dermotafan (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I totally agree with you hedgechair. And I might add that Dermota sang it too on the night when Patzak cancelled. It was an opening night, a night after the premiere of Don Giovanni in which he sang Ottavio.

pisherfamily (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I agree ipmoic. I heard him sing this role at the Met, but I also remember him doing Peter Grimes there and in the Mad Scene, his voice filled the hall physically, as if that barn were too small for his voice.

ipmoic (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

For those of you who never heard him live, I can justifiably assert that he had the biggest voice of any singer I ever heard. His voice was a cannon--although he was just as stunning in his pianissimi as one witnesses here. A marvelous gift of nature. An openness and volubility that was just amazing.

Cavaradossi10 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Wow - I suppose it says a lot that this magnificent record of Vickers' Florestan excites such heated debate. He was and remains monumental - in the same tradition as Patzak and Windgassen, although obviously heavier than either. James King and Jess Thomas were also notable Florestans, and personally I prefer King to Vickers because he is more inclined to let the music speak for itself and Vickers could be rather mannered. Heppner and Domingo both have their virtues as Florestan, as did Jerusalem

Vendimi3 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Well, about Kaufmann...I didn't say comparable to vickers: I said BETTER.

dg6da (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

...compare Kaufmann to Vickers????? Kaufmann?

Luck1au (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Kaufmann does a reasonable job with what he has, but he is not in Vickers class, not even close, Ben Heppner does a much better Florestan then him and so does Neil.

hedgechair (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

To all warring parties. If we argue about singers we love, instead of celebrating them, the world is in trouble. Kaufmann can sing wonderfully with a most un-german sound and a big nod to Vickers. Vickers is Vickers, however, and his elemental sound is unique in the age of recording.

jhgreenhorn (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

you suck! kaufman's sound is clearly artificially produced as it is woofy and their is very little squillante! Do you even listen to the voice? Or do you just get all swept up in the music like most novice listeners!?

jhgreenhorn (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

he has terrible technique and you have no ears for the voice!