As some of you know, I am new to singing, and never used to listen to much classical vocal music, so my knowledge of the classical singing world is very limited. I am supposed to train in the soprano range.

I went to the local library a couple of times, but without knowing what names to look for, it was a chore. I wanted to sit down and listen to the CDs that I randomly picked out, but there were always teenagers either cuddling or sleeping at the seat with access to headphones and CD players... I ended up borrowing Pavarotti CDs all the time.

Will anyone give me some names of good classical singers I should look for, and what to look out for in their singing?

Currently, I only know these names:

Luciano Pavarotti - of course, arguably the best tenor in the world

Cecilia Bartoli - I like her voice, though I am told she is mezzo-soprano, which doesn't make a difference to me right now (should it even matter?)

Inessa Galante - I have only listened to her "Amarilli, mia bella", to find out how a woman would sing the song. Not very familiar with her otherwise

Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Russian baritone. I liked his "Gia il sole dal Gange". Really energetic

Hayley Westenra - Is she more pop than classical?


Are there any sopranos I should listen to? I personally love listening to deep voices, but I guess I should also learn from those with high voices

Side Question:
Does it matter where the singers are from? I am told that it is best to listen to Italian singers when it comes to Italian songs, as it is their mother tongue. What about German and French songs? Who are the singers I should listen to? I have heard Hayley Westenra sing in German, but was distracted by her slightly strange accent (different from how my native German teachers spoke).

I don't think there will ever be a concesus on this as we all have our own personal likes, dislikes and favourites. I particularly like, and have always liked, Felicity Lott as a soprano. I also like Barbara Bonney and Angelika Kirchchlager. Mind you, most people I like (composers too!), no one else has ever heard of!

David

I would add Emma Kirkby, Angela Georgiou, Elizabeth Schwartzkoph and Margaret Price to your list as well as Llio Evans who will be well known soon (and who is a former student of mine)

Hayley Westanra has a good voice and I used to think that it would have lovely if trained for early music but she has gone down another route now. She wouldn't be on my list.

Yes, definitely Emma Kirkby.

Stick Renee Fleming on your list as well.

And maybe some Kathleen Battle, Kiri te Kanawa, Jessye Norman, and Audra McDonald for a range of soprano voices.

Bryn Terfel, Mark Padmore, Ian Bostridge for the boys.

A lot of these singers will have a 'best of' type album which will show a range of styles of music as well.

K.

As long as I get my masters (surveying not music) I think I'm going to buy myself the 21cd boxset of Fischer-Dieskau singing Schubert Lieder for about £50.

(There's quite a few of his on youtube)

Or great voices I would also add Joan Sutherland, Victoria de los Angelis Jussi Bjoerling and Elly Amerling to that list too. Oh and how has no-one mentioned Callas. It may not be the prettiest voice, but the sense of performance is there.

Thinking about it where is Beverley Sills, Kirsten Flagstad and Kathleen Ferrier? Or Titi Gobbi? John Tomlinson? Jose Carreras, and Placido Domingo?

Slightly off topic, but I did a google search on Llio Evans, after I read your post petrat. You must be very proud.

Some voices have great tonal quality but their owners don't know what to do with them. It is rather like owning a Bechstein grand and not being able to play it very well.

I love Rosa Ponselle

Wow, thanks for the recommendations, everyone!! I have collected a list of singers to listen to from your replies. I spied a German-sounding name (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who seems to be Polish) among the first replies, which is good news because I have never heard a German-speaking person (other than pop singers) sing in German. Das ist ja super! Vielen Dank fuer die Empfehlungen!

I will take some time to go through the full list, checking against the library catalog and the Internet, which is great because I probably won't run out of names to look out for now. Ladies and gentlemen, you are the best.

Try reading some biographies and books about the singers, and also typing their names in on youtube.com, you should find some good videos.

Renee Fleming's "The Inner Voice" is a brilliant book and gives a real insight into the singing world, and the tough journey she's had.

I am currently reading Victoria de los Angeles, by Peter Roberts.