Thursday 16 January 2020

If you could sing like anyone, who would it be?

Back in the sixties, on Saturday evening variety shows, there was a 'Russian' singer (actually German) called Ivan Rebroff, who seemed to me then to be the best singer I had ever heard, by far - and perhaps the only one who I would really have wanted to be able to emulate.

Well, I have heard many singers since, some greater musicians than Ivan Rebroff - but as someone possessing a pure vocal gift, with direct appeal to the emotions - probably none better. To be able to sing from darkest deep bass to sweet falsetto soprano... well that would suit me just fine.

A singer such as Rebroff would - I feel sure - make a good living and bring great pleasure among any people, in any society, at any time in history.