I am a tenor. Therefore I am either ideally suited to review this newest offering that seems to fall under the "alternative classical" umbrella or the worst person possible. After listening to this nice little slice of Euro-pop dreck I have concluded I'm a very bad choice. So let the fun begin.
I could go into how when this merchandising of opera singers started with the Three Tenors (Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti), concerts in the early 1990's it looked to many young voice students at the time - like me - like a good thing. It was cool to think that finally when you told someone you were an opera singer, a tenor, they wouldn't give you the requisite blank stare and say something brilliant like, "I like to listen to classical music to go to sleep." or, "Why are all opera singers fat?"
I could go into that, but I won't. Suffice it to say that now we've been through all sorts of Three Tenors - Irish, American, African American - and someone decided they'd just go it one better, get ten young and presentable tenors together and make a pop group that is like an unholy cross between the Backstreet Boys and Chanticleer, with none of the talent of either.
Tenor literally just means a high-voiced male. By that definition most of the male pop stars singing today are tenors. There's the rare baritone - David Bowie might fit that bill, Elvis did - but generally in pop music it's the squeakers, squawkers and screamers in the stratosphere that have gotten the most attention. Think of Robert Plant, Ozzy Ozborne, Steve Perry - all three sing their best, or did sing their best, in a tenor register.
However, it's really rather rare to refer to rock singers, pop singers, as tenors, sopranos, etc. In fact, when I've read a piece of criticism or an article about popular music and the writer uses one of these terms to describe a popular vocalist, I tend to think it indicates a bit of pompousness on the writer's part. Tenor is really more often used to talk about classical vocalists. That's what I was thinking when I popped The Ten Tenors: Larger Than Life in the cd player.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dana Huff
I think it's odd that the fangirls/boys over at the discussion group leaped to the assessment that the review was poorly written, just because it wasn't glowing. It actually wasn't that bad. There were some moments singled out for praise. I think it is very sad and very unprofessional that it was one of the Ten Tenors who started the thread over at their "site" decrying your review. Be a man, for G-d's sake, and take your lumps. I'm sure this isn't the only criticism of your performance you've heard. I gave away free tickets to your Atlanta show (we couldn't go) to a couple of opera aficionados who really didn't like the performance. When you put yourselves out there to be reviewed, as these guys did when Steve claimed the CD from Blogcritics, you have to take the chance it won't be a glowing review. If they had read more carefully, they might have seen he had some good points. However, to make ridiculous assumptions about his own talent when you haven't heard it is childish. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. If you can't take the occasional boo or hiss, get off the stage.
2 - Eric Olsen
it was ever thus Dana, give them what for
3 - Eric Olsen
And very nice review Steve, speak the truth, it is your truest friend ( supportive wife's pretty good too)
4 - Admin
Hello,
Just to clarify... the post in The Ten Tenors' discussion forum was made be me (and I am not one of the tenors). Whilst I can't speak for our fans, I can say that TTT welcome feedback of all types... we found your review genuinely entertaining. Whilst we, obviously, don't agree with the panning you gave most aspects of our album, we respect your right to loathe it.
Similarly, in rebuttal of what Dana suggested above, I don't agree that it was unprofessional for us to link to Steve's review... how many other artists openly draw attention to detractors of their music on their own websites? Surely it represents a greater attempt at achieving truth to indicate that The Ten Tenors' music is NOT for everyone. Could be that it's not a sound marketing principle, but hardly unprofessional I'd have thought.
If a review like yours keeps one grumpy person away from a TTT show and, in turn, leaves room for somebody who would like what the group does then your work here is done and The Ten Tenors thank you.
In the same way you suggest that if TTT put themselves out to be judged by others then they should be prepared to take the heat (which they are) I'm sure Steve expects people to react to what he's written... isn't that the job of a reviewer after all? Isn't that why these blogs have the facility for making comments?
TTT are realistic about the music business - you can't win over everyone... but the suggestion that they are in some way trying to exploit their fans for commercial purposes does not accurately represent the philosophy of a group who have been slogging it out for many years taking it to the people.
