Ye who judge such an accomplished artist are judged yourselves for being so small that you cannot imagine another version of the classic song. this man is possessed of immense vocal gifts and hugely gifted in delivering the many forms of art and folk songs. your hateful and jealous negative comments are just the ticket that prevents many homegrown talented artists from being saluted in their own Land, America! Thomas, the MAN when it comes to tops for Lyric Baritones today. THANKS!
I also sang with him (at The Music Academy of The West...in Santa Barbara)in the late 1970's.He was only about 20-21 at the time.Even then(as a "post-teenager"),it was indeed, quite evident,that Mr. Hampson was destined for great(world-wide,grammy award winning) success.
Interesting to all the comments from people who know nothing of music (no music lessons) or nothing about Thomas. I went to grade school with him for six years and high school for one (he was one year ahead of me). So I heard him sing before his voice changed and after. I also attended one of his Masters Classes in 1995. He indeed is one of the best baritones ever.
i agree that nelson eddy was the baritone to beat all others,,,lets hope people will always remember this brilliant singer and keep his memory forever fresh. nelson and eddy and his singing partner jeanette macdonald should never be forgotten
oh my god! we've just heard thomas hampson fucking up a high note because it was too early in the morning. somehow it just feels good to see that worldclass singers sometimes have the same problems as you and me ;-)
i think the raspiness is magnified by the microphone here. I saw him sing this live, during the Song of America tour he mentioned in the brief interview, on a stage without a mic and it was just beautiful. I concurr with you about the end in this rendition, but when he sang that night on stage (without a mic) the ending was absolutley gorgeous.
He's a great orator. I was lucky enough to see him perform this piece live. That was before I knew what an amazing singer he was. I was able to "discover" him on my own :)
No one has sung this song any better than the great Tennessee Ernie Ford who had a big vocal instrument, knew operatic technique, but knew how to deliver a folk song such as Shenandoah. For someone as good vocally as Hampson, this ham-handed.
for god sake you people his not perfect, and even memorable but his performance is quite moving, he's sensible and shows great humanity in his voice and i think that is already great, thanks for posting!
love this one. best version online -imhop- sure cause mine`s not online yet... well done and faaaar beyond talking rubbish about opera or not. if some guy is able to move our feelings: enjoy, don´t destroy!
Hello, Kristy! Talking about his live performance,well... I was had a great expectation because I knew he is a wonderful, refined singer. But,like you, I only have heard his voice on cd or dvd. The concert was better than what I was expecting. Kindertotenlieder is a moving repertoire, Mahler is his favourite composer and he was able to put us ( the audience) in the heart of the songs. I mean,was able to share his emotions.
A bit spotty for such a highly regarded singer. If you want to hear a great full blown operatic version listen to Leonard Warren's recorded in the late 1940's. For a less grandiose but gorgeous male version try Tennessee Ernie Ford's recorded in the early 60's. For women's versions try those by Marilyn Horne and Sissel Kyrkjebo.
Yeah, the end is a bit strained, probably because of the hour. Nonetheless, Hampson is the leading baritone in the US today, no question about it. He also has a high-end that any baritone in the world would kill for.
Thanks for your reply. I just listened again and I agree with you that it was not perfect opera technique. But Shanendoah is not opera and I liked what he did. The ending may not be what he intended, but the fragile break in his voice seemed to punctuate the nostalgia. After such power, the weakness at the end just works for me.
It's the acoustics of the room that matter, not its size. How can you make a comment about his voice being to big for the room when you are listening to a recording that is now through your computer speakers? You aren't hearing his voice reflected off the walls of the TV studio (which may be designed to absorb sound) - you are hearing it via the mike and your speakers. You probably think I'm being pedantic, but you'd have to be in the concert hall listening to him live to get what you want.
It seems that it was very early in the morning, and if he didn't get the proper warm up time, which is what seems to have happened with that airy ending, you can't do shit about it.
Perhaps I shouldn't have used the term "nonsense". I was thinking more of those who claim it cannot be art unless it is done exactly to opera conventions. There are a lot of singers, like the 3 New Zealand so-called "popera" singers who have had some "classical" training (voice coaching) for the the sake of vocal health. But I just read somewhere that the technique used to project over an orchestra is not that good...? The basics of opera style may be healthy vocalism.
If you are a fan of opera, then it is probably the amplification of his voice that you find unpleasant. Think how voices in the hallway of an apartment house or shouting across a canyon can be amplified. But in a tiny room with properly sound-proofed walls, you can't hear someone shout across it (literally). There is such a room at the local university, and a TV studio may use similar techniques (but not to the same degree).
