Singers who struggle with low notes?

I'm not one to obsess over a singer's ability but rather the quality and effectiveness of their overall performance. But sometimes you can't help noticing when head voice is used in a part of a song that is usually most effective sung in chest voice.

But what about those moments where the opposite occurs and one can't help noticing that a singer can't quite sing a note that is on the lower end but has no problem singing the ones up in the stratosphere?

I'm currently listening to the original Mexican cast recording of Evita and I was struck with the consistency in which its star--Rocio Banquells--has trouble with the lower notes, which results in cringe worthy work-arounds or something that just barely achieves the proper pitch but still sounds awkward and forced. Yet, she is one of the few Evas who can sing those top notes in her sleep.

The worst is during "Buenos Aires" where her ultra clear, bright voice is reduced to a warbly mumur barley reaching the bottom note at "...una estrella de mi gran calidad." ("...just a little touch of star quality.")

I can't think of them now but I know several Fantines have had trouble with "...as they tear your hope apart" in "I Dreamed a Dream" and even more who employ work arounds in the finale where Fantine is required to sing one of the lowest notes I've ever heard written for the female voice, "...and you will be with God."

This made me wonder if greats known for their insane belts and upper registers have also ever been known to flub on the lower end. I can't think of anything I've ever heard Patti LuPone in which contains flubbed lower end notes. What about Merman? Just thought it was interesting, even though I'm having trouble thinking of other examples, it has got to be more common.

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Updated On: 9/15/12 at 07:57 PM

Bernadette Peters has hit very low notes (e.g. in SUNDAY and in Nothing Like a Dame on her Rodgers & Hammerstein CD), which is why Sondheim and Mandy (or just Sondheim?) joked she was a bass-baritone in the Sunday commentary. But I noticed in FOLLIES, although sometimes she would sing "The thought of you stays BRIGHTTTT" other times she would kind of say it (e.g. on the cast recording). Maybe it's an intentional 'acting choice', but I wonder if it was an issue hitting that low note...

Victoria Clark's "bright" was so amazing at Encores!, It's a shame they raised the key for LOSING MY MIND for her (even higher than Bernadette's I think). Is she also having a problem singing that note now :-/?

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Updated On: 9/15/12 at 08:20 PM

"while guys seem to get the songs that show off lower range"

though nowadays it feels most songs seem to be written for high tenors.

Me

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I think what's trickier about "Memory" is the range than the actual notes. I'm pretty sure you have to have more than 2 octaves, so the low notes wouldn't be horrible for an alto, but the high notes would be difficult, and vice verse for a soprano.

And though I miss baritone and bari-tenor roles, I secretly love the trend toward higher male roles because they are often right in my range.