#76
Posted: 12/19/12 at 7:41pm
I'm a big fan of the show yet I knew that I'd have to lower my expectations somewhat given that film actors don't always come into these projects with trained voices. Of what little I've seen (including this clip), here's what I can offer...
The only true weak links to me are Crowe and Seyfried.
Russell Crowe is singing completely from the head with an awkward pressed phonation. There is some chest voice participation, but he's not supporting his breath from anywhere but the head, neck and shoulders...a real NO-NO in singing whether it's musicals OR opera. The diaphragm is key. His vocal coach seems to have tamped down the rock aspect of his voice somewhat, but he could have stood to try singing more lyrical. Hopefully his "Stars" will have more lyrical phrasing.
Amanda Seyfried seems to struggle with range and breathing...and the latter could do *some* good for the former. She clearly isn't breathing from the diaphragm, and there seems to be lots of constriction in the throat (larynx). I've heard rumors that she doesn't quite master the high tessitura of the other parts of the role, and this could be why. Also, it may have just been a character choice (being separated from Marius), but she looks very pained throughout, as if the struggle to sing is registering on her face more than the acting choice.
As for the others...
Hugh Jackman's vocal coach should have been smacked for not encouraging him to have rounder vowels near the top of his range. He's got this habit (not just here, but in other shows) to sing through his nose and not open his mouth enough. The higher declamations of "one day more!!!" suffer from too much engagement of the nasal passages. That's my main beef with him. He seems great otherwise.
For those commenting on Eddie Redmayne's Kermit-the-Frog voice, I think you might be onto something. It sounds as if his larynx is slightly raised, which opera singers refer to as a "Knödel" (german for "dumpling") as if the singer has a dumpling stuck in their throat. I'm not too worried about it though. His upper range is mostly fine.
Samantha (and likely the musical director + director) made the wise choice to cut back on the belting of certain phrases. Aaron is adequate, maybe not as stirring as a stage Enjolras, but this is film and we don't want "Producers" film-style acting, do we? Sacha and Helena are just fine, at least in what little we see.
All of this said, I will try to keep an open mind as much as possible. I want this to be good...but I'm also realistic.
The only true weak links to me are Crowe and Seyfried.
Russell Crowe is singing completely from the head with an awkward pressed phonation. There is some chest voice participation, but he's not supporting his breath from anywhere but the head, neck and shoulders...a real NO-NO in singing whether it's musicals OR opera. The diaphragm is key. His vocal coach seems to have tamped down the rock aspect of his voice somewhat, but he could have stood to try singing more lyrical. Hopefully his "Stars" will have more lyrical phrasing.
Amanda Seyfried seems to struggle with range and breathing...and the latter could do *some* good for the former. She clearly isn't breathing from the diaphragm, and there seems to be lots of constriction in the throat (larynx). I've heard rumors that she doesn't quite master the high tessitura of the other parts of the role, and this could be why. Also, it may have just been a character choice (being separated from Marius), but she looks very pained throughout, as if the struggle to sing is registering on her face more than the acting choice.
As for the others...
Hugh Jackman's vocal coach should have been smacked for not encouraging him to have rounder vowels near the top of his range. He's got this habit (not just here, but in other shows) to sing through his nose and not open his mouth enough. The higher declamations of "one day more!!!" suffer from too much engagement of the nasal passages. That's my main beef with him. He seems great otherwise.
For those commenting on Eddie Redmayne's Kermit-the-Frog voice, I think you might be onto something. It sounds as if his larynx is slightly raised, which opera singers refer to as a "Knödel" (german for "dumpling") as if the singer has a dumpling stuck in their throat. I'm not too worried about it though. His upper range is mostly fine.
Samantha (and likely the musical director + director) made the wise choice to cut back on the belting of certain phrases. Aaron is adequate, maybe not as stirring as a stage Enjolras, but this is film and we don't want "Producers" film-style acting, do we? Sacha and Helena are just fine, at least in what little we see.
All of this said, I will try to keep an open mind as much as possible. I want this to be good...but I'm also realistic.
