Is Evita the hardest role to sing---ever?

[Bettyboy72]

"Some parts are so effing high, when my voice isn't up to it, I sound like a cackling hag in heat."

Hence, Elena.

[TheatreDiva90016]

No. Try a role that sings AND dances.

[janeshon1106]

I have seen roles that reach higher. Nonetheless, Evita is definitely a challenging role. I wouldn't say its the hardest ever but its not easy.

[GlindatheGood22]

Elena Roger notwithstanding, I'd like to narrow the question down a bit - what's the most challenging part of the score? I would assume it's the octave leap into, "He supports you..." but I'm not a singer at all.

[Neverandy]

Yes that theme is hard. Also Rainbow High is pretty difficult as well.

[bobs3]

Even though she is too old for the part, I would love to hear Audra McDonald sing Cunegonde.

[shrekster224]

Agreed that Rainbow High and A New Argentina have some of the highest vocal parts, but Good Night and Thank You probably also takes tons of practice and focus because of that harmony that sounds like it's off key ..."There is noone, noone at all- never has been, and never will be...". I always think that it's the singer that's off, but seems it's written that way.

[blaxx]

Eva can't be harder than Emma.

[ljay889]

The new york accent which he uses (which is really strong) can take a toll on ones voice as well as all of the notes he needs to belt.

Is this serious??

[tphiliboy152]

ljay889: Yes I was being serious. I don't know if you saw the show, but Jeremy talks with a thick accent every time he is on stage. It can take a toll on one's voice if they do it 8 times a week.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I agree about Diana in NEXT TO NORMAL, but disagree about the Marin comparisons.

Yes Marin has much more vocal technique then Alice, but she mixed/switched into her head voice for much of the score, and used some lower keys. There's nothing wrong with that, but she approached the score in a different manner.

[bwayphreak234]

The new york accent which he uses (which is really strong) can take a toll on ones voice as well as all of the notes he needs to belt.

[Bettyboy72]

Idina-Marin tookk the role going in with the request of tweaking the score a tad to fit her voice. That is knowing your instrument and taking care of yourself. She delivered an amazing performance consistently. That part of the actor's job.

"The new york accent which he uses (which is really strong) can take a toll on ones voice as well as all of the notes he needs to belt."

Let's just say that some of these young kids aren't up to scratch. Anyone see Ebersole in GG? Two different accents, both strong and labor intensive mixed with shrieking, screaming, singing and belting and she performed with a cold. She had no alternate.

Older performers were just brought up differently.

[SonofRobbieJ]

The only way you can hurt yourself doing the New Yawk accent is if you're really bad at it and you have terrible technique anyway and perhaps strep or gonnorhea of the throat.

I think Eva is probably the hardest to sing because the expectation is that you have to belt the whole score. Of course, you don't. You can negotiate it differently, and still have it be well sung. With Emma, there's not expectation that all of it must be belted.

Lots of people think Eliza Doolittle is one of the most challenging roles vocally, because her speaking and singing at the beginning of the show should be a bit ugly, and become more refined and beautiful as the show goes on.

[SporkGoddess]

I love Audra, but I think her voice is too heavy for Cunegonde. You need to have a super light and flexible upper register.

[bdn223]

It is probably not the hardest role vocally, but I recently saw a crappy regional production of Legally Blonde. I have to admit Elle Woods is prodably one of the most demanding roles ever written, the only song she is not on stage for is the reprise or Ireland. Add to that fact each scene has a different costume, that she has less 30 seconds to get into each time. Shes got to lead some intense dance numbers. To top it all off she has to hold that not in "So Much Better" for around 20 seconds full belt.

[givesmevoice]

Let's just say that some of these young kids aren't up to scratch. Anyone see Ebersole in GG? Two different accents, both strong and labor intensive mixed with shrieking, screaming, singing and belting and she performed with a cold. She had no alternate.

Older performers were just brought up differently.


Not to defend Jeremy Jordan, because that New York accent thing is the strangest defense I've ever heard, but I think it's incredibly unfair to say that performers have alternates because they're lazy or don't have a good work ethic.

[beltingbaritone]

I just don't think Jordan's vocal technique is solid all around. You could hear it in the extreme tightness of his voice in Bonnie and Clyde, and you can hear it in Newsies too. However, I'm not arguing necessarily that the dialect he's working in is not difficult, or taxing, but maybe he just doesn't have the technique to approach it the right way.

Oh yeah, and men don't belt.

[wicked1492]

Beat me to it about "men belting." Even though your username describes a men's vocal part as "belting"... And I agree about Jordan's texhnique. He slams into some notes harder than Bailey Hanks slams a Chick-fil-A brownie into her mouth. Can't be healthy.

[beltingbaritone]

Wicked1492, I'm always just a little bit embarrassed by my username (hence, my signature), but I went to school with this boy who always referred to himself as a belting baritone, and I just cracked me up.

And holy cow! I just became a Broadway Star! My mom will be so proud!

*slinks away from unnecessary thread deviation*

[wicked1492]

It's ok. I'm embarrassed by my user name now too... Ugh. Let's be friends and get through this together.

[tphiliboy152]

Has anyone mentioned Christine in Phantom yet?