Highest note belted on a cast recording?- Page 4

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:31am

Oh my Lord, this is like a debate on existentialism. There will not now nor ever be a consensus on what constitutes a true "belt "or a "mix ". It's a completely subjective analysis.

But I throw my weight behind the Melba Moore theories. She had the craziest high notes I've ever heard, and whether they were mixed or belted they were sure loud.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:50am

Good Lord, this thread is EIGHT years old.

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 3:09pm

Nancy Opel HANDS DOWN! "Privledge To Pee" from Urine Town. And lets not forget the E's she is belting FULL voice in "The Toxic Avenger". I've seen her do it with my own 2 eyes. And she's over 50.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 3:20pm

In "Memphis," Opel belted an A eight times a week, as did Glover. One performance when Felicia Boswell went on as Felicia, she threw in a couple of mixed notes even higher than that.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 4:04pm

Nancy Opel's been high-belting with the best of them since she was Patti LuPone's understudy during the original run of Evita.


OBSESSED!: Nancy Opel Plus the High Heels and Hoop Skirt of Evita Equals Trouble!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 4:19pm

I stand by my theory that men DON'T Belt. We just sing loud.
What's Katie Shindle hitting in LEGALLY BLONDE?

And Certain woman can hit some very high notes in their chest voice, but real belting to me is still The Merm, Delores Grey, Karen Morrow, Laurie Beechman and McArdle. Maybe they don't go as high but they have the "Belt" sound I crave. And Opel gets special mention.

[dexter3]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 7:07pm

Kate Shindle hits an A flat at the very end of the "Legally Blonde Remix".

Posted: 4/26/14 at 7:38pm

This is fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMpLTldVVAA

[jo]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:02pm

This was a very long time ago -- but watch Michael Ball build up to that last Bflat note for LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING, in a RUG publicity video before ASPECTS OF LOVE opened in London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43KfEb1mY8E


Many years later ( for ALWebber's Birthday Celebration concert), he repeats the end-note, while many other musical theatre stars watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb63CxqzCwA


Updated On: 4/26/14 at 08:02 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:24pm

Deena, that video and Audio were perfect for this thread.
Only ones missing were Melba and Morrow.

So who had the best "straight tone"?

Posted: 4/26/14 at 8:42pm

Here's Melba! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpmMfTtgGQ

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:01pm

But how many of them are still belting E's at over 50? Nancy Opel...LOL! And with ease might I add.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:07pm

How old are YOU that you keep acting like 50 is near death?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:26pm

Good one Dramamama!

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:33pm

Well I'm 54 to be exact. I'm sorry you assumed that I meant it in a negative way. But please note any other musical theater lady belting E's over 50?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 9:36pm

PalJoey, that's one of my favorite Obsessed! videos...Nancy Opel is hysterical.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 11:07pm

I think you are seriously under estimating the power of a woman's voice at 50. I daresay most of the women who could easily belt an E in their 30s or 40s could still do it 50. It's closer to 60, that you really start to see a change in a woman's voice. The fact that Patti LuPone can still sing the way she does in her mid 60s is just extraordinary.

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 11:12pm

No one is underestimating anyone. I merely stated that she is capable of singing E's well into her 50's. And still no one has come up with another name. So please forgive me if I am out of line.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 4/26/14 at 11:51pm

Not on a cast album, but let's give credit to Shindle here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWnOltQpT8g

She hits an A-flat above high C on the cast album and here decides to take it up a major third above. That's some serious ****. Bravo lady.

[Mel089]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 12:15am

For a male, the narrator in Hunchback of Notre Dame hits and sustains a high D at the end of 'Bells of Notre Dame'. There's the German cast recording as well as the soundtrack.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 12:17am

@ Broadwaystar2- Don't be, Mama accused me of the same thing- as if I was implying 40 was near death- it's all in His/hers Head.

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 12:33am

Can I just mention Morgan James??

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 1:55am

A list of a few women who I think could still "belt "in E, who are 50 and over: Carolee Carmello, Linda Eder, Liz Callaway, Lillias White, Maria Friedman, Kathryn Evans, Beth Level, Sharon Brown, Lynne Winterseller, Natalie Toro, Linda Balgord, Judy McLaine, Vicki Lewis

[Parks]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 11:23am

Just decided to creep on the boards for the first time in years. People are still discussing my question from high school? Dang.

[MeowCookie]

Posted: 4/27/14 at 2:23pm

Betsy Wolfe has a pretty fierce G 'belt' at the end of her version of Summer in Ohio on the L5Y revival recording.