Here is a selection that has a voice that seems to compare favorably to Maria's, but without a hint of stride imo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNU1pvc2nv4
cheers
steve
Thanks, Steve. I found her on Qobuz
Is there much difference in the musical quality between Qobuz and YT premium?
Here is Maria singing the same selection. Although older recording, I think one can get a sense of Maria's vocal quality stunning. But I like Aida very very much. I am not an opera fan per se, but I find her voice so pleasing and soothing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN6IXWo_bpg
cheers
steeve
I don’t subscribe to YT Premium. When I listen on Qobuz, Tidal and YT, it’s on my iPad for fun. Serious listening of Qobuz and Tidal is via Roon on the big rig, as Marty used to say.
I thought Aida’s voice a little bit shrill on my iPad compared to Maria’s. No I didn’t check how old the Maria Callas recording was, but likely very many years ago. The loudness levels appeared to be different as well and Maria’s recording quite possibly rolled off at the top. Like you, I listen to very little opera and I’ve never attended an opera performance in person. A dear couple that I know are quite the opera aficionados and they told me some wonderful stories about attending performances in Italy.
Interesting. I found just the opposite on my system. Probably a different personal preference and/or better description this post. I found Aida's highs to have just slightly more body, slightly more fullness, creating a smoothness so to speak than Maria's throughout. Maria's was known for a dryness, aridity according to some critics. I agree but again it may be personal preference and description.
cheers and all the best.
steve
Steve,
I just listened again and had the same result. Are you listening to these ladies on a portable device or somehow through your system? I am simply playing mine on my iPad
Nick
Nick, you bring up a very interesting point that I think needs to be addressed, and also the point concerning a general balanced FR response discussed in the RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook.
The difference is that the iPad is not high fidelity and leaves out both the lower registers and highest registers. I played both selections thru my little computer speakers and Aida did sound slightly thinner than Maria on the high notes.
However, when I played both selections thru my reference stereo, Aida had more flesh and venue ambience (lower registers) while Maria's voice was thinner on the higher notes (higher registers) than Aida's. In otherwards, Maria's high notes contain more higher order harmonics than Aida's high notes, which the stereo reveals while the iPad does not. As mentioned earlier, that is why the critics believed that Maria's voice was somewhat dry and aridity, listening live.
Thanks for mentioning the iPad Nick. You bring up an interesting point with regards to frequency response in general, that the RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook, written by 26 RCA engineers, indirectly addresses. Below is the frequency response of the ear, via two graphs. If I may address the general public.
If one limits the lower frequencies of an audio system, as when the volume (spl) is low, then the midrange suchb as voices sound thin. One can either boost the bass (a control), or limit the highs (a control) to produce a more natural voice. In the case of the iPad, both the lows and very highs are reduced for a more balanced midrange, so Maria's higher harmonics of her high notes are limited to some extent. Thus Maria's high notes seemed less strident than Aida's voice which lacks the higher order harmonics.
Hope this answers some general questions.
steve