Jessye Norman "Dich teure Halle" Tannhauser

[wtcgap]

she sung in Bayreuth many times!

[2302gina]

amazing wowwwwwwwwwwwww nice voice ...

[lelyanangel]

Amazing !!!!!!!

[AleksandraPlamenac]

Is this OK that I'm falling in love with her deeper and deeper every time I hear her??

[opernprojekt]

@AleksandraPlamenac

yes, my dear, the same with me...

[MrSwifts31]

This aria has become so well known(one might say hackneyed?) that I dread hearing it.

However,every time Jessye sings it I hear it anew.She has such control of her very large voice,and manages to make you wonder just how she does it.Emotion with control, risk with the confidence that all will be well.

I saw her as Sieglinde at the Met,opposite Domingo,it was amazing!

[wTrevorh]

wunderbar!

[DerRosenkavalierS]

Jessye .... one voice a unique voice, with superb quality. than perfect interpretation of Tannhauser.

[skbnvacaville]

Yup..............could listen to her all day!

[P1B1U1H1]

FaBulous

[mcpetropolis]

Wonderful.

[singingiris]

Jessye Norman is the greatest. Not only does she have amazing technical skills, she just fills every role with all her heart and soul....Brava Diva!!!

[singingiris]

Jessye Norman is the greatest. Not only does she have amazing technical skills, she just fills every role with all the her heart and soul....Brava Diva!!!

[SingerForLife3000]

That VOICE is absolutely astounding. Chills. Brava, Diva.

[gladiol7]

fabulous what a voice. God's gift.....nora

[orvtimlaw]

Such a PHENOMENAL VOICE. She is able to ride over such a large orchestra and the singing is SUPERB!

[OlgaOsipchenkova]

It is fantastic!!! I liked very much!!!

[AmericanEvita]

Damn, here the hosts are long time ABC 7 News anchorman Peter Jennings and soprano Beverly Sills; both of them are dead. Jennings died in 2005 and Sills in 2005. Sills retired from opera in 1980 but through the 80's, 90's and up to her death in 2007 was a spokesperson for the classical music and opera in New York. It's very sad to see them here. It will be a sad day when Jessye Norman dies as well

[SingerForLife3000]

@AmericanEvita I like Ur comments very much... paying tribute 2 Beverly Sills & Peter Jennings. However, I don't want 2 think about Jessey Norman, (or anyone, for that matter) dying. I understand Ur point, however, I agree that it will be a sad day when ANY of us dies.

[somaelh]

this is just tremendously!

[Tusson07]

I am not a musician, but I have seen scores of operas for the last 50 years, and most of the famous singers. For charisma on the stage ONE : Callas SECOND : Norman.

[jaumesubira]

Una voz CELESTIAN, un gusto exquisito interpretando.

Gracias JESSYE por tus interpretaciones y por tu sensillez.

JAUME SUBIRÀ

El Maresme (Catalunya)

[Babs22h]

i love the connection between Norman and Levine AND the orchestra. Notice how Levine is completely with Jessye and slows the orchestra down3:25-3:30 just a bit as Norman holds her top note... you can hear this in the movement of the strings...they slow just a tad to allow Norman room to float her top note. Its beautiful really.Totally together.

[ainhoator]

She is AMAZING

[magdanark]

BRAVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­AA

[RoOodOoOloOmeg]

is one of the hosters Beverly Sills?

[fludu1]

@RoOodOoOloOmeg yes she is :-)

[SturmGerhard]

Was für eine Stimme, von der man nicht genug hören kann 

[Anoush23]

i love those 90ies with its colourful robes...

[assindiastignani]

(cont.) accent. Aren't there any real vocal coaches in NY anymore who can help singers with these things? The "Zischlaute" in "mich" und "dich" are not to be pronounced "isch." Sounds like a bad dialect from Hessen or Baden Würtenburg. For a singer of her stature, this is "ein ganz klein Bißchen peinlich, oder?"

[langleywil]

@assindiastignani And yet she spent 30 years in Germany and France-at the Met and around the whole world being absolutely adored...LOL you are an epic failure.

[assindiastignani]

@langleywil Of course you are right - she was adored. Her voice had a special timbre and she did have charisma.It's a shame though, that she never seemed to interest herself particularly for the intentions and/or the specific indications of the composer, as opposed to how she wanted to sing a particular work, or passage. " Leinsdorf once said: "Just do what's written and you'll be astonished how good the music sounds."

[langleywil]

@assindiastignani Such as???

[assindiastignani]

@langleywil Glad you asked."Alles streng im Takt vorzutragen, Kein Rezitativ" right at the begining of the aria. "Alles streng im Takt" (at the point where she sings,"da er aus dir geschieden." "...den" is an eighth-note with two eighth note rests after it. These things make an enormous difference, not only to the music, but to the natural rhythm of the language. Dies alles klingt wahrscheinlich ein Bißchen kleinlich, aber es ist wichtig. But, if you like her (as I actually rather do) great!

