Professional Singer Reacts to Largo Al Factotum

Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky sings Largo al Factotum from Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Montreal Symphony.
I hope you enjoy this analysis + breakdown of one of Opera's best known arias.
Watch the original video here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Original video: • Il barbiere di sivigli...
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Nick Higgs The Singer 2022

[@ravenaudio1829]

Very well done presentation by Nick and of course Dimitry is amazing!

[@pacoxxi3302]

I am Italian, from what I have interpreted it is that Dimitri has studied not only singing, but he has also studied Italian and comedy tenses and the typical speech (tone) of Italian theater actors speaking and add it to the song like an Italian badass comedian is not something you learn in a year.

[@ВалентинИванов-ы6ц]

Любимый, неповторимый...лучший...столько сияния души, глаз, неповторимая хпризма, артистичность и все это многократно помноженное на любовь и неповторимый величайший баритон, красивый, бархатный...как же опустела сцена, как нам его не хватает

[@ninamadzarevic3926]

Incomparable Dmitri, what a fantastic singer he was

[@ritastrybol9570]

Thanks for this great analysis of the most perfect rendition ever in history of Largo Al Factotum by Dmitri. He is the most perfect and greatest baritone of our time. His Italian language is perfectly pronounced as if he were an Italian himself. Unsurpassed in all Verdi opera's he sang and played and the rendition of his russian romances and war songs are sublime, never seen by anyone else! Everything he touches changes into gold. Five years already and we miss him beyond measure, beloved Dmitri! 🙏❤️🙏

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you. He was truly a legend!

[@someernie6179]

Yes Dmitri is my favourite vocalist of all times, love from Hong Kong

[@danielakerman8241]

As a baritone myself, I love Hvorovstovsky and I had the pleasure of meeting him when I sang with the San Francisco Opera, but I must say his Italian diction here is not the best...

[@Austin-if4ht]

🙏🏻❤️🇮🇹

[@kaywhy245]

Also enjoy Kak molody my byli for straight pleasure.

[@margaret7973]

was fortunate enough to have a front seat at one performance by Dmitri in Rotterdam - a performance I will never forget. A great loss to the opera world

[@marcseyes1665]

Thankyou for still keeping his memory alive

[@angeli21]

I thank you Nick Higgs for the great analysis of the great baritones. I would like to continue your words if you allow "Dmitri Hvorostovsky was a master, and that's what HE STILL IS, even if he is not physically present".

[@jerrie1935]

Always incomparable ❤

[@user-ok1vf6qx4k]

I so love Dimitri Hvorostovsky...greatest baritone ever to me. Fantastic voice, great looks....enormous charisma. Thank You for this reaction.

[@СветланаПанина-п7г]

Согласна

[@zanuda5274]

Hi is DMitriy, not Dimitriy

[@user-ok1vf6qx4k]

@@zanuda5274 No, it's Dmitri... 😘

[@zanuda5274]

@@user-ok1vf6qx4k there are different spellings of russian -ий Дмитрий. I meant that there is no i after D. Dm…, not Dim…

[@user-ok1vf6qx4k]

@Zanuda Your absolutely right. And it's an I instead of a Y. So we have Dmitri...right? 🙂

[@mirjanarodic6886]

Many thanks. Great analysis. For me, an amateur, extremely valuable. Now it's clearer to me why I love Hvorostovsky so much

[@kvvvy6359]

The man's voice had a gravitational field

[@ricardoredondosanchez5323]

I loved Dmitri's career and I miss him so much!.Thank you for remember him and I loved your analysis very much!!

[@vincentbasquiat2501]

A giant among men.A generational talent and I miss him dearly

[@redsalamander9999]

I've been a fan of Hvorostovsky for a long time, good to see him still receiving the attention he deserves among music aficionados today.

[@Lara-v1t]

Прекрасный анализ ! Спасибо,👏вы такой солнечный парень, все чётко и понятно . Удачи .

[@cheryljohnson733]

My God, how I loved him! I still miss him and I had a chance to see him perform live and didn't go. I'll always regret this. RIP Dmitri.

