Now, it's all very well to appreciate the wonderfulness of this. But damn it, all of you should go out and BUY this recording. Ms Upshaw deserves to get paid for being so brilliant. She didn't get this good just by wishing. She worked and studied and paid for voice lessons.
Her voice captures all of Cunegonde's emotions, the desperation, the ecstasy, the doubt, and the hesitation, with no need of actually watching the character. That is a rare skill that only superlative performers can achieve.
Dawn Upshaw puts her signature on everything she sings. It is hard to remove her memory when listening to other singers. I cannot listen to another Susanna in Figaro without thinking of her gorgeous interpretation. She is an absolute delight!
I'm a 17 year old male and I sing this occasionally, though my voice is not operatic, I am fortunate enough to find that I seem to be able to sing higher than the average male voice and some women's.
FireofSekhmet---keep singing this song if it pleases you. Yes, you could damage your voice if you pushed yourself to the point of discomfort, but please don't ever let pedagogues scare you away from material---difficult material inspires passion, and that's what's going to put you out in front of the pack. Unless, of course, you lose your voice..... ;)
I was there too =]] I sang this for my high school senior recital. It's such a tempting song, but don't be too harsh on yourself if you're not singing at Upshaw-level just yet =]]
You shouldn't really be singing this song until your voice has settled-- aka. until you're in your late twenties or early thirties. It's comparable to a young 16 year old tenor tried to sing "Ah Mes Amis"....it will KILL the voice!!
you shouldn't sing stuff like this all too early. this will break you're voice!! i also once sang too difficult songs once... result: i couldn't sing for five months and had some knots on my chords...
I sing this song often too, and I'm 14. As long as you're using your diaphragm and not pushing on those high notes (or any notes for that matter) you should be fine. :)
For me, my voice settled extremely early, and I've been able to work on arias I might not have been able to at this age. Only you know your voice. Sing on!
This is my all-time favorite "Glitter and Be Gay" -- she doesn't sound too operatic, but the technique is stupendous, and the E-flat is stunning. Plus, she actually gets that the character is laughing, unlike many operatic sopranos who seem to regard the laughing passages as an extended vocalise.
Maybe not my very favorite version, but in general there's no one better for American opera and "high-brow" musical theater than Ms. Upshaw. I like this CD and also The World So Wide.
I love that you actually typed out all the "Ha"s! Did you actually bother to count them? :P
Oh, I just absolutely love her higher register. She has such a clean and rich tone on her top notes! :)
gowaneil 3 weeks ago
Love Dawn!
Lukejoker3 1 month ago
I have bought the recording. But she cancelled a concert I drove 6 hours to see, so she still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
mpsmithpt2001 1 month ago
perfect
FrancescaChiejina 2 months ago
Now, it's all very well to appreciate the wonderfulness of this. But damn it, all of you should go out and BUY this recording. Ms Upshaw deserves to get paid for being so brilliant. She didn't get this good just by wishing. She worked and studied and paid for voice lessons.
richiedrr 4 months ago
oh... lala!!! extraordinaire!
isabelbleuet 5 months ago
Leonard Bernstein's exact thoughts* whilst writing this aria: "Soooooo.....how can I drive the sopranos batshit insane today?"
*Might not be his exact thoughts.
hkobb7 5 months ago
Absolutely brilliant! No one can top Upshaw.
Her voice captures all of Cunegonde's emotions, the desperation, the ecstasy, the doubt, and the hesitation, with no need of actually watching the character. That is a rare skill that only superlative performers can achieve.
alcyonae 7 months ago
Whoaaa! Her melismas are sick!
VocalEdgeTV 8 months ago
this is in my opinion the best version of this song Dawn Upshaw really nails Cunagande
beatlesopera 8 months ago
If any soprano is worthy of teaching a master class in vocals, it's Ms Upshaw.
She did a CD of Rodgers and Hart I can recommend. On it you will on some numbers hear the equally excellent Audra McDonald.
lskarin 9 months ago
Wonderful tone and her High E is so gorgeous. I just wish she didn't do scoops at the end...I know its for dramatic effect but still...
unexpectedsong232 10 months ago
A very fine performance!
