MasterClass Monday: Mandy Patinkin’s Glorious Performance Of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”

February 23, 2015 by Masterclass Lady 5 Comments


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How often will you hear a male singer performing “Somewhere Ofer The Rainbow”? Not too often.

Originally performed by Judy Garland in “The Wizard Of Oz”, we normally associate this song with a female vocalist.

However, this performance by Mandy Patinkin erased any doubt that a male singer, with the right voice and artistic sensibility, could color this song with a totally different vocal palate.

This is a masterpiece of a performance – in so many important ways. Mandy Patinkin’s delicate delivery of this song, his creative and expressive phrasing, his emotional energy, the inflection and nuance in his delivery, the range of dynamics in his singing style, elevates this song to a new and exciting level.

Mandy lives in the moment when he performs this number, always immersing his vocal energy into the core of this and every song he chooses to sing.

And, did you hear the ringing sound of his head voice? The majority of this song is sung with more head than chest voice in his vocal mix and, believe you me, this takes courage, confidence and stellar training.

Then, when he chooses to augment the dynamic in the last part of this song, his head voice still remains intact as he craftily adds more chest voice to the mix, lending the listener a chance to hear the rich, robust quality of his singing voice. So beautiful!

And the last two, pitch perfect, beautifully centered counter-tenor notes at the end of this song were a bonus. I was not expecting this – but Mandy saved the best of the best for last.

MasterClass Tip: Also, check out his leg position everyone. Check. It. Out. One foot is slightly ahead of the other and that all- important bend in the knee is key to establishing a grounded support system for his voice. One can almost feel his back muscles, including the buttocks, revving up the diaphragm to work its magic.

This is how you do it everyone. This is how! And, with the start of live shows of American Idol this week, not to mention a new season of The Voice, singers should be studying Mandy Patinkin’s technical brilliance coupled with his highly communicative singing style. It’s not about screaming your message to your audience, people, but rather it is about moving them to honestly feel and experience a song in a new and exciting way.

You can purchase his Over the Rainbow
CD and the Individual download for the song on Amazon.Com

Yes, Homeland junkies – of which I am one – Saul Berenson can hum a mean tune like no other.

Check out the video below and be inspired by Mandy Patinikin’s 1989 performance on Letterman.

Masterclass Monday, Singing, Videos
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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5 Responses to “MasterClass Monday: Mandy Patinkin’s Glorious Performance Of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow””

  1. hunter February 23, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    mandy was on charlie rose for an hour. do you know charlie rose? he has a show on pbs every week day night. i always record it because it is on at 11. they discusses homeland, mandy’s singing, his career, etc. it is also on hulu. i don’t know if one has to pay for hulu? http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60308063

    Liked by 1 person

  2. janey79 February 24, 2015 at 5:36 am

    That was gorgeous!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Masterclass Lady February 24, 2015 at 10:19 am

    Wasn’t it Janey? Totally singular and absolute perfection. I loved how he swallowed his saliva while maintaining perfect concentration at the end of the song. It actually intensified the emotion of the song.

    Like

  4. Masterclass Lady February 24, 2015 at 10:21 am

    Hunter. Thank you so much for the link!! Cannot wait to watch it.

    Like

  5. jrzgrl1 February 24, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Wow, so young, both of them!! And yes, Mandy is a magnificent singer. He’s not just singing pretty notes – he’s telling a story with his whole body and soul. Beautiful!!

    Like