Chris Bonds wrote: >But I have a new theory (ok, so it's not new): There are 2 kinds of >people--those who value intensity in opera, and those who primarily value >a certain standard of singing and vocal technique. I also suggest that >who these people are can be determined by whether or not they like Maria >Callas. Now I am confused, since Maria Callas certainly exhibited intensity in her operatic roles [at least as recorded - I only saw her in one performance.] Furthermore, Callas also exhibited a formidable vocal technique [viz. trills, runs, arpeggios], flawed only by an inherently unattractive voice. I think, Chris, you would have a dichotomy if you replaced the "...standard of singing ..." by "beauty of vocal tone." [It sounds to me as if you have not listened to much Callas and have accepted the "conventional wisdom".] Regards, Bill Karzas [log in to unmask]