[@massimostefani4643]

Despite your young age you have proved yourself equal to the situation and I appreciate your reaction. Good very good! Bravo Bravissimo

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you!

[@Austin-if4ht]

🙏🏻❤️🇮🇹

[@mariateresagorosito4539]

Largo factotum más hermoso de toda la historia.... Dimitri perfecto . Bellísimo!!! Además se divertía lo disfrutaba..... preciosooooo!

[@ВалентинИванов-ы6ц]

Величайший певец, искренний, могучий талант, невероятной красоты человек, настоящей, мужской красоты, душевного света

[@matildegarciavargas6580]

Just lovingly kind of singing … love you Dima forever!!!!!

[@matildegarciavargas6580]

You can listen the psssch psssch calling fígaro!!!!!!!

[@ГригорийГригорий-ы4л]

Благодарю Вас, Ник! Прекрасный анализ! И спасибо всем, кто слушает и помнит Дмитрия Александровича❤

[@СветланаПанина-п7г]

Согласна полностью.

[@charlottearena]

He was wonderful, sublime. The power of his voice is extraordinary

[@lightwork11]

Thank you, this is my favorite version of the aria. Dmitri Hvorostovsky was and is one of my favorite opera singers. And my favorite Italian baritone was from Siberia! I really enjoyed hearing your take on this performance. I subscribed.

[@zhannakryukova8676]

The best forever!!!

[@doloresaquines1529]

Wonderful unforgettable Dmitri. Such a beautiful voice. Another young singer to watch out for is Santiago Ballerini. The beauty of his voice. Di Rigori armato.

[@marylynne9104]

Thank you so much for this breakdown of a great Master at work. My dad, an operatic baritone used to sing this to me (for practise) whilst we waited at the bus stop to go to my grandma’s house for the weekend when I was a little girl in the 1950s. Great memories. Especially of the looks on peoples’ faces in the bus queue.

[@dpjr47]

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I only sing in a church choir as a rank amateur but I do so enjoy learning more about music performance.

[@katiaaguiar7103]

Muito obrigada Nick pelo vídeo! Tudo que está relacionado a Dmitri hvorostovsky tem muito valor para mim. 🇧🇷

[@istvankrisztiankalincsak7737]

I think it sounds much better in baritone, the video was awesome.

[@larrywalsh9939]

I don't know much about the technical details of singing, but I do very much like this video, since it's taking a video I've watched MANY times and has always impressed me, and describes it in such a way that gives me more ways to be impressed by it.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@iTube22100]

Una delle più belle versioni di Figaro. Canta con nonchalance e assoluta padronanza e dire che Rossini mette davvero a dura prova i cantanti con quel fraseggio veloce, difficile anche per un italiano. Sei molto bravo a commentare e spiegarci le caratteristiche e le difficoltà. Io però alla fine sento cIttà, con la "i" non con la "a"!! 👍Grazie

[@МаринаГулова-й9ю]

бесподобный Дмитрий Александрович!!!!!!

[@mr555harv]

A wonderful teacher, very instructive to me, a sax player. Your teaching is instructive to all instrumentalists also. Very helpful analysis. The voice is the North Star for all instrumentalists, and your analysis is soooo helpful. For example, just one, was your wonderful analysis of breath control from the belly, not the chest. So so helpful. Thanks.

[@inspirefolie]

I recently saw a Live in HD Summer Encore of "Eugene Onegin" at my local Regal theater, and I swear, I'd never known Dmitri Hvorostovsky before and immediately fell in love with everything about him. An actual legend of a performer. Like, I imagine if Apollo had an avatar on Earth, it would've been in the form of Dmitri. I wish I'd known about him sooner and had been able to see him perform live at the Met for real.

[@МаринаГулова-й9ю]

Я обожаю хворостовского

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

He is amazing

[@Mari28-_03]

Неповторимое прекраснейшее исполнение сложнейшего вокально произведения!!! Брависсимо, чудеснейший Дмитрий Александрович!!! Спасибо за высочайшую оценку подробного анализа чистоты и красоты музыкального исполнения!

[@soniasalinas7034]

Congratulations Nick.. Thanks. CHILE.🇨🇱

[@fehrart]

Excelent analysis!

