Gino Bechi about the low larynx
I: May I ask a technical question?
B: Please, go ahead.
I: This might be a stupid question, but should one sing with a high or low larynx?
B: Low! To the feet. For me, this is fundamental. The larynx should be low, and the throat wide. Now, whether it is difficult to free the sound with a low larynx is another topic. It is challenging, yes, but the larynx should remain low, wide, and always still, whether singing softly, loudly, or hitting high notes. It's crucial not to change anything when reaching for a high note.
I: If the larynx rises, do you get a throaty sound?
B: You don’t get throaty. It’s the old discovery by Duprez, of the famous chest high C. What did the discover? By changing technique, you can sing very well. If you follow nature and let the larynx rise when going up, you can still sing, but the result will be different. You can't create a proper column of sound this way. This is why Titta Ruffo was Titta Ruffo, whom I greatly admired and imitated. Everything should be loose and relaxed, allowing the vibration to strike in the mask, where it goes by itself. This is my personal opinion, it’s my own experience. If I were to sing again, I would do the same thing, perhaps just a bit better, but essentially the same. Now I have a lot of experience, though I don't have the voice anymore. But with all the experience I have, I could make an omelette! To keep the larynx down and free the sound. The throat doesn’t have to do anything else. It must stay down, dead and just function. It’s like a film camera: the lens must be in focus because if it’s even a millimeter off, the image won't be sharp. It's the same with the larynx—if it’s not in the right place, it won’t give the best result. When it’s correctly positioned, it functions like a well-focused camera, producing a clear image. This focus allows for a wide range of expression: cartoons, black and white films, color movies, dramas, even adult films—you can depict anything. Additionally, singing this way allows you to use the mouth to make colors with the voice. If you don’t do this, the voice becomes monotonous. It's incorrect when they say, “Bring the voice forward,” because when you do, the voice actually goes back. The more you sing from the bottom of your throat, the more the voice projects forward. Understanding these principles is essential.
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