Johnabraytis (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

All Bellini sounds great to me.

carclamcc (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Have you heard Alfredo Kraus?

franrat (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

actually nobody said they hated it, it just did not exist, and some were quite quick to adapt when they realised the public was thrilled by it. Nevertheless i love Merrit, even if it sometimes does sound a bit too shrill

drewski67 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

What you hear is the way the music was intended to be sung, which is a voix miste that combines the chest with a strengthened and reinforced falsetto. When this music was written, tenors used this starting from high-A. These stratospheric operas were not intended to be sung in full chest voice. The composers actually hated this approach.

964390001 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

TELA CON EL VESTUARIO!!

thapelo27 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

What I hear is falsetto at High C. I still like Pavarotti, Gedda and more expecially Florez.

Samurai9 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The high C sharp is full voice, not head voice or falsetto, and right on pitch. Despite hints of cracking, Merritt gives a very good rendition of this lovely aria.

finidi72 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

¡Quién sería el encargado del vestuario!

cmorgan22 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

What I meant to convey with that comment is what beautiful legato he had. Perfect for this aria. And imagine having to sing this in the very beginning of the opera (sort of like Celeste Aida)!

cmorgan22 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Of all the versions on You Tube this is the best. I know Blake sang this at the MET with Sutherland in his early career. Like him or not, imagine hearing this with his great breath control!