Re: The Nessun Dorma of the Bass-Baritone repetoire

"Steve Silverman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> "Mucus Slimewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > I'm trying to find an aria for bass-baritone that would be to the
> > bass-baritone as Nessun Dorma is to the tenor. Any suggestions?
> >
> 
> "Avant de quiiter ces lieux" from Faust, transposed down a semi-tone. Unless
> I'm mistaken, I believe that it was originall written in a lower key (D)
> than that in which it is usually sung today (Eb)
> 
> Steve Silverman

Mr. Tillman's and Mr. Silverman's suggestions are fine. I especially
like

1)
Avant from Faust

2)
Scintille Diamant from Hoffmann

3)
Deh Vieni alla Finestra from Giovanni (my first aria learned -- not a
great aria but a nice lyric song to be sure -- a nice 'starter' aria)

#1 and #2 are right at the tip of my range. I've been learning the
Scintille but about half the time I need to back down a bit from the
G# (A-flat) at the end.

My current "money" aria is not sung a lot, but I find it excellent --
"Alla Vita" from Act I of Verdi's Masked Ball. The top note is a G,
which most baritones should be able to hit regularly, and I can focus
on, blowing the walls down -- ha ha. This aria is nicely dramatic, not
over-long, and has a very clean line -- a good showpiece for
semi-pros, imo.

Others I might suggest -- (excuse the lack of umlauts, etc. -- I don't
know how to make them)

>From Magic Flute, "Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja" or "Ein Madchen oder
Weibchen" -- both lovely lyrical ballads. Also, for a true bass, "O
Isis und Osiris".

>From Marriage of Figaro, "Se vuol ballare", "Hai gia vinta la causa",
and "Non piu andrai".

>From Giovanni, "Fin ch'han del vino" (the "champagne" aria). Not an
easy sing. And there's the "catalogue" aria, too.

>From Barber of Seville, the aria that is probably the true "Nessun
Dorma" for baritones, the Largo al Factotum.