[langleywil]

@assindiastignani It is an artists duty to interpret pieces and perform them in their way. Musicians, like myself, have deep feelings regarding making something our own while keeping with the intent of the composer. If you're a musician, try to stick strictly to a piece as written and have passion behind what you're playing. It's almost completely impossible. All this coming from a soloists POV. As a collective, yes stick to how it's written...unless you're the conductor. LOL

[assindiastignani]

@langleywil Arturo Toscanini,Rudolf Kolisch, Maria Callas would all disagree. Interpretation is a word they hated.First, do everything that's written,then your artistic personality (if you have one) will also show itself, automatically.You said it yourself: "..stick strictly to a piece as written and have passion behind what you're playing."Beautifully put! Not impossible,just hard to do, but that's our task: not to take the easy way out, do what's convenient, then name it "Interpretation."

[langleywil]

@assindiastignani You forgot the rest..."It's almost completely impossible". Performers are people and people have feelings and passion. You can write 2 eighth note rests behind something (why you would do that when you're piece is written in 4/4 I have no idea) but who cares if you hold out a note a little longer passed the rests?? If it brings something new to the piece, why not? Art isn't about being boxed in, but exploration. And I don't think Jessye Norman ever took the easy way out.

[assindiastignani]

@langleywil No, I didn't forget it at all.Read carefully.It is hard, but possible. It just takes a greater commitment & integrity to struggle to understand the compeser's intentions then simply to change things to suit your own limitations.Why would Wagner write 2 8th rests after a note in4/4? Because it's the agogic of the language, and places the consonants exactly where he wanted them.Do you speak German?I think not,or you would know this.Aber, du verschwendest mir nur meine Zeit. Lebewohl!

[assindiastignani]

I'm not a great Jessye Norman fan, bu I really can't agree with all of this vituperation. This performance, while not great, is certainly not bad. In fact it's vocally rather good. Musically and stylistically is another matter. There are very explicit indications from Wagner throughout these pages, most of which she pretty much ignores. But then, listen to what's singing at Bayreuth these days! What disturbs me the most, as someone whose second native tongue is German, is her rather horrendous

[SiEtIn1]

@assindiastignani i know i should mind my own business, but, people have only one native tongue lol thats the point of said tongue being NATIVE. unless of course you were born two times. If that is the case with you please just ignore me lol

[assindiastignani]

@SiEtIn1 I think you're missing the point.Many non-native speakers (James Morris, Catherine Malfitano, Ben Heppner, Grace Bumbry, Renata Scotto as Marschallin to name only a few) sing such perfect German, that even the Germans can't tell that they're foreigners.It's a question of artistry, commitment, and hard work.No, I was only born once,but in a bi-lingual family, and then I made it my business to learn to speak fluently in other languages.No particular talent,I just worked hard.

[Schamschi]

Way to show your arrogance and stupidity, Ms. Norman. Wagner EXPLICITLY stated that the opening bars should NOT be sung as a recitative, but strictly in measure. Composers usually have a reason for writing stuff into their score, and surprisingly often, it even sounds good. And J.N. is unwisely doing exactly the thing Wagner wanted to prevent. Apparently, she considers herself to be beyond such petty instructions and wanted to make it clear she knows better and is more important than Wagner.

[egymagyar1111111]

@Schamschi but this is the "measure" J.N. gives to it, its her just right, you can come over replace her and show what you can do... don't be so silly

[Schamschi]

@egymagyar1111111 No, it's supposed to be in tempo, not freely, not like in a recitative, but with the exact note values. And JN is NOT doing that. Don't worry, I've played this piece already with singers, I know about it.

[egymagyar1111111]

@Schamschi Oh, great, now you come and understand the score deeper than Mr Levine and J.N.? I've listed to Rysanek, Schwarzkopf, Stemme, Nilsson, Varnay and Flagstad, sometimes is due to the recording technics, but J.N. gives a very good dynamics in this,these are so subtle details just people who has intention to find "unfine" things in an otherwise bright performance, this "unfine" following of the score does not take away a nanomillimeter from J.N.-s artistry

[Schamschi]

@egymagyar1111111 You think that I believe I understand the score better than JN and JL? This shows that YOU didn't understand my comment at all. While I cannot rule out the possiblity that Jessye Norman is simply too dumb to understand what Wagner meant by the indication in question, I don't think that this is the case, which is obvious by my accusing JN of "arrogance". However, it is plain that you ARE indeed too dumb to understand it, because if you did, you wouldn't (continued...)