Crwthy 10 months ago
I think this is a GREAT performance: it's beautifully, crisply sung and a well-acted version...and her exit is hilarious!
beachman831 11 months ago
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diana damrau version its so cool, but this...i liked!!!
sony07rock 1 year ago
diana damrau version its so cool, but this...i liked!!!
sony07rock 1 year ago
is this about Twilight?
hahahaGals 1 year ago
Dawn Upshaw puts her signature on everything she sings. It is hard to remove her memory when listening to other singers. I cannot listen to another Susanna in Figaro without thinking of her gorgeous interpretation. She is an absolute delight!
Brahmsfourth 1 year ago
I can sing it! I worked for like a month and now I can sing it! XD
pandagirl123 2 years ago
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely the BEST.
SauluteSunshine 2 years ago
I'm a 17 year old male and I sing this occasionally, though my voice is not operatic, I am fortunate enough to find that I seem to be able to sing higher than the average male voice and some women's.
this lady's voice is inspiring to me
I love this version, it is magnificent.
Emeraldz1992 2 years ago 10
Ah, Dawn Upshaw! What a class act!
franceseattle 2 years ago 9
ahahaah i love the hahahahahahahahaha page!!!!! her head voice is excellent! this woman is stunning!
GosfordAbercrombie 2 years ago
FireofSekhmet---keep singing this song if it pleases you. Yes, you could damage your voice if you pushed yourself to the point of discomfort, but please don't ever let pedagogues scare you away from material---difficult material inspires passion, and that's what's going to put you out in front of the pack. Unless, of course, you lose your voice..... ;)
funduval 2 years ago
Wow!!! I didn't know her coloratura was so good!!! She's better than Kathleen Battle!!!
romarius2005 2 years ago 4
I wish I could sing this as well as she does. I'm almost 15 and I have the notes, but not the tone - Dawn Upshaw has the most wonderful voice.
FireofSekhmet 3 years ago
Perhaps that's because you're "almost 15"
I was there too =]] I sang this for my high school senior recital. It's such a tempting song, but don't be too harsh on yourself if you're not singing at Upshaw-level just yet =]]
Talk2ben 3 years ago
Haha, it's so much fun though. =P
FireofSekhmet 3 years ago
You shouldn't really be singing this song until your voice has settled-- aka. until you're in your late twenties or early thirties. It's comparable to a young 16 year old tenor tried to sing "Ah Mes Amis"....it will KILL the voice!!
happyactor6 2 years ago
you shouldn't sing stuff like this all too early. this will break you're voice!! i also once sang too difficult songs once... result: i couldn't sing for five months and had some knots on my chords...
it's so dangerous!!
TheOnlyOriginalKebim 2 years ago
It's okay, I wasn't straining too hard. I skipped the really high notes sometimes, if I felt like I'd been singing them too much.
My vocal chords are resilient little suckers, don't worry... never lost my voice and don't plan to.
FireofSekhmet 2 years ago
I sing this song often too, and I'm 14. As long as you're using your diaphragm and not pushing on those high notes (or any notes for that matter) you should be fine. :)
For me, my voice settled extremely early, and I've been able to work on arias I might not have been able to at this age. Only you know your voice. Sing on!
BirdsongVids 2 years ago
This is my all-time favorite "Glitter and Be Gay" -- she doesn't sound too operatic, but the technique is stupendous, and the E-flat is stunning. Plus, she actually gets that the character is laughing, unlike many operatic sopranos who seem to regard the laughing passages as an extended vocalise.
snozzefactor 3 years ago 4
Completely agree
Lmao @ extended Vocalise
satBASS 3 years ago
Maybe not my very favorite version, but in general there's no one better for American opera and "high-brow" musical theater than Ms. Upshaw. I like this CD and also The World So Wide.
I love that you actually typed out all the "Ha"s! Did you actually bother to count them? :P
nclysander 3 years ago 3
No. That would take, oh, about a year.
operalover9001 3 years ago
@operalover9001 First time around is 86 "ha"s, second time around around is 78, the ending is 59. (Yes, I DO have a life. I just have sheet music.)
hegirard 8 months ago
stupenda!!!!!
ximenadore 3 years ago
She has such good control. Love her!
PoemSetToMusic 3 years ago 4