Amartuvshin Enkhbat’s A♮ in Ernani - Imitation or Innovation?
In my opinion, Amartuvshin stands as one of the greatest among greats, and history may yet place him even higher.
There is something specific that intrigues me, and I wonder if anyone might be able to help. In the fifth bar of 'Oh, de’ verd’ anni miei', on the word "larve," Amartuvshin sings the notes A♭ A♮ B♭ C E♭ rather than the A♭ B♭ B♮ C E♭ indicated in the score.
I haven’t encountered this variation elsewhere, but perhaps someone reading this has and might know its origins?
Excerpt from Oh, de’ verd’ anni miei - Ernani (Verdi)
This reminds me of Dmitri Hvorostovsky singing an A♮ in "Per me giunto" on the "o" of the second "l'estremo"—a choice he maintained throughout his career and which I have since heard others emulate...
Excerpt from Per me giunto — Don Carlos (Verdi)
... I wonder if future baritones might likewise adopt Amartuvshin's A♮, or if he himself picked it up from an earlier interpretation?
