What is a Rossini tenor?
OUT NOW! Rossini Amici e Rivali, Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres
Changing the conversation around what is a “Rossini tenor” tenors Lawrence Brownless and Michael Spyres set out on a mission with their new album, showcasing the wonderful world that Rossini created through duets and trios.
We sent over some questions to find out more about just what the two were thinking when copulating this repertoire, and changing our conceptions of what we recognize as the tenor.
Photo credit Lawrence Sherwin
What is it about the period of time in opera history explored in this album that you both feel is often misunderstood? How have you tried to rectify that with this work?
Michael Spyres: During Rossini's time it was a time of vocal exploration and he was a master and pioneer in writing for the human voice. We wanted to show people with this album that the Fach categories that we have come to know never really existed during the time of Rossini. Singers would often go back and forth between baritone and tenor. Rossini helped bring the tenor voice to new heights, literally!
Lawrence Brownlee: Some people think the music of Rossini is easy, or not as complex as that of other composers, but I think Rossini shows a mastery that few can match. With this album, we have tried to assemble various lesser-known Rossini operas to show the ways that he was unmatched in writing duets for specifically the tenor voice. Many of these roles were written for Giovanni David and Andrea Nozzari- we have resurrected these works to show their obvious gifts and capabilities as singers in order to sing this repertoire.
Giovanni David
Andrea Nozzari
The album is called friends and rivals (Amici e Rivali), which of the characters has the best friendship and which have the best rivalry ?
MS: I would have to say the best friendship of the entire album is the Figaro duet. We had so much fun recording this and the characters of the figures actually fit both of us to a tee because we are both a bit mischievous but always good hearted. The greatest rivalry on the disc is without a doubt Otello. I don't think there is a greater duel than when the tenors are launching high note projectiles at each other in a battle of the high C's and even D's!
LB: Figaro and the Count have the best friendship. Otello and Rodrigo the best rivalry. I think the music also highlights this.
What is it that each of you love most about singing Rossini?
MS: I love the way that Rossini knew the voice in and out and he knew exactly where the voice should lie. I also love the eternal optimism that shines forth in his music and I absolutely miss it when I'm only singing serious repertoire from later composers.
LB: I love the genius way that Rossini utilizes coloratura to express emotions. Rossini's writing is virtuosic and very challenging, but well thought out. It’s not all coloratura, but also beautiful legato and gorgeous melodies. I love that there is so much variety in his music and it is not at all one dimensional.
Photo credit Lawrence Sherwin
In your opinion, what is a common misconception about singing Rossini repertoire?
MS: The biggest misconception is that Rossini is only comical and you need to have a light small voice to sing it. Neither of these statements are true and in fact he helped bring the Opera to new levels with his opera seria. Also, the idea that you need to have a small voice to sing Rossini is just asinine because everyone sang it whether they were Wagnerians, or Puccinians all the way up until the 1920s and 30s. Even if you don't ever plan to sing Rossini on stage you should be singing his music in the practice room because it will help your understanding of how to sing.
LB: One misconception is that you just need to have a voice that moves well. That is not all, you must be an expressive singer, with great command over your vocal instrument as well as a great communicator in order to be an effective singer of Rossini.
Your voices bring the best of the tenor world together. In which of the duets was it most challenging to highlight the differences in your vocal types?
LB: Our voices are very different, but I think the writing is most similar in “donola questo core”. Michael started as a baritone and is a real "bari-tenor." His sound is unmistakable. He also understands how to use the strengths of his voice to show the differences between our instruments.
MS: Honestly our voice types are so different that it is hard to imagine someone comparing us. This is precisely the reason why we wanted to highlight the repertoire made for our different voice types and to expand a few people's minds about what a "Rossini tenor" really is.
Photo credit Lawrence Sherwin
Which other Rossini roles outside of your specific fach would you be interested to sing given the opportunity?
LB: I would love to sing the roles of Otello and Agorante if they were right for my voice, but they are not. I like the roles dramatically. I am a person of color, and the characters were written that way. However, I believe that a person’s race should not matter when approaching roles because it is the voice that decides (although it could be an added bonus).
MS: To be honest I would love to do some select baritone roles and now I am starting to receive offers for Wagner and other heavier repertoire so I'm very excited to see what the next 10 years of my vocal development will be. Rest assured though, I will never ever give up singing Rossini and Belcanto!
Can we expect any more future collaborations?
MS: Absolutely! We had such an amazing time recording this album and we will be touring next year as much as possible. In the future, we would love to get back in the recording studio to collaborate on a further album. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible with our message of brotherhood and respect.
LB: Michael and I already have a few projects we have discussed and since we really like working together, the public can expect that there will be future collaborations.
Images by Lawrence Sherwin
Thank you so much to Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres for answering our questions. You can find Amici e Rivali Amazon, iTunes, Qobuz, Presto Classical.
Larry Brownlee
@brownleetenor //www.lawrencebrownlee.com
Matthew Spyres
@spikelmyers // www.michaelspyres.com
Interviewed by Avi Green
Avi is a Mezzo-Soprano and content creator based in London.