The voice... I was in second line(one or two meters from the stage), so, obviously I could hear the voice,better than the orchestra. About the power? Oh, yes,power enough. In the piano, pianissimo, or forte, I could hear everything. And even every consonant, If you are a singer you will know how important it is. Thank you for asking me the question about live performance. It is a good question because sometimes some singers sound different when they are on stage.
Bernstein worked with Hampson when the voice had not significantly deteriorated. Hampson never did sing as well as Cappuccilli or Milnes. For those who enjoy Fischer-Dieskau I suppose Thomas Hampson's Mahler is adequate. I see that you have exposed your own motives, in as much as "The thief thinks every man is a thief." All the best for your holidays.
Apparently in England it's racist to call a blackboard a blackboard - it has to be called a chalkboard. On the other hand the felt pen version - the whiteboard - is called a whiteboard. Nobody asked me if I was offended! Besides how can someone be offended by a board of his skin colour? That's political correctness for you...
I will probably be vilified for saying so, but I feel like I am being shouted at. This is supposed to be an intimate song. It's true that opera singers have to project over orchestras, but any decent singer sings to the room he is in. Hampson is screaming. Correct opera technique allows for piano as well as forte, and Hampson shouts on the highs and goes nasal and breathy on the lows and softs. His ending where he goes hoarse isn't intimacy, it's raping the song.
I'm an opera singer so I know a little about its technique. Proper technique allows for the flow of air past the vocal chords and into the sinus cavern and create a "loud" or "resonant" sound by the production of overtones in the head voice. Hampson has none of these when he sings this song. This can be conclusively determined by the fact that at the end, the air is "whispering" past his chords... meaning his production of sound relies on vocal tension. Ergo--shouting.
I'm sorry. I completely disagree with you. It was a majestic performance with a tender second verse. Who said that the song has to be intimate? Just because it is loud, it hardly means he is shouting. Usually people who don't understand operatic technique hear it as shouting.
I am not a fan of opera or opera technique, but I thought this singer did better than most opera singers do attempting songs like this. I see sluring the words into a continuous line as more of a folk trait - Joan Baez and Hayley Westenra (whose forte is really folk ballads) do something similar. That operatic technique is REALLY good is nonsense. More complex, yes; better, no. He'd be asthetically more pleasant if he let go of even more of his opera technique for songs like this.
Operatic singers may not sing every thing as if it's opera but, of course, some do a much better job singing popular music than others. Eileen Farrell, for example, sang pop music wonderfully well, more often than not singing it in an alto voice rather than in her operatic soprano. To be honest, however, Hampson just isn't very good here. Compare this version to Ernie Ford's more relaxed, conversational version.
"a slap in the face for all black people" Contrary to trendy popular opinion, not all music in America was invented by Americans of African descent. Both the melody and lyrics of this song go back to the Scott-Irish who immigrated to America. Also, "Shenandoah" refers to the river in Virginia, not the Native American chief as referred to in the video. This is a common misconception. wikipedia "oh shenandoah" for more history. White people are "ethnic" too! Omigod!
You reckon? A toupee is simply a sign of vanity, of not accepting yourself for the way you are, and since no toupee is even remotely convincing, it just makes you look ridiculous (in my opinion). And compared to Paul Robeson's version, this was pretty bad. That last, high raspy note was particularly painful. Sorry folks, if this offends anyone.
He's got a great voice, but he's oversinging this, I think. This kind of folk tune is meant to be simple. That's when you get to really hear it. Opera singers always sing everything like it's opera. I'd like to hear him do something like Amazing Grace without all the showiness. I bet it'd be terrific.
I don't know him personally of course, but thomas seems to me to be a bit too self-centred for my taste. He definitely enjoyed the comment on the richness of his voice from that reporter didn't he? anyway, his voice, is (used to be) astonishing.
The Good Lord give me strength. Another braindead opera fan who thinks TV can be broadcast without it being recorded... Not Miking him makes as much sense as not putting a camera on him.
Hampson is one of the worst singers ever foisted on the public. His tragic lack of proper singing method was not so obvious when his voice was young and the unsupported mixed voice allowed him a decent baritone range. As he's aged the faulty production has left him with a strident top and a breathy unsupported soft voice. The worst of it is his staying onstage to spread this caricature of "serious" art.
he clearly has talent... but i think he should stick to opera.. This song doesnt really fit him that well... He is good though so dont hate on me... Hearing his other stuff that is better... Plus this is just a weird arrangement of the song.
