had beauty of tone, power when he needed it, and all of DFD’s interpretative insight.

[@kiwi_tenor]

And to make it better, Paskalis was a Verdi Baritone, which DFD wasn't. I believe there was actually an interesting story behind that recording's casting. He was the third choice for Decca/London, when Tito Gobbi - their initial choice - was ill and Sherill Milnes was indisposed recording Verdi's Don Carlo. It's a dramatically interesting recording, though sadly the lack of a heftier voice for Macbeth doesn't do it for me. Strangely he probably had the range to sing Macduff, and so that would have made for an interesting historical tidbit. I usually classify this as a recording for when I want to hear all of the text and poetry sung perfectly accurately - along with his Wagner recordings. What DFD lacked in the size of his instrument, he more than made up with in the preparation of his material.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@kiwi_tenor Sadly DFD has never done it for me, in any of his recordings. Even in lieder, I would much rather turn to singers whose voice I actually like - Husch, Sclusnus, Schumann and Lehmann come to mind.

[@jrcn50]

Sublime!

[@christopherhillier9190]

This is so beautiful

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Indeed it is. Paskalis makes Macbeth feel so very human.

[@winterraisa7462]

esto es increíblemente maravillosooo

[@adambryce2290]

He puts so much feeling into the aria. Amazing.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@adambryce2290 Indeed. He is a marvel. His voice is beautiful too.

[@demonstain]

One of the greatest ever! Of course he wasn t Italian or American. That's why he didn t have the recognition that he deserved!!

[@LARAXANH]

грек Костя потрясающий

[@billobrien5118]

I wonder why he didn't make recordings. I think he is the Escamillo in the CARMEN with Grace Bumbry but that was all. Also wonder why his MET tenure was so brief.

[@muziektheaterlascalanobile7467]

Потрясающий!!!

[@jimlegnani9382]

It's "Pietà, rispetto". Not respeto! The libretto is in Italian, not Spanish...

[@demonstain]

My God... What a knowledge...!!! Tell us more please...!!! What Don t you just listen instead of being funny? You ll learn something here... Trust me!!

[@pilaalcalinamadrid]

This is opera not a language class. By the way, not only we Spaniards mispronounce double consonants, but also all foreigners who do not have this sound in their own language, as you know Paskalis was not Spanish. Could you try speaking Greek?

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@pilaalcalinamadrid Well said. I certainly couldn’t ever sing in Italian half as well as Maestro Paskalis.

[@jefolson6989]

He had a bright voice, not the richness of a Verdi baritone. Milnes and Quilico in this role had a more appropriate sound. Not criticizing him as a singer, but the term Verdi baritone describes a particular sound and style, not a baritone who sings Verdi.

[@guillermogoytia9993]

What is it a more appropiate sound for Verdi?

[@svilendenchev9984]

Battistini was one of the greatest Macbeths of his time, yet his voice is much brighter than Paskalis'

[@jefolson6989]

​@svilendenchev9984 I saw Paskalis in this role. ( and Milnes and Quilco. Milnes was overshadowed on that occasion, Corelli was MCDuff!) Never heard Bastianini, but on record he has it all.