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Thank you kindly!

[@DemiAndHisSyndromes]

Great analysis on a great rendition!!

[@Winsflix]

Bravo, brilliant performance and exceptional analysis. Thank you for taking time to explain so much of what this great singer does to achieve such a strong performance.

[@cavedivingwoman]

Wonderful analysis; thank you!

[@northernstar13]

He was the greatest baritone. Such a loss...

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

It’s true! He is a legend

[@ginonarbonese4344]

I liked listening how well you know the text and pronunciation .... and what we as audience can listen for

[@gailhowes9398]

What happened? Did he have a medical issue?

[@northernstar13]

@@gailhowes9398 He had a brain cancer. After the cancer was detected in 2014 he he had been struggling, even was at stage in 2015, I don' remember when his last performance was. In November 2017 he dyed.

[@Karl1957]

Die Diagnose bekam er Ende Mai 2015. Sein letzter öffentlicher Auftritt war im Juni 2017 in Grafenegg in Österreich, im Mai 2017 sang er als Spezialgast in der MET.

[@BibliotecadeUrokhan]

the first time i heard Rossini i mind just blow. RIP big R! and greetings from Venezuela Nick :D

[@Agatalana]

Почему так мало лайков?! Классный анализ! 👏 Спасибо! 💖

[@Bardonia]

Super, thanks. I love Dimitri.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Glad you like it!

[@MrMarina101000]

I didn’t even know what this song was about and have no knowledge of italian.. I had never thought to look it up your explanation was nice! The thing that amazes me is how fast this version is to other versions that I’ve heard. I love dmitris voice! Sadly found but about him posthumously though. This is a nice deep dive into the song.

[@grsimpson3957]

I'm a big fan of Dmitri Hvorostovsky, you should really hear is takes on Korobeiniki and Pesenka Frontovogo Shofyora

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

What should I react to next? Leave a comment below!

[@BigGuyBoleslaw]

Pearl Fishers duet with Jussi Bjorling and Robert Merrill

[@xiaofomin]

Thank you for this video! It’s really interesting and useful for me!

[@מרגריטהרוזנשטיין]

Прекрасный анализ. Спасибо.

[@oxoelfoxo]

Title should be "Professional Singer Reacts to Figaro's Aria" haha. A friend sung Count Almaviva for his graduation recital so I'm pretty fond of this opera. One of the few I know quite well, particularly because I got to hear the ENO translation.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

I didn’t know what to call it so I changed it 😂

[@RefiaNur]

Watching your reactions to my favorite artists makes me happy. Thanks a lot. What a great man, wish I could see him alive. And wish I could see all my favorite artists at once (Dmitri, Dimash, Tamino, Cem Karaca, Jakub J. Orlinski, Lara Fabian...)

[@marionpearson8757]

Thank you Nick love the videos

[@СветланаПанина-п7г]

Спасибо большое за обзор. Надо показывать всем вокалистам.

[@evarodriguez4503]

Life after death .... ❤ This is it🎉❤

[@myjoy7344]

Хворостовский гениальный баритон!!!

[@oibafartu9479]

Bravo bravissimo fortunatissimo

[@gypsyassassin2004]

HIS death saddened me more than Pavarotti!!!!!

[@Karl1957]

Me too.

[@johnfalstaff2270]

Only because he lost his life to cancer. And cancer due to Chernobyl.

[@CCC-rd3gc]

Спасибо, что вспомнили про этого прекрасного артиста!

[@johnfalstaff2270]

Muslim Magomayev was much better.

[@fioreviola7709]

@@johnfalstaff2270 ha un tono di voce più metallico e pare che le parole siano più chiare ma in realtà qualche lettera se l'è mangiata. Inoltre le sue frasi sono corte e meno legate. La sua è un'esibizione, quella di Hvorostovsky è un'interpretazione. Questa è un'opera buffa e Hvorostovsky trasmette perfettamente questo carattere brioso e ironico di Figaro e riesce anche a sorridere mentre canta. Secondo me è il massimo!

[@johnfalstaff2270]

@@fioreviola7709 . Listen yo other performances from the past, because you do not know who were the best singers.