Anyway... as I said in my initial post, Steve Huff... we salute you.
5 - Dana Huff
To clarify: no, I didn't say it was unprofessional to link it. The sarcastic tone adopted by a serious web site administrator, whom I mistakenly thought to be a representative of the group -- that is what I said was unprofessional. You all are awfully selective readers. You attacked Steve's writing when what you really didn't like was what he said. There's a big difference between the two. He's actually an excellent writer, and he knows his stuff where this particular issue is concerned. But thank you for letting me know that the Tenors were not involved in this insipid business; it vastly improves my perception of them. It's a real relief to know that; however, I think you should probably be aware that a casual visitor to the site, seeing the professional nomenclature "Admin" and the location in Australia might believe you do indeed represent the group. You might take more care, as people could, as I did, develop erroneous ideas about the group (i.e. that they whined about bad reviews) based on what you say at their website. It would be all too easy for people to get a bad perception of the group when in actuality, it is a few of the group's purported fans who deserve that perception. I suggest a disclaimer of sorts.
6 - DIRECT PUBLISHER
We want make a great concert with the ten tenors, would you mind send us de e-mail contact and telephone of the ten tenors.
thanks
7 - Diane
While the review is dastardly (is that still a word?)in chastizing these young men's efforts at musical production, what is frightening to me is that the reviewer would identify Josh Groban as the only good voice to come out of the recent years of musical effort. Russell Watson, the strapping English lad with what can simply be called "The Voice" is far superior to Groban, is certainly superior to any of the voices in the Ten Tenors, and is a stand-alone singer of incredible richness. One truly familiar with tenors singing operatically in the last five years would have certainly given a nod to Mr. Watson as having "the chops to sing opera."
8 - Eric Olsen
"dastardly" is a great word - 10 points
9 - Steve
Russell Watson is probably one of the most eccentric-sounding 'tenors' to put his voice on record in many years. I gave Mr. Watson no nod because he, quite frankly, sucks, in the most dastardly way. He is not even as good as Andrea Bocelli, who also can't touch any of the golden age voices, (early golden age; Gigli, Bjoerling, late; Domingo, Pavarotti, Corelli, Vickers). If he has those 'chops', then why haven't I seen him on the Met roster? What is obvious to me is you are the one who knows nothing about tenors, or you wouldn't have made such a laughable statement - I'm sure you don't have any idea who the majority of gentlemen I named above are or were, save Domingo and Pavarotti. Russell Watson is a pop singer, plain and simple, and completely a product of his publicity machine. What I heard in his voice was this peculiar baritonal growling on the bottom, straining up through a remarkably neck-y, pinched, UGLY, middle voice, into studio engineer-tweaked high notes that he most likely made several separate cuts to attain. The reason Groban, who is not a tenor at this point anyway but nominally a lyric baritone, is a better singer is because his voice is far more easily produced and natural-sounding than someone like Russell Watson's. He is not ready for the opera stage, either, but I'd rather listen to his unforced, natural sound any day than put up with the tortured sounds of a Russell Watson. Go to a damned library and check out some cd's of operas with REAL tenors, sopranos, mezzos and baritones in them before you make such a ludicrous statement. Dilettanti like you will be the death of opera - not that you probably have the artistic or historical awareness to care.
Russell Watson. Good God.
10 - joanne
While I understand that the critic of this album is a critic and therefore has his right to an opinion, to judge a live act on a studio recording and then to blast them without seeing them live is not the true work of a critic. Yes, this album is not true to their show, but it still very well produced. The fact that groups such as the ten tenors are out there promoting classical and popular music to the masses, is necessary for the next generation before they become completely mind numb, and they will whilst the critic promotes tenors such as josh groban, not a fantastic choice for someone who claims to be a tenor. Having been a voice teacher for many years, having seen the tenors show, having seen that josh groban sold over a million albums after being oprah, makes one wonder if the critic isn't being swayed by fantastic overrated marketing. does josh write any of his songs, is he out there performing LIVE all the time. No. The young man can't because his voice isn't conditioned enough to sustain six concerts a week and never will be whilst he is molly cuddled by critics such as this. The ten tenros album allows normal everyday people to sit down and listen to opera and in the western world -which is apparently centres around the USA that is a dying breed. Yes, it has popular songs but that is what they do as well. They don't proclaim to be only classical reportoire tenors, they claim to be performers which they are and will always be a million times better than someone who spends his time inside a recording booth and on chat shows. They don't proclaim to be solely classical and if you thought that they did, then turn the cd case over and see their play list, and then don't buy it if you're a purist who can't see that diversity is what will need to happen for performers to sustain life long careers, instead of here then gone careers of young men and women who are manufactured. One wonders where the tenor critic got his training from.... certainly no-where that is embracing the wonderful diversity of the twenty-first century.
