When trying to describe briefly Mati Palm as a singer
personality, I remember at first the idea of Fjodor Šaljapin: „There are many
things in art which cannot be explained in words. You reach a certain limit and
although you know that there are vast extensions and you know what exists at
these extensions, yet you can not explain it. Human being has no words for
that. It reaches the scale of emotions that cannot be expressed by words“.
Repertoire of Mati Palm included more than 80 stage
roles, more than 50 bass parts in vocal-symphonic forms and 28 song cycles. The
repertoire of nearly 500 solo concerts ranged from old classics to the modern
day. However, facts alone cannot give us the slightest idea of the loudness
or intonation richness of his voice.
Having acquired the basics of singing at Tallinn State
Conservatory with Jenny Simon and further training in Moscow, he mastered his
talent for two seasons at the La Scala Singing School in Milan. Even and
beautiful timbre throughout the register, the ability and skills to sing long
phrases, culminations taken with strong conviction - these are the qualities,
required for great operatic roles of Verdi: Attila, Philipp II, Zaccaria and de
Silva.
We can admire many of the world's top singers, but in
case of de Silva's aria, I have not heard any performance that could exceed
Mati Palm’s. Having performed for Moscow audience during the 1972 Estonian
tours, he had to repeat his perfromance for three times!
Main role in Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" in
Finnish, Estonian and German – Mati performed it always with refined
pronunciation and diction.
I and people of my generation have had an excellent
possibilty and honour to collaborate with Mati Palm on stagings. Our colleagues
were the leading soloists of Estonia at that time, Mati Palm being unddoubtedly
on of the best among them. Together we enjoyed attention anda
applauses at Savonlinna, Stockholm, Moscow and Paris.
I hope that this record keeps the voice of Mati Palm
alive through ages and gives to the listeners the emotional charge which cannot
be described in words.
Arne Mikk
opera director, long-time general
director of the Estonian National Opera
"Opera is my view of the world, my lifestyle and conscience, oratorio
my love, chamber singing my hobby"
Studies
When graduating from high school, a
decision had to be made, what next? I had already been singing in choirs since
first grades, performed as a soloist and even won the first prize on singers
competition in Estonia. On the ohter hand, I loved sports as well. My singing
teacher Ants Sööt introduced me to professor Aleksander Arder who told me that
I had sufficient voice and also musical hearing enough to try to enter
Conservatoire singing preparation class. I was accepted. Besides singing
lessons I was an active sportsman for a while.
1962–1968 Tallinn National Conservatoire (Jenny
Siimon)
1972–1973 Mosow National Conservatoire, trainee (prof
Hugo Dietz)
1974–1976 La Scala singing school in Milan (Renata
Carosio, Renato Pastorino)
1983 Berlin Komische Oper, trainee
The singer must have at least two octaves
or a little more of work notes. The current range from the bottom mi-bemoll to
the sol-note - which is not much, a tertz over two octaves - is the fruit of
learning. This range enables you to sing all the partiis.
Career
1967 singer of opera choir at theatre Estonia
since 1969 opera soloist
1976–1980 lecturer at Tallinn National Conservatory
signing department
1988 planned guest soloist at Berlin State Opera
1990–2014 Professor of the Singing Department,
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
1995–2000 Head of the Singing Department, Estonian
Academy of Music and Theatre
Significant competitions
Success in singing is determined by
singer's skills and ability to organize one's own inner attitude. The spirit of
an athlete forced me to take part in competitions both near and far. I had been
a thrower and pusher in sports. Psychologically, the singing competition is not
different: you have to time precisely the peak of your abilities.
1967 – Competition of Estonian, Lithuanian and
Belarusian singers, II prize
1968 – Competition of singers of the Baltic states and
Belarus, II prize
1968 – Global youth festival in Sofia, goldmedal
1971 – Competition of singers of the Baltic states and
Belarus, I prize
1972 – X Francisco Viňase competition og vocalists in
Barcelona, II prize
If you do not win another medal or prize
in the new competitions, your previous medals will fade.
Roles
81 opera parts in 68 operas and 1 operetta
1235 performances during the year on 46 stages
In addition to Estonia, he has performed in opera
roles in 17 countries on 67 stages.
Toured with theatre Estonia with 17 operas in 10
countries.
Vocal symphonic works
When studying difficult vocal works, I have
thought twice in my life that if I can learn just one line from here, I am able
to learn the rest.
During 52 years, Mati Palm's repertoire included 54
major works at a total of 270 concerts.
In addition to Estonia, Mati Palm has performed in
large vocal symphonic forms in 10 countries.
The most performed work (33 times) is Verdi's
"Requiem", bass solo can be found on this record.
Concert activities
Mati Palm has given 442 solo concerts, 233 of them in
Estonia. He has performed with 15 orchestras and 7 groups, there have been 60
concertmasters.
First performances as a soloist were in school in the
mid-1950s and the last in 2018.
Concert repertoire of Mati Palm included 554 arias /
songs from 167 authors.
In total, there were 2741 performances, which is an
average performance every third day.
Recordings
9 music films have been created, in which Mati Palm
appears.
His voice has been recorded on 32 records, 5 of which
are solo records.
This particular record is 33rd record.
In addition, one can find more than 300 concert
recordings for radio and television
Echoes in media
Bass Mati Palm started the concert with the aria "Ella giammai
m´amo" from Verdi's opera "Don Carlo". It was clear from the
first notes that he was not in Italy by chance. Using his "thundering
voice", Mati Palm can really make the theatre shake.
Amedea Volta. La Provincia, 1.02.1976.
Bass Mati Palm has the power and confidence of a deep organ tone, singing
either Verdi or Rossini or the works of any composer. This soloist has a
personal relationship with the person being interpreted and a very pleasant
sense of character. He can spice up the musical meaning.
Corriere Valsesiano, 26.12.1975.
Deep bass, beautiful timbre and
expressive, meaningful performance proved to be the main tools in the
embodiment of the rebellious character of Attila, the king of the Huns.
M. Bjalik. Vetšerni Leningrad, 12.07.1978.
Inviting Mati Palm to "The Dutchman“
was a brilliant idea: one can sense fate and desolate breath of open seas in
his majestic figure. His voice is superb: sometimes thunder, sometimes
tenderness, just as needed. Most effectively did he carry out his rigid and
motionless role, probably required so by the staging.
Seppo Nummi. Iltä-Savo, 8.07.1981.