The aria “Come scoglio” from Mozart’s Così fan tutte is an actual take a look at of a soprano’s ability, with lengthy sustained tones, quick and rangy fioratura, and its notorious very wide selection (and sudden shifts from excessive to low and again once more). I first encountered it in an English-language efficiency by Eleanor Steber in English. No, this was not the complete recording with Blanche Thebom, Richard Tucker, Patrice Munsel, et al. It was a recital disc – Eleanor Steber “Reside on the Continental Baths” that I had checked out from the library. I later heard two dwell productions within the LA space – first, a pupil manufacturing at UCLA, and second, one in 1988 at LA Opera with sisters Maria Ewing and Carol Vaness (an impressive Fiordiligi) directed by Peter Corridor (who was married to Ewing on the time).
Nevertheless, a latest episode of the podcast Countermelody jogged my memory of the good Ina Souez, who sang each Fiodiligi and Donna Anna within the inaugural season of the Gyndebourne Pageant within the mid ‘30’s and have become a star. The recordings of those 2 operas had been their first business recordings. Her recording of “Come scoglio” is tough to beat. The voice is robust and even all through the registers, the fioratura and large dramatic leaps are each dealt with with confidence and ease, and her type (coached by conductor Fritz Busch) would set a normal for the twentieth century.
I additionally realized issues about Souez that I didn’t know. She is of Native American heritage. Born Ina Rains, she took the identify “Souez” as a model of her maternal grandmother’s identify (who was Cherokee). After her success, Souez returned to her native United States in 1940 – simply within the nick of time – and served within the Ladies’s Air Corps through the battle. After unsuccessful makes an attempt to revive her operatic profession within the US, she turned to jazz. She finally received a job with the comedic band Spike Jones and the Metropolis Slickers. They had been very profitable and she or he made excellent cash, however she was the butt of his musical satire for over 10 years. (You may take a look at Spike Jones’s”Il bacio” (aka “Il Barko”) to see how low the mighty had fallen.) Ultimately of her profession, she did lastly return to singing concert events and educating voice in San Francisco after which later Los Angeles.
The are many glorious excerpts from Così and Don Giovanni accessible. As well as, her recordings of “Casta Diva” and “Ernani, involami” are notably nice. The complete voice, wide selection, and mixture of legato and florid makes the Verdi aria a superb show of her expertise. Verify her out.