11 - Steve
"Having been a voice teacher for many years, having seen the tenors show, having seen that josh groban sold over a million albums after being oprah, makes one wonder if the critic isn't being swayed by fantastic overrated marketing."
First, madame voice teacher, you obviously did not read my additional comments in response to others such as yourself, where I state that Groban is NOT a tenor, but at the least a lyric baritone, and not ready for the operatic stage.
The one who is swayed is you. For one thing, I've not bought with my own money a single "popera" album, ever, including any "Three Tenors" album by Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti after 1992. I received the Ten Tenors cd for free with the express understanding that I would review it, and I did. If you were a real voice teacher you would have acknowledged that what I said about Groban was not that I was even a fan so much as I like the fact that he sings easily, simply, and in a relatively unforced manner. Please note I said relatively. I'm not a fan of his, I'm merely not offended by him.
I did not say they claimed to be merely classical - I said as an opera lover and singer, if I see TENOR on the album, I have a certain expectation. One they only fulfilled in the most minimal manner possible. You didn't acknowledge that I noted it's obvious some of them are very fine singers, you didn't notice that my biggest problem was with their selection of pop songs. Vangelis? ABBA? There is better stuff out there. Better songwriters. Bocelli is a weak wannabe to my ear as well, but he gets better songwriting to support his 'pop' efforts.
As for the attempt at sly sarcasm about my training, I'm afraid it was far more focused on giving me a solid grounding in bel canto vocalism, a school of singing that reaches all the way back to Manuel Garcia. That, acting, movement, and dramaturgy, so my approach to the roles I sing is grounded intellectually.
Please don't use this as some opportunity to slap Americans around, either. That's simply a cheap shot.
I do not have a problem with operatic vocalists singing pop music. With operatic vocalism becoming accessible to EVERYONE. That would be wonderful. I do have a problem with compromising the general idea of what tasteful singing is.
You are simply a fan, and if you are a teacher of adult students at the conservatory level I am frankly amazed you even commented here. My impression is that you are someone who has some voice training and hung out her shingle for the local high school age students to make a few extra euros on the side. Riddle me this: did you think Charlotte Church was an excellent singer? Or do you think she should sue her first voice teachers? Is having a 'beat' in the voice at age 17 normal?
In fact, riddle me this? Who was Manuel Garcia? Difficulty: don't use google.
What also strikes me, in closing, is your utter lack of acknowledgement of the tenors I pointed out who are surpassing examples of the tenor's art, particularly Bjoerling, who most halfway decent voice teachers I've known tend to acknowledge as the gold standard, at least in technique. Perhaps your only goal was to defend those cute boys you are obviously a big fan of, but from a "voice teacher" I'd expect a bit more careful reading and even-handedness before tossing your hat so frankly into the Ten Tenors Ring.
And by the way, since you made comments that to me indicate you are decidedly not an American, as well as your spelling of the word 'centers', and have some distaste for Americans, let me just inform you, where ever I go, whatever I do, I am and will always ineluctably be an American Tenor, born and raised, and immensely proud of the fact. I cannot defend my native country's anti-intellectualism, I cannot defend it's international bullying, and I'm no fan of George W. Bush, at all, but I'm still a son of this soil, and will not allow ANYONE to take me to task for this, or use my words as an example of some negative idea of American Thought. They are my thoughts, and they are not controlled by anything but my own interest in fidelity to a great, originally EUROPEAN, art.