[@rileypark6009]

Hey Nick! I hope all is well and hopefully you are seeing this. I would love to see a reaction of Phillip Lawson 's (ex-kings singer) arrangement of "Veni Veni Emmanuel" either by the Gesualdo six or the Kings Singers themselves. Or better yet, maybe even a cover by you! (There is a pdf online). It is a six part harmony with a rich-sound and piercing tones. The gesualdo six cover does an amazing job with dynamics and giving this chant the beauty it deserves. Not to mention, it is advent season! Peace and blessings.

[@zeideerskine3462]

If you want largo al factotum you need to watch Herrmann Prey.

[@OKyoyknow]

Proud of you and of your Italian

[@mauriciojimenez98]

9:55 The “Spanish” part you mentioned also has a sound that reminds me of old school mariachi. Jorge Negrete, José Alfredo Jiménez… Greetings from Mexico!!!🇲🇽

[@fioreviola7709]

Complimenti per il tuo italiano e la tua disamina molto interessante e istruttiva. Gradirei molto che tu potessi farlo anche per altri pezzi d'opera di Hvorostovsky che poi passò ai melodramma di Verdi, carichi di pathos e sentimenti. Indimenticabili anche i duetti che fece con altri colleghi, con Pavarotti, con Jonas Kaufmann in particolare la canzone "O sole mio" nella quale mi pare d'aver capito, che si siano scambiati i ruoli di tenore e baritono. Ci sarebbe molto da sentire e le tue spiegazione gli darebbero un interesse anche maggiore! Grazie.

[@BellaFirenze]

Nick Higgs è un grande musicista. Possiede una voce squisita con una tecnica da belcanto. Higgs è anche un educatore con una conoscenza enciclopedica dell'arte del canto. Bravissimo!

[@vioricaszoke4391]

I am more than satisfied with the attention this young man gives to this interpretation. Will he be an art critic, or just a simple commentator? I hope he realizes this perfect performance by the MASTER.

[@mirkochicco9620]

Ottima lezione musicale. Grazie.

[@caroline6544]

Omg, it's so cool that someone finally does some profound classical music/opera reactions! Why haven't I discovered your channel earlier? Are you considering listening to something by Jakub Jozef Orlinski? Maybe his version of "Vedrò con mio diletto". For me, he's one of the best upcoming countertenors :)

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Yes!! That is coming up for sure. Thank you so much for your kind words ♥️

[@cynthiastogden7000]

Dimitri was a phenomenon with a smile to melt the coldest heart. Nothing can compare. Greatly missed.

[@zxbn4566]

Very good, very useful. I really like hearing you speak Italian. You must have put a lot of practice / effort into achieving authentic diction.

[@aprilluber]

I had the great honor to see Hvorostovsky in Denver. He was larger than life for sure. Bryn Terfel is also amazing. Please say his last name as if it was spelled "Tervel"

[@АлександраБакульманова-у8п]

Эту арию совершенно бесподобно исполнял Муслим Магомаев. Еще один уникальный голос.

[@Mari28-_03]

Никто не оспаривает яркости исполнения арии Фигаро Муслимом Магомаевым. Жаль, что он отказался от мировой аудитории. В данном случае Дмитрий Хворостовский- яркий и неповторимый пример идеального исполнения. Это неоспоримо.

[@zefconero2094]

Great analysis. Would love to see one on Thomas Hampson's rendition.

[@allanolivier9589]

I would compare singers. Each singer sings this aria in his own unique musical way. Hermann Prey was brilliant but there are interpretations comparable to Dmitri's. I lived Preys version but this one resonates with me musically.

[@junotlucas1183]

Thanks for the heads up I would like to sign that

[@claudiopane9775]

pezzo non facile ma tu tecnicamente dimostri di conoscerlo bravo

[@francoisevassy6614]

Great interpretation ! By the way, have you heard an other baryton named Carlos Julio Ramirez sing this piece ? You can hear him in the Tex Avery cartoon « Magical Maestro » … a virtuoso too (and a very pleasant cartoon). Greetings from France 🇫🇷

[@johnfalstaff2270]

Only Russian trolls are trying to gather attention around him. Because I do not consider Hvorostovski as my favorite one.

