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Billie or Ella? Maria or Renata? Technique or feeling?

I stand back to no one in my admiration for Ella Fitzgerald's technique but all the vocal fireworks make for precious little emotion. Billie Holiday on the other hand makes you feel she's singing just for you.

Technique vs emotion also goes in listening to Renata Tebaldi (superb technique) and Maria Callas who like Lady Day makes you feel she's singing just for you.

David Oistrakh was a violinist who combined flawless technique with raw emotion. Sviatoslav Richter was his counterpart on piano. Their modern day successors are Julia Fischer on violin and Daniil Trifonov on piano.

chowkwan

Showing 2 responses by cd318

cd318
2,636 posts
 

Feeling, every time for me, though I must confess that Billie Holiday gives me a headache every time.

An appalling voice, down there with Adele!


Maybe that’s the problem with feelings, they’re usually just so subjective.

Whereas with technique, there’s normally very little to disagree about. Hank Marvin, Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton are all good technicians despite their obvious differences.

 

You’re often better off with performers that seem to have a good balance of both - the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, the Smiths etc.

 

cd318
2,636 posts
 

 

Both are great but Callas was a better actress. Given her life story, she had to be.

There's a great line in the comments section by Larry Mitchell,

"Tebaldi songs with a gorgeous voice.  Callas speaks to the gods."

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