I am not a fan of opera or opera technique, but I thought this singer did better than most opera singers do attempting songs like this. I see sluring the words into a continuous line as more of a folk trait - Joan Baez and Hayley Westenra (whose forte is really folk ballads) do something similar. That operatic technique is REALLY good is nonsense. More complex, yes; better, no. He'd be asthetically more pleasant if he let go of even more of his opera technique for songs like this.
Ye who judge such an accomplished artist are judged yourselves for being so small that you cannot imagine another version of the classic song. this man is possessed of immense vocal gifts and hugely gifted in delivering the many forms of art and folk songs. your hateful and jealous negative comments are just the ticket that prevents many homegrown talented artists from being saluted in their own Land, America!
Thomas, the MAN when it comes to tops for Lyric Baritones today.
THANKS!
I also sang with him (at The Music Academy of The West...in Santa Barbara)in the late 1970's.He was only about 20-21 at the time.Even then(as a "post-teenager"),it was indeed, quite evident,that Mr. Hampson was destined for great(world-wide,grammy award winning) success.
Thomas hampsons rule britania in 1998 was among The Best ever!
Interesting to all the comments from people who know nothing of music (no music lessons) or nothing about Thomas. I went to grade school with him for six years and high school for one (he was one year ahead of me). So I heard him sing before his voice changed and after. I also attended one of his Masters Classes in 1995. He indeed is one of the best baritones ever.
ahahahaahah I loved his "good morning" at the end, after he was like ok so this note is not coming out...
I feel as thou I've awaken from a night of love making to bask in the morning light. This is simply brilliant, and well - sublime.
i agree that nelson eddy was the baritone to beat all others,,,lets hope people will always remember this brilliant singer and keep his memory forever fresh. nelson and eddy and his singing partner jeanette macdonald should never be forgotten
oh my god! we've just heard thomas hampson fucking up a high note because it was too early in the morning. somehow it just feels good to see that worldclass singers sometimes have the same problems as you and me ;-)
Could he BE more handsome and more talented?? Love, love, love him.
Amazing singer, incredible voice,I love to listen on it ❤❤❤❤❤
He does have a great voice. I went to grade school with him in Pasco, WA and to high school near Spokane. He was a grade ahead of me.
the way he talks sounds like he wants to burst out in singing.
Thomas, Spokane is SOOOO proud of you--such a nice, nice man. And talented beyond belief. I could listen to him sing the phone book.
i think the raspiness is magnified by the microphone here.
I saw him sing this live, during the Song of America tour he mentioned in the brief interview, on a stage without a mic and it was just beautiful. I concurr with you about the end in this rendition, but when he sang that night on stage (without a mic) the ending was absolutley gorgeous.
He's a great orator. I was lucky enough to see him perform this piece live. That was before I knew what an amazing singer he was. I was able to "discover" him on my own :)
He might crack up the last note, but his overall performance made me cry. He does these things so brilliantly!
No one has sung this song any better than the great Tennessee Ernie Ford who had a big vocal instrument, knew operatic technique, but knew how to deliver a folk song such as Shenandoah. For someone as good vocally as Hampson, this ham-handed.
for god sake you people his not perfect, and even memorable but his performance is quite moving, he's sensible and shows great humanity in his voice and i think that is already great, thanks for posting!
love this one. best version online -imhop- sure cause mine`s not online yet... well done and faaaar beyond talking rubbish about opera or not. if some guy is able to move our feelings: enjoy, don´t destroy!
Fantastic!
Amazing...
my choir sang this for our last concert of the year.
Hello, Kristy!
Talking about his live performance,well... I was had a great expectation because I knew he is a wonderful, refined singer. But,like you, I only have heard his voice on cd or dvd.
The concert was better than what I was expecting.
Kindertotenlieder is a moving repertoire, Mahler is his favourite composer and he was able to put us ( the audience) in the heart of the songs.
I mean,was able to share his emotions.
A bit spotty for such a highly regarded singer. If you want to hear a great full blown operatic version listen to Leonard Warren's recorded in the late 1940's. For a less grandiose but gorgeous male version try Tennessee Ernie Ford's recorded in the early 60's. For women's versions try those by Marilyn Horne and Sissel Kyrkjebo.
That's odd, he says he grew up in Spokane but he also is from Elkhart, Indiana.