[@bejingmao]

no matter how good I was, or how professional I was, I would NEVER have the balls to critique or breakdown, or discuss or anything done by Hvorostovsky.

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

He’s a fascinating study. Great voice, and apparently was a great person.

[@danielhughes441]

To be clear, the video you have of him singing is NOT from the Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

[@ewelinalaskowski4968]

Das war Canada !

[@user-wx1dz3xq5w]

Charles Dutois is an amazing conductor

[@МаринаГалландских]

Спасибо за обзор!!!Супер интересно было!!!

[@vittoriahawksworth8117]

Factotum could also be translated as “jack of all trades”.

[@xaviyen8637]

Thank you for the reaction video. Please react to Michael Spyres Classic FM rendition of Rossini ‘Largo al factotum’

[@LASoundCrafter]

Maybe look into Dimash Kudaibergen? I’m curious what a professional singer thinks of his range, vocal technique. His initial exposer was SOS sung at a Chinese variety show in 2017.

[@SinoSene]

How about Birgit Nilsson and the finale of Salome? There's a video of her from a Met Gala.

[@johnj6743]

This is singing it and how incredible it is, now imagine writing it. 200 years ago. Now go listen to Cardi B. Now tell me we're going forward as a society.

[@andrearazzano4562]

Are you Italian? Nice pronunciation

[@nickhiggsthesinger]

Nope! I had great italian teachers, though!

[@AllenFigueredo5]

I really enjoyed this reaction, thank you! Could you please react to Birgit Nilsson singing Brünnhilde's immolation from Wagner's Götterdämmerung?

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

I prefer Thomas Hampson's Largo Al Factotum, not that he has one of the most pronounced baritone voices. But he has a very light voices which flows well in this type of repertoire. Hvorostovsky also had a light lyrical voice, but he applied fake darkness to the voice, making it less suitable. Another great version is of from Apollo Granfotre who does an excellent version as a dramatic baritone.

[@jafb67]

Largo al factotum, or as it’s sometimes called: death by passaggio😅

[@GraceCanadaful]

The t-shirts may be because it was a rehearsal...

[@kridlatec]

Nick, hi! It would be very interesting, if you react to soviet baritone Muslim Magomaev, singing Figaro. The special thing of that performance: Muslim was mostly known as a pop-singer, but had an extraordinary baritone voice and made also few recordings of opera arias. Galina Vishnevskaya, well-known opera singer, once regretted, that he didn't become opera baritone. And watching his Figaro, you can understand, why she was upset) Just check "Muslim Magomaev - Figaro"

[@kridlatec]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGSpmGilrb5_nKssi=FN90S6y3BMfpeabz

[@LASoundCrafter]

Here’s a link to Kudaibergen’s initial introduction to the world. This was 2017 when he was 22. The Chinese social media exploded with over 800 million (!) stunned reactions. He’s recorded worldwide, and recently passed or is passing his PhD finals in musicology in his home country. Interesting biography. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbdYqR9iJWHZ7M

[@Karl1957]

Ein Sopran Popsänger,zum Bariton ,oder Bass fehlt ihm das Volumen.

[@elenayankovskaya43]

Пожалуйста,сделайте такой же разбор этого произведения в исполнении Муслима Магомаева!

[@Jony5173]

Do Jussi Björling next! Tenor of tenors :D

[@ЛарисаЭммас]

Послушайте еще версию в исполнении Муслима Магомаева

[@kaywhy245]

Cardiff his Ombra mai fu

[@TheMaurycy25]

it's very difficult to deliver exact Italian to German familie language people ;)

[@TDogCA]

How about Maria Aleida singing “The Doll Song” from “Les Contes d’Hoffman”? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZXPeHeEpNGcfpI

[@williammcenaney1331]

Bryn Terfel says "Tare vell" instead of "tur full." Mr. H. excels when he sings Largo al Factotum. But I prefer Nicolae Herlea and Hermann Prey. kzbin.info/www/bejne/favJdIevfrplndU

[@leonaldobrum]

Yeah, I like this Russian guy A Lot (and his girlfriend too 😉)