Elly Ameling live sings Fauré's "Après un rêve"

[AmelingElly]

As the poster of this video I would like to emphasize that this video was made from a rather poor VHS record made in 1980. It was posted simply because there are few video examples if her singing in concert. So, the sound quality of this video is quite poor and does do her voice justice at all. Some of her best recordings were made in the late 60's to early 80's but are increasingly hard to find.

[HEADSUPBERKELEY]

Cher Madame she was taught to use her hands in this position to enhance the breathe and control the muscles. That is part of the training and she is quite correct. It is my hope that I have helped you to get rid of hate which poisons the mind and heart.

[biastg]

This song sounds easy to sing. I can assure you, it is not!

[faithful02u]

Can't fault this sincere performance of a beautiful and atmospheric piece. I have sung this for exams and also in my one person show. It demands more of the singer physically as well as vocally. Live performance is of the moment, we give only what we have at that time and expose our vulnerability to the listener. Ms Ameling gives everything to create an atmosphere and leave us wanting to recapture the dream. All this on a brightly lit stage with no props. That's magical.

[theropodia]

Bjorling... go find it if you can.

[RobRoyRed42]

I got her "after hours" album at an estate sale and after listening a bit I was going to throw it away. I had never heard of her and thought it was some "local" talent that was so-so. Then I googled her and found this (and wiki and other sites detailing her career. I've never liked this style myself, but she is talented.

[Marice2223]

magnifique!

[Muziclovr1]

Brings back memories of seeing her in San Francisco. A wonderful talent.

[1mdrsinger]

I hate what she's doing with her hands the whole time.

[dtolbiac]

@1mdrsinger

I hate your comment.

[gharusa]

How old is this recording guys????

[marupaco]

I can see your generous soul just listening to your voice. That's what the world needs.

[abracadabranque]

Belle voix,diction impossible:Trop tubé!

[UeberHilde]

@hedgechair: I once had the pleasure of sitting in on one of Ms Ameling's guest lectures at the Conservatory in The Hague. She speaks four or five languages fluenty, and when she gets excited about something, she'll continue talking about it in the language the student happens to be singing... She's something special!

[hedgechair]

Ameling's was the generation of Ilse Wolf and Heather Harper who shared the effortless intake of breath and no air wasted in any note. Singers of the highest skill.

Ameling sang English better than any non-native I have heard by the by.

[kyaume21]

This is no doubt the best Faure interpretation by a female voice. Her cycle with Gerard Souzay is outstanding.

[billyguns2]

This lady knows how to take a proper singing breath, an art and necessity which has almost vanished from the face of the earth; "glamor" voice teachers demanding $250 per lesson don't even teach it! Many of these teachers are failed singers themselves; what gives them the right to rip off gullible students? Mr. Baldwin's playing is, as always, superb; not the usual unmusical banging passing for "support" we hear today, and many of these so called accompanists raise the piano lid up all the way!

[Marg002]

Ha, ha, ha. Had to laugh at Denyce Graves "blowing Ameling out of the water". Yeah... she's about that subtle. And her French is a joke. Ameling is a refined, intelligent, and profoundly beautiful artist in this repertoire. Few come close to her in these songs of Fauré.

[lornabegbie]

Beautiful dress, beautiful voice, beautiful artistry. Thank you. Lorna

[goldenthroat86]

I've heard undergraduate recitals at Oberlin that were better than this!

[philipvanlidth]

@goldenthroat86 With all due respect, I doubt that. And before you doubt my right to this comment, let me tell you that I am an alumnus of both Curtis Institute of Music and Manhattan School of Music and have heard some of today's top musicians in their student recitals...

[goldenthroat86]

@philipvanlidth Well...I attended Denyce Graves' senior recital at Oberlin. I think you can safely say at age 21 she blew Ameling out of the water!

[philipvanlidth]

@goldenthroat86 If by this you mean that her voice was much bigger, quite true. However, while I admire Denyce Graves greatly, bigger isn't necessarily better. I would prefer to say that each lady has her strengths and is great in her own way...

[goldenthroat86]

@philipvanlidth Bigger isn't necessarily bigger...true. It's all about the end result...making music and serving the composer. It's just that Ameling's voice TYPE is very common. A voice like Graves comes along with somewhat less frequency.

That said...I'd rather listen to Ameling ANY DAY over Kathleen Battle....

[philipvanlidth]

@goldenthroat86 I think we can agree on the your last remark, although I can remember when that wasn't necessarily so. I was in a production with Kathleen in 1980, when she was still a rather appealing young lady with a voice that carried in any situation, such was its focus. I might add that this was also a quality I prized in Ameling, whose every syllable could be heard clearly over a large orchestra in an outdoor venue. But I haven't heard Kathleen sing in years, and the stories...

[philipvanlidth]

@goldenthroat86 At any rate, while Ameling's voice type may seem fairly common, and as far as the category is concerned I will concede it, the actual voice is, at least in my opinion, uncommon within the vocal category. Once again, it is a combination of vocal technique, musicianship and personality that make Ameling unique among her similarly voiced colleagues...