He was born in Indiana but I believe he and his family moved to Washington when he was just an infant.
Bing Crosby was from Spokane, too. The ending was unfortunate. He should probably sing later in the day. Sinatra recorded in the evening.
@sumalumajumjum
Thank you for introducing me to Ernie Ford. So far, I've really enjoyed his song, titled, Try a Little Tenderness.
I agree. Jo Stafford's version is my favorite.
LoL CZcams comments crack me up... wonder what some of these professional critiquers sound like. :)
what year was this?
Yeah, the end is a bit strained, probably because of the hour. Nonetheless, Hampson is the leading baritone in the US today, no question about it. He also has a high-end that any baritone in the world would kill for.
@joelflorew ahahahah epic comedy
Thanks for your reply. I just listened again and I agree with you that it was not perfect opera technique. But Shanendoah is not opera and I liked what he did. The ending may not be what he intended, but the fragile break in his voice seemed to punctuate the nostalgia. After such power, the weakness at the end just works for me.
Did anyone else realize the slide show pictures had nothing to do with the actual theme of the song?
He sings Stephen
He sings Stephen Foster's Hard Times brilliantly..go get it sham!
f
It's the acoustics of the room that matter, not its size. How can you make a comment about his voice being to big for the room when you are listening to a recording that is now through your computer speakers? You aren't hearing his voice reflected off the walls of the TV studio (which may be designed to absorb sound) - you are hearing it via the mike and your speakers. You probably think I'm being pedantic, but you'd have to be in the concert hall listening to him live to get what you want.
Listen to Paul Robeson
Skip to 2:12
It seems that it was very early in the morning, and if he didn't get the proper warm up time, which is what seems to have happened with that airy ending, you can't do shit about it.
:P:P my name is james hampson!! :D haha
Perhaps I shouldn't have used the term "nonsense". I was thinking more of those who claim it cannot be art unless it is done exactly to opera conventions. There are a lot of singers, like the 3 New Zealand so-called "popera" singers who have had some "classical" training (voice coaching) for the the sake of vocal health. But I just read somewhere that the technique used to project over an orchestra is not that good...? The basics of opera style may be healthy vocalism.
If you are a fan of opera, then it is probably the amplification of his voice that you find unpleasant. Think how voices in the hallway of an apartment house or shouting across a canyon can be amplified. But in a tiny room with properly sound-proofed walls, you can't hear someone shout across it (literally). There is such a room at the local university, and a TV studio may use similar techniques (but not to the same degree).
The voice... I was in second line(one or two meters from the stage), so, obviously I could hear the voice,better than the orchestra.
About the power? Oh, yes,power enough. In the piano, pianissimo, or forte, I could hear everything. And even every consonant, If you are a singer you will know how important it is.
Thank you for asking me the question about live performance. It is a good question because sometimes some singers sound different when they are on stage.
ur welcome
wikipedia say he's a kavalierbariton
Thomas Hampson is famous for his piano singing of the American repertoire. That last note, not his best Piano singing for sure.
John Hall he didn't need to sing it that big with a mike in his face . Listen to Nelson Eddy recording .
There's no single way to sing "Shenandoah". i like this version though my personal favorite is Jo Stafford's.
Bernstein worked with Hampson when the voice had not significantly deteriorated. Hampson never did sing as well as Cappuccilli or Milnes. For those who enjoy Fischer-Dieskau I suppose Thomas Hampson's Mahler is adequate. I see that you have exposed your own motives, in as much as "The thief thinks every man is a thief." All the best for your holidays.
this recording didn´t make me cry....too commercial, a slap in the face for all black people
you must like justin bieber then
Apparently in England it's racist to call a blackboard a blackboard - it has to be called a chalkboard. On the other hand the felt pen version - the whiteboard - is called a whiteboard. Nobody asked me if I was offended! Besides how can someone be offended by a board of his skin colour? That's political correctness for you...
I will probably be vilified for saying so, but I feel like I am being shouted at. This is supposed to be an intimate song. It's true that opera singers have to project over orchestras, but any decent singer sings to the room he is in. Hampson is screaming.
Correct opera technique allows for piano as well as forte, and Hampson shouts on the highs and goes nasal and breathy on the lows and softs. His ending where he goes hoarse isn't intimacy, it's raping the song.
I didn't like that ending. And I think it could have been less shouty, but overall, pretty good.
@zolluuu
yeah, right.... a comment from some one who clearly has no idea what true art is about
well done but ernie fords rendition is my favorite.