If more Europeans believe as you do about the joys of the Ten Tenors, then when you kill opera, I suppose it will be somehow appropriate. I cannot in good conscience, proud American or no, say that we will be the people to save your a$$e$ when the death of that art form is in the offing.
We're all a bit tired from having saved your a$$e$ in every other respect for the last 100 years or so.
12 - Arthur Ayotte
When PBS was carrying on its annual fund raising we were impressed by the Ten Tenors, an Australian group. They sang a lot of Verdi and stole my heart. I bought a package to their performance in Panama City on 4 Feb.
I was deeply disappointed. As the performance began, one of the singers came forward and urged the audience to enjoy themselves by applauding, whistling and screaming when they were pleased. Instrumental music consisted mostly of a piano and a BASS DRUMMMMM thumping throughout the performance and threatening the structural integrity of the building.
There were but four operatic pieces, per se and the Hymn of the Hebrew slaves was in snatches of a strange, empty, barely recognizeable arrangement.
The HORRIBLE part was the juvenile screaming of females in the audience. Can you imagine the singer holding that long note in La Donna e mobile and gaggle of juvenile females screaming their applause as though they were at a rock concert?
The fourth operatic piece was Nessun Dorma, sung after I had walked out.
13 - Steve
Mr. Ayotte - I am not the least bit surprised.
14 - OneTimer
I am not going to return to this site so you can make clever elitest insults while I am off doing things more useful than childish online banter:
That being said, the Ten Tenors are performers. They perform nightly from March 23rd (tomorrow) until April 17th, excluding the three days they are off. Thats 3 and a half weeks with only 3 off days. Anybody who has performed anywhere near that often will respect that. It is therefore ridiculous to expect their voices to be pristine. If they performed even just once a week they could probably do some AMAZING work. As is, my impression was that they are meant to entertain, which they do, and that the CDs were meant to be reminders of the live performance.
If you have certain expectations when you see the term "tenor," that is prejudice and a fault of yours. As you said, "tenor" simply means a male with a high voice. They sing within that range so they fit the name. If you assume an asian person is smart or a jock is dumb, those are both prejudice assumptions. Judging all tenors to be of a certain type before hearing all types of tenors is similarly prejudice.
The thing that irked me about your review is how you wrote it. Instead of saying things like "if you are expecting opera style singing, this is not for you" you say things such as "I could rage for pages about how bad it is." Basically you say they are bad and to not buy the album. If you in fact do have any type of ear for music, you know they are not bad, but quite good. They are not what you expected/hoped, but that does not mean they are not good.
Other than that, I was able to put up with your contradicting statements. Lastly, I cannot help but note how humurous I found it that your wife defended and praised your review so intensely. On second thought, what she said is probably what she really believes and is unaffected by the fact that she is married to the writer and is presumably stuck with him for the rest of her life. I dont think she had any influence to write such a lengthy comment from her husband. This would be understandable if she had identified herself as your wife, had not made incredulous assumptions about the group, or had continue to use the name "Diane Huff" instead of shortening it to "Diane." Coincidently "Steve Huff" became "Steve" as well. Most people do not look at the names so I suspect "Diane" did not wish to be identified as the wife of the author so that she would have more credibility. I myself would not have noticed this if I had not read the post at the TTT forum where the name "Steve Huff" was stated repeatedly.
That is all. As I said before, feel free to make comments about me with your wife and these sheep who apparently read all of your reviews and comment due to their excessive wish to fellate you. I will not be back to further acknowledge your ignorance.
15 - Tristan
And HE has the balls to talk about "names"--going in as "One-TIMER"--!
and then the "sheep" here (he's specifically pointing at richard porter---baaaaaaaaaaa......)----
with their EXCESSIVE (????) wish to fellate the writer (he--what about ME..??? I want some FELLATION TOO~~!!!)
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
16 - Steve
Wow! Sheep, and fellate in the same paragraph! I'm impressed.
Easily the funniest comment I've ever had on this entry. Thanks!
