re: #185 freetoken

So much Christmas music, even serious music, suffers from over production, and an esthetic that is infused with maudlin tones.

Cantique du noel (O Holy Night) makes a good test of this. Lots of videos on Youtube, by all the top singers (opera and otherwise)… and nearly all of them suffer from attempting to be too good.

To me, the effective singer doesn’t need gimmicks. Strip away all the production… and just be left with the singer. If they can cause a response that is more than just nostalgia, then I propose they are on the way to be a truly great singer.

If the singer believes the song you can tell.

re: #188 prairiefire

I think that is why “Ava Maria” is so effective.

Sometimes, not singing it optimally will be what makes it a good performance of the piece. I have more than one song I like where, if you have a trained ear, can hear the performing is crying his/her way through (parts of) the song.