Huh?
24 people prefer to start the day with Lady Gaga's songs.
I'm an opera singer so I know a little about its technique. Proper technique allows for the flow of air past the vocal chords and into the sinus cavern and create a "loud" or "resonant" sound by the production of overtones in the head voice. Hampson has none of these when he sings this song. This can be conclusively determined by the fact that at the end, the air is "whispering" past his chords... meaning his production of sound relies on vocal tension. Ergo--shouting.
I'm sorry. I completely disagree with you. It was a majestic performance with a tender second verse. Who said that the song has to be intimate? Just because it is loud, it hardly means he is shouting. Usually people who don't understand operatic technique hear it as shouting.
I am not a fan of opera or opera technique, but I thought this singer did better than most opera singers do attempting songs like this. I see sluring the words into a continuous line as more of a folk trait - Joan Baez and Hayley Westenra (whose forte is really folk ballads) do something similar. That operatic technique is REALLY good is nonsense. More complex, yes; better, no. He'd be asthetically more pleasant if he let go of even more of his opera technique for songs like this.
maybe. Let's hope he takes the time to warm up properly next occasion!
Hahahahahaha are you serious?
Lew Dewitt and the Statler Brothers have a much better country rendition on CZcams.
Operatic singers may not sing every thing as if it's opera but, of course, some do a much better job singing popular music than others. Eileen Farrell, for example, sang pop music wonderfully well, more often than not singing it in an alto voice rather than in her operatic soprano. To be honest, however, Hampson just isn't very good here. Compare this version to Ernie Ford's more relaxed, conversational version.
No doubt, but it's easy to be pedantic on youtube.
....und das soll der beste bariton sein-lachhaft!!!! wirklich lachhaft!!!
Done almost as an operatic piece? Nah!
"a slap in the face for all black people"
Contrary to trendy popular opinion, not all music in America was invented by Americans of African descent. Both the melody and lyrics of this song go back to the Scott-Irish who immigrated to America.
Also, "Shenandoah" refers to the river in Virginia, not the Native American chief as referred to in the video. This is a common misconception.
wikipedia "oh shenandoah" for more history.
White people are "ethnic" too! Omigod!
do americans also see how EPICALLY fake these people behave?
You reckon? A toupee is simply a sign of vanity, of not accepting yourself for the way you are, and since no toupee is even remotely convincing, it just makes you look ridiculous (in my opinion).
And compared to Paul Robeson's version, this was pretty bad. That last, high raspy note was particularly painful.
Sorry folks, if this offends anyone.
He's got a great voice, but he's oversinging this, I think. This kind of folk tune is meant to be simple. That's when you get to really hear it. Opera singers always sing everything like it's opera. I'd like to hear him do something like Amazing Grace without all the showiness. I bet it'd be terrific.
I don't know him personally of course, but thomas seems to me to be a bit too self-centred for my taste. He definitely enjoyed the comment on the richness of his voice from that reporter didn't he? anyway, his voice, is (used to be) astonishing.
come on - everyone wants to look good. I mean singers have to give a good impression - Hampson simply wouldn't look good without hair.
He should stick to Opera...
It's a folk song, its to be sung by all types.
His voice is a national treasure
The Good Lord give me strength. Another braindead opera fan who thinks TV can be broadcast without it being recorded... Not Miking him makes as much sense as not putting a camera on him.
Generally a nice moving rendition, I was about to say "very nice" until that raspy, breathy attempt at a 'piano' ending.... :-/
Hampson is one of the worst singers ever foisted on the public. His tragic lack of proper singing method was not so obvious when his voice was young and the unsupported mixed voice allowed him a decent baritone range. As he's aged the faulty production has left him with a strident top and a breathy unsupported soft voice. The worst of it is his staying onstage to spread this caricature of "serious" art.
he clearly has talent... but i think he should stick to opera.. This song doesnt really fit him that well... He is good though so dont hate on me... Hearing his other stuff that is better... Plus this is just a weird arrangement of the song.
This song exposes his poor technique.
Over the top his performance here. As I've said before, he should stick to Opera.
Horrible.
I am not a fan of opera or opera technique, but I thought this singer did better than most opera singers do attempting songs like this. I see sluring the words into a continuous line as more of a folk trait - Joan Baez and Hayley Westenra (whose forte is really folk ballads) do something similar. That operatic technique is REALLY good is nonsense. More complex, yes; better, no. He'd be asthetically more pleasant if he let go of even more of his opera technique for songs like this.