17 - Tristan
Fellating sheep----
are they into bestiality ~~~???
hmmmmmmmm....
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..........
18 - Steve
Yep - I guess we could explore the psychosexual symbolism of "one-timer" choosing to use the words "sheep" and "fellate" in the same paragraph, but that wouldn't be all that family-friendly, now would it?
I thought they were more sophisticated than that in Cincinnati!
19 - Steve
A little correction to the one-time sheep-fellating commenter; my wife's name is DANA.
Dyslexia, sheep, and fellatio in one online discussion. What a brave new world we do live in!
20 - Tristan
Furry little sheep~~~~
when I used to go to the island of eleuthera to go surfing back in the 70's--b-4 it bacame famous & developed after Charles & Diana had their honeymoon there--
it was a totally pristine paradise from 150 years back in time; you never needed to wear a watch--you went by the sun and darkness--period!
and walking around the little towns at dusk--the natives would pull you up on their porch and make you eat with them and dring their famous pineapple rum they made on the island from their tiny little pineapples that were so juicy they squirted you when you cut them open..
but, not to digressssssssssssss:
the local boys kept trying to get us to come fuck SHEEP with them all the time--raving about how great they are~~~
i passed in favor of a few girls from Nassau that would lie nude on our surfing beach ........
oh well..!!!!
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~~~~!
21 - Connie
I am simply one who enjoys music as do a lot of individuals in this world.
I for one enjoy the music that the ten tenors sing out, and will add them to my collection, as I have done with the King singers, the Eagles, Manhattan Transfer, and Santana. Take a lighter look at life and enjoy the ride and performance.
22 - earl
Is the piano player the conductor and arranger
23 - Laura
THE TEN TENORS ARE GREAT!!!!
You cannot not judge them just by their CD when you, definetly, not know whattheir are meant to do!
Of course, they are operatic singers, all well tought in tenor singing and every singly guy has already sung in great musicals s.a. Cats, Grease, Phantom of the Opera etc etc etc.. So they definitly have great voices and fit the name 'tenor' (not just by singin extremly high but also by beeing professional trained)!!!!
But well, what they do as 'The Ten Tenors' is not meant to be all classical and serious in that way! They want to ENTERTAIN! and besides that they want to get us (less operatic interested people) in touch with that classical section which by the way worked!!
So, do not compare them to Pavarotti, Domigo etc.. They are UNIQUE!!
And of course, you cannot judge them by their name in camparison to what they do. If you had informed yourself at least a little bit (which I take for granted for writing critics) you would have read about their beginning.THEY STARTED ALL CLASSICAL!
Now they do what they are interested in, that how they keep things so interesting!!!!!
24 - Nathan
While I may be a bit late for this discussion, I couldn’t help but join in. Fantastic debate! I should probably point out that I am an ex member of this group and so there is no doubt that I probably do hold some bias. But I, like many of the tenors who have been in or are in this group, have a string of operas to my name, tutor and hold master classes in singing and theatre at a reputable university and ,on the albums or album that you would have heard, sing many of the screamingly high ‘pop’ notes. All this and I’m only 29. How exciting! Of course you won’t find my name at the Met and I’m ok with that. I also haven’t seen the name Steve Huff up in lights there and I imagine he is ok with that too. So now that we’ve got the “who do you think you are to comment” thing out of the road, we can get into the real core of the discussion.
It seems to me Steve that you have suffered from a problem that many people who are first timers to a TTT experience have suffered. That is the one of seeing the word “tenor” and presuming that these guys would be opera purist. And believe me, you are most certainly not the first person to feel this way and you definitely won’t be the last. The problem with the use of the word tenor is that many people, including some classically based artists, equate the word only with opera. This, in my opinion, is a mistake. As you said yourself, the word tenor, in singing terms, refers only to a voice type and ,I believe, is in no way linked to a particular style of music. Sebastian Bach (the old singer from ‘Skid Row’) can be considered as much a tenor as Placido Domingo can. Why? Because he has a high male voice. (Yes. I was most impressed that I found a rock artist with a name that most would immediately give a ‘classical’ connection to).
