Oscar Natzka Vidéos
Basse lyrique Néo-Zélandais du XXe siècle
- basse
- Nouvelle-Zélande
- artiste lyrique
Dernière mise à jour
2024-05-03
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Tchaikovsky Oscar Natzka 1912 1951
This song has been recorded under several English titles, such as "O Bless you, Forests" and "To the Forest", as well as "Pilgrim's Song." It is heard here under the latter title, recorded on an old 78 by Oscar Natzka +••.••(...)). He was born in New Zealand (his surname was originally spelt Natzke) and he enjoyed an operatic career before his early death at the age of 39. His singing was notable for its excellent diction, as will be heard on this disc.
Oscar Natzka Handel George Lloyd Ezio Pinza Siepi Shtokolov Petrov Covent Garden 1726 1912 1932 1938 1939 1941 1948 1951
Oscar Natzka +••.••(...)) A curious and ultimately sad case among 20th century basses is that of Oscar Natzka (originally Natzke), who would undoubtedly be better known today were it not for his untimely passing in 1951, at the age of 39. Born on a small farm in New Zealand, Natzka began formal training in Auckland with retired opera singer William Garret and made his debut at the Town Hall in 1932. Three years later he was awarded a scholarship to study with world-renowned voice specialist Albert Garcia at the London Trinity College of Music. After graduating, he auditioned for and was accepted by Covent Garden, where he attracted considerable attention as the blind feudal lord De Fulke in the world premiere of George Lloyd's opera "The Serf". Natzka eventually became very popular in England, especially after the war, but his initial forays in the U.S. were less fruitful. An audition with the MET in 1941 yielded no results, as the company had just signed Ezio Pinza and did not need another principal bass. However, Natzka did have some success at the New York City Opera, where he bowed as Sparafucile in 1948 and was signed to a four year contract. Sadly, it was also in New York that Natzka died of a stroke during a performance of "Der Meistersinger". As for Natzka's recording career, it began almost simultaneously with his early Covent Garden performances (the bass signed with EMI's Parlophone division in 1938.). And what of the voice itself? The Yorkshire Post described it as "a deep sonorous bass, whose low notes come right from the pit of the stomach like the chords of a great organ". Perhaps that is slightly overstating the case, but the instrument is certainly impressive. Although it lacks the warmth of, say, Siepi, Shtokolov, or Petrov; it is quite large, always smooth, very well-polished, and with a substantial range (down to a resonant low C in the song 'In cellar cool'). Also, Natzka's diction is clear as a bell, and the veddy, veddy British manner is quite suited to the aria at hand- 'Hear me ye winds and waves', from Handel's little-recorded opera "Scipione" of 1726- which I have chosen for Natzka's Youtube debut. The recording dates from February 23, 1939, with H. Robinson Cleaver at the organ.
Cheek Kathleen Ferrier Gluck Oscar Natzka Mozart Thorn 1370 1948
Following a specific request, this is a somewhat tongue in cheek test of the acoustic performance of a Mk 1X EMG gramophone (recently dated as being manufactured around July 1948) in three modes: 1. With no horn. 2. With a broken off stub horn. 3. With a full 22 inch bell diameter, mainly paper, Mk 1X horn. The bell of the horn in the background (the EMG Xb Oversize model) is made from fibre-glass and has a much larger mouth diameter of 33 1/2 inches and is thus capable of reproducing considerably lower frequencies down to approximately 80 Hz---perspective is confusing. The records are : 1. "Che Faro ?"---Kathleen Ferrier---Orpheus---Gluck. Decca K1466. 2. "O Isis and Osiris"---Oscar Natzka---Magic Flute---Mozart. Columbia DX 1370. Two spring EMG soundbox. Burmese colour thorn needle.
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Tous les jours, soclassiq cherche de nouveaux articles, vidéos, concerts, etc. sur la musique classique et l'opéra, leurs artistes, leurs lieux de concert, leurs orchestres....
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