"Laughter' in opera...not exactly....

I will attempt to make this post as clear as
possible, given the subject of "laughter" in certain situations, and
ask you if you have ever had a similar reaction. My dear late buddy,
Bob fazio, a guy who favored the divos over the divas, had this kind
of "that is so incredible,it is FUNNY" expression. He was actually
basking in the glory of certain vocal utterances as if to say, "That
is not possible.....I cannot believe it." The so-called "laughter" was
actually a kind of "Gimme a break! That is not HUMAN!" thing,
accompanied by a kind of "laughter" that perhaps you would have to
witness for yourself to best understand.
Here are a few places in which we would share
that "That is so increible..it is FUNNY!" reaction:
1. As Caruso begins the recitative to the
Africaine "Deh ch'io ritorni" (sounds like a bass-baritone-well,his
last recording session.).
2. Africaine again..as Ruffo starts
"Alerta,marinar" as if the whole studio was crashing in.
3. The very opening of "L'amore de Tre Re," when
Pinza utters "Grazie,Flaminio"
and you wonder how any human throat could produce that tone.
4. When DelMonaco used to sing, "Sono il
bandito Ernani," like a stream of golden tone that rang out through
the house.

I have my own "gimme a break" sections,
for example, at the Milanov Gioconda B flat ppp in act one, every time
Birgit Nilsson opened her mouth, Richard Tucker's stunning B natural
at the end of the "Sleale" duet (he used to sing the tone at the
prompter's box), or when Cornell MacNeil sang the last phrase of the
Act three Ernani aria and the audience practically gasped at the G
BEFORE the final A flat, and then erupted in cheers.

What would constitute some of your "That is so
incredible,I laugh nervously" moments????
As ever
Charlie

On Jul 1, 12:47 pm, La Voce di Vendetta wrote:
> I will attempt to make this post as clear as
> possible, given the subject of "laughter" in certain situations, and
> ask you if you have ever had a similar reaction. My dear late buddy,
> Bob fazio, a guy who favored the divos over the divas, had this kind
> of "that is so incredible,it is FUNNY" expression. He was actually
> basking in the glory of certain vocal utterances as if to say, "That
> is not possible.....I cannot believe it." The so-called "laughter" was
> actually a kind of "Gimme a break! That is not HUMAN!" thing,
> accompanied by a kind of "laughter" that perhaps you would have to
> witness for yourself to best understand.
> Here are a few places in which we would share
> that "That is so increible..it is FUNNY!" reaction:
> 1. As Caruso begins the recitative to the
> Africaine "Deh ch'io ritorni" (sounds like a bass-baritone-well,his
> last recording session.).
> 2. Africaine again..as Ruffo starts
> "Alerta,marinar" as if the whole studio was crashing in.
> 3. The very opening of "L'amore de Tre Re," when
> Pinza utters "Grazie,Flaminio"
> and you wonder how any human throat could produce that tone.
> 4. When DelMonaco used to sing, "Sono il
> bandito Ernani," like a stream of golden tone that rang out through
> the house.
>
> I have my own "gimme a break" sections,
> for example, at the Milanov Gioconda B flat ppp in act one, every time
> Birgit Nilsson opened her mouth, Richard Tucker's stunning B natural
> at the end of the "Sleale" duet (he used to sing the tone at the
> prompter's box), or when Cornell MacNeil sang the last phrase of the
> Act three Ernani aria and the audience practically gasped at the G
> BEFORE the final A flat, and then erupted in cheers.
>
> What would constitute some of your "That is so
> incredible,I laugh nervously" moments????
> As ever
> Charlie