BELLINI, Vincenzo
I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues)
“Oh! Quante volte”
Susan Bullock, guest professor
Raquel Del Pino Herranz, student
Laurence Verna, accompanying pianist
To sing this aria, the professor advises her to maintain the line and sing the vowels very long. For the entrance, she must be prepared while the piano plays the previous measure, breathing and singing continuously (like a wheel that does not stop). She should also avoid any tension in the jaw.
Bullock also makes phrasing indications, always based on what the text is expressing. When making the portamento, she has to think about the million notes in between to make it sound better.
They continue reviewing the placement of the voice for certain vowels. The student has improved considerably compared to the 1st performance, regarding superfluous gestures and movements, and sound quality. To go to the high notes, she also has to reserve space beforehand to have more room for amplitude in the mouth, and that will make the sound better. They then practice this several times as an exercise.
The professor also corrects pronunciation issues.
Finally, the professor proposes an exercise to practice the correct placement of the voice towards the high notes using the vowel “a”, and gives her advice on this practice that will help her improve her vocal technique.
Language: English