These guys (The Ten Tenors) are passionate about their opera, there is no doubt about that. But they are passionate about all music, be it pop, rock, country or classical. And that has been the winning attribute for The Ten Tenors for the past ten years. Passion! One look at any of the Tenors posters or photos and one can see that you aren’t in for your typical stand and deliver classical based concert. They don’t hide that fact. The average age of the group is around twenty-six. Now you, as a singer Steve, would know that the male voice does not typically mature fully until you are well into your forties. Of course there are always some exceptions to the rule. But I doubt any of these young men would ever be looking to be compared to the likes of Roberto Alagna and Placido Domingo at this stage of their lives. Who knows what the future holds for them. But I will say this. Here is a bunch of boys who have put their balls on the line for the last 10 years to make this thing work. There is no big time producers pushing this one. They weren’t satisfied with sitting in the chorus of some mouldy opera house waiting and hoping for their time to come. They took charge of their own destiny and have made something of themselves. You cannot take that away from them. They used to play the small club here in Australia with just a piano. Now they play the red carpet at the Emmys. Not a bad achievement. Maybe soon they’ll have a band and won’t need the synth that you loath so much.
By the way Steve, I am very excited to finally talk with some one who shares my opinions on Domingo. In your latest instalment you said all the things I have been trying to say to people about him for years. I thought I was all alone on that one.
Though, speaking of your latest instalment, I should ask if you have ever been a gymnast. This letter was possibly one of the most amazing back flips I have ever seen. Not what I was expecting from someone who so fervently panned these guys in his previous postings.
I am in no way out to attack you here Steve because I think your opinion is as valuable as the next guys and good on you for being man enough to put your opinion out there. But some of the things you said in the older posts surprised me a little. I do take into account that you had all of two positive things to say about them in your first letter but to say that this is the killing of an art form is reckless. In my experience with the group, I have never had an opera purist approach me and say that they would never have normally enjoyed the pop we performed but are now suddenly converted. But I have had many people approach me and say, I don’t go to operas and I never would have thought that I would have enjoyed that kind of highbrow music but tonight I loved it and I want to hear more. Now to your obviously finely tuned ear, The Ten Tenors may not perform opera the way you like to hear it. But with reactions like this, what the boys are doing is obviously working. They are bringing an art form that we both love back to the people and that’s where it should be. Accessible to the people instead of only being for a very select few.
The Ten Tenors don’t need to decide who they are. They know who they are and they use ‘cross over’ as a viable medium to bring wonderful art to the people. It’s the public who needs to decide what they want and that’s the joy of show business.
I thank you for throwing the cat amongst the pigeons Steve and look forward to your reply.
25 - Elisa
Now here I go entering into this FASCINATING discussion board as a newcomer. And I must confess I am a newcomer in terms of this discussion forum AS WELL as the whole Ten Tenors extravaganza! But for what it's worth, here are my credentialsa nd my opinion...
I am an operatic soprano who works both here in Asutralia and overseas. I whave worked with all state companies and Opera Australia as a principal performer. I also am a tutor at WAAPA in the Music Theatre department. In addition to these heavy and time consuming commitments I am a choral director for our local primary school choir, mother of three and wife of one.
So,
flying back from Sydney a month or so ago I was confronted by the Ten Tenors in all their glory on a QANTAS inflight video. My first reaction was ... "What the ...??" But then as the chardonnay took effect I relaxed and started to view the DVD from a lay person's point of view. I'm afraid the result was STILL "What the ...?" Perplexed and bewildered, when one of my WAAPA music theatre students told me he was auditioning for the Ten tenors (he is a mighty fine BARITONE!!!) I started to put things into place.
This was not ART, this was COMMERCE. And as a commercial venture, highly successful. And that is just fine. Only PLEASE don't pretend to be ART. It doesn't wash, it doesn't work, no one who knows anything believes you, and indeed there is a certain amount of contempt for such pretension. On the other hand, acknowledge that your venture is commercial, popularist, designed to make money, designed to tap into the common wellspring of operatic-ish sentiment, and, hey, go for it says I! Just don't pretend to be something you are not.