[MustaffaCuppa]

Very nicely sung. The arrangment was just a little faster than others I have heard. I wish I could sing like that!

[paulostroff99]

A fine singer,but not on this one.

[FashionMarketingDiva]

Oh Lord. Ameling is absolutely NOT a mezzo. Where do you get that from this recording?

[Muzikman127]

@FashionMarketingDiva the fact that it's highest note is an F maybe?  I mean I'm male and I can sing this song with ease. She certainley sounds like a mezzo hear even if she isn't. Either way very well sung I thought

[cavendishable]

belle voix,, belle technique, mais désolée! l'esprit français n'y est pas! C'est allemand, tout ce que vous voulez...mais ce n'est pas du Fauré

[handelviola]

c'est quoi, l'esprit francais?

[firsa62]

Cavendishable, si la prononciation n'est pas parfaite, ça ne signifique pas qu'il n' y ait pas l'atmosphère de Fauré.

As-tu jamais écouté cette "chanson" par Barbra Streisand ?

[lagunagreg]

OMG, you mean Babs sings this song?!? Eeeww!!! Oh, that's right, she recorded that awful "classical Barbara" albumb when I was a kid.

[firsa62]

Yes, lagunagreg, IT was exactly what I meant. I adore that album....and I adore Barbra and her stunning versatility!

Sorry...what's the meaning of "OMG"?

[lagunagreg]

Hi Firsa,

OMG= oh my god.  Look, I like Babs as a pop singer and an actress, but she always sings in exactly the same way. I remember that she sang Handel's piangero and the aria from Carmina Burana. Now she sang those sings well, but she sang them just like a pop singer and just as she always had... as if she were on Broadway. And that just won't do pour les melodies francais du 19eme siecle, l'age d'or de l'art lyrique francais. That certainly goes for the slides Handel as well.

[firsa62]

lagunagreg, I don't agree with You.....IN TRUTINA is not sung in the exact same way as, for ex., SOMEWHERE.....or MY MAN.......

Anyway this in only an opinion.... ;-)

[lagunagreg]

And, I'm sorry to be a nag about these things, but Babs is not stunning in the classicasl rep. She slides, she's flat, she's pinched, and she never rings ever. How is THAT versatile? I know (and play for) at least a dozen singers who don't need amplification to sing in a 1,000+ seat hall. Babs can't do that, despite her good points.

[firsa62]

Babs is far better than Ameling in this song.....she has got a "warm" interpretation...and in fact she's also an actress...

[cavendishable]

Elly Ameling est une très grande interprète, soit! Mais ici, dans cette mélodie de Fauré,( en gros 1900, style nouille et femme fleur) elle manque singulièrement de sensibilité et d'abandon. Ré-écoutons les paroles! de quel rêve s'agit-il ? Est-elle languide, amoureuse ? Rien de tout cela, on la dirait interprétant" God save the queen", stand up et garde à vous!

[firsa62]

cavendishable, je suis d'accord avec toi!

Ici il y a la voix, la technique mais le coeur...mhm...

[lagunagreg]

Hi Cav,

I have to agree, the approach to the rhythm is very germanic. She has a lovely sound, sings legato and the french is not execrable. Mais le rythm et les phrase, les cadences, ceux-ci ne sont pas francais

[AshleyTAdamsOnline]

@cavendishable Qui sont les meilleurs chanteurs pour l'esprit français? J'etudie la musique de Chausson et Hahn a l'universite. Merci beaucoup!!!

[urgrad03]

It's so clean... she's a fabulous performer.

[Caramellatta]

This is up a tone, isn't it? Gorgeous.

[lagunagreg]

Hi Cara,

I don't think so. Ameling is a mezzo.

[mmisaku]

she is lder than battle,possible battle have been listen at her,but as a art songs ,just very very high quality singers you can compare with a such treasure,but better not compare,with anyone, she is unique!

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

its absolutely wunderbar! her technique reminds me of Kathleen Battle's, soubrettes.

[AKI0YK]

IMHO, it was Kathleen Battle who was greatly honoured by being named alongside Elly Ameling. I always think myself very lucky to attend Elly's concerts in 70's, 80's and 90's.

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

yes, thats what I meant!

I have never seen anyone sing the way KB does: its so physical.

Ameling too, you can actually see the whole body and face working...

funny old world the singing one...Te Kanawa looks comparatively still when siinging, Bartolis eyes eyes

yet all producing glorious and sopunds and in most cases art!

[eveningthought]

I love her! She is just perfect!

[aschnit0]

Her connection and sustainability between registers is phenomenal. So expressive.

[purrrforma]

Her clean phrasing is just to die for. Thank you!!

[PhillipLWilcher]

Yes, I love you!

[PhillipLWilcher]

Too wonderful for words : the song (oh the song!!), your singing of it and Dalton Baldwin at the piano. What a marriage of musical minds.

I send you my love and blessings!

I believe Dalton Baldwin knows my friend Ned Rorem - yes?

[zimnochmusic]

Such wonderful phrasing! Thank you for posting.