Some quick observations on Russian coloratura Nezhdanova, to whom Rachmaninoff dedicated his Vocalise:
- The singer is not young.
- The voice is startlingly bright.
- The breath renewal is slight and free of gasping or need to breathe.
- The singer appears to sing on MINIMAL air.
- The tone is rock steady and lacks any ‘wobble,’ despite the singer’s advanced age.
- The tone has a ‘girlish’ quality.
- The mouth postures are largely non-divergent, the mouth opening slight for the top notes.
- The top note is sustained for some time on what would appear to be a minimal intake of breath.
- The sound possesses what the Italians might call ‘squillo.’
- The singing appears to be largely effortless and devoid of strain, pressure, push, or forcing.