[Schamschi]

(...continued) be blabbing about dynamics and "subtle details". What JN is doing here is blatant ignorance of an explicit and precise indication of Wagner, and this isn't even subjective, but can quite objectively be deemed "wrong". I was going to compare it to making a cresc. where the score says decresc., but I think this is even worse: It would indeed be natural to sing these bars as a recitative, and Wagner knew that a singer would instinctively sing it out of time, but Wagner (continued...)

[Schamschi]

(...continued) exactly didn't want that. So Wagner thought "I must tell the singer that she should not sing this as a recitative, but strictly in time". Therefore, he wrote it in the score to let the singer know how she should sing it. But of course, he hadn't reckoned with Jessye Norman. Having made up her mind about how she wants to sing this passage, Jessye Norman, who is full to the hilt of herself, thinks: "Kiss my ass, Wagner, you're not bossing me around. I am a (continued...)

[Schamschi]

(...continued) diva and couldn't care less what you write in your wretched score." This, of course, also means that JN doesn't even consider the possibility that Wagner's instruction might be worth following. And this is where I accuse JN of stupidity, besides arrogance. I don't care how "artistic" the rest of her performance is (I will not comment on that), it is this arrogance that upsets me so much. (end)

[assindiastignani]

@Schamschi Although I feel your language is a bit strong in places, I agree with you totally,and share your frustration over singers who set themselves above the work or the composer.However, as someone who has taught all of the roles in TANNHÄUSER many times and conducted it, I blame the coaches and conductors who let her get away with it. Do they not hear these things,or do they just not care? Is Norman that good that she should be allowed to be so sloppy? The true greats are more serious.

[saxamaphoneguy1]

I don't think i've EVER seen James Levine clap for a singer before acknowledging the orchestra, that says a lot when he claps for jessye right away!

[assindiastignani]

@saxamaphoneguy1 Jimmie has always had a rather uncritical love of JN, which is fine. He's a great artist, and it's his privelege to like any singer he wants to like. Bu I wouldn't place to high a value on his applauding her like that. He does it all the time. It's part of what makes him such a wonderful singers' conductor, and why all the singers in the world LOVE singing with him.

[TerrancePogue]

now thats how you bring a house down!!!

[pauloferreiratenor]

Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaava !

[HallieBaker123]

huhumag jemand quatschen bin ne ganz liebe aber irgendwie total einsam im moment

[MrCtblade]

that poncho that she is wearing is nothing but extraordinary!

[Babs22h]

@ mrctblade lol at poncho comment ...your right its not that flattering

[tphowle]

Love the "stomp" at 3:11 AND Bubbles mention of the "Ding Dong Daddy of Cincinnati"!

[Babs22h]

@tphowle is that what that is, a stomp? i thought levine had knocked the podium or something with his flailing arms motions

[dewdug]

So much passion!

[Tsaravitch]

Flawless.

[Alexmeister25]

perfect dramatic sopran

[kaleonani77]

Why does she over-open her mouth??  It seems ridiculous....

[opera7bubbles]

On amonasro100's comment about her diction, they're absolutely right. Not only is it a great performance, but she sings every word perfectly. I remember someone saying that her diction in "Euryanthe" was horrible; they couldn't be more wrong--her German is perfect. (By the way, that recording is worth it for her alone...and Nicolaï Gedda)

[Pywacket2]

Glorious singing. Joyous performance. Brava Jessye.

[Lindow]

There was absolutely nothing wrong with this performance! She was expressive, her sound was open and everything was on pitch, even the high b.

[amonasro100]

The fantasic thing is, that she is saying:

Dich grüß ich wieder teure Halle, and she is singing it for Canergie Hall.

By the way, her diction is more than perfect. If she would do it in Bayreuth, people would go made for her.

[gladiol7]

@Lindow 

[sorobji]

I'm sorry. That was NOT a good performance of this aria. I think you're all overcome by her charisma and stage presence of which she is a complete master. Maybe things were different when she debuted when? But that tight vibrato does NOT sit well with Wagner and, my god, that b natural at the end could have been avoided by sticking with the g. Her french repertoire is more suitable to her voice.

[lamarcallas]

wagner wrote a b flat at the end of this ara not a b natural

[FoggyRoad81]

Um and what do you think of Rysanek's wide vibrato, pitch deficient performances?

[lorin80]

what a stupid comment. and i get it that everyone has the right to respond in what ever way they choose(hence y im commenting on your comment) but come on. The lady was golden. her pit was perfect and her command of the piece impeccable. My only concern was that in sections she slowed down a bit, im sure for dramatic effect,) but to say it wasnt a good performance is to not only be unfair but to expose your own insecurities and obvious jealousy. she was great all respect intended.

i am etc

[fiercejarret]

Exactly!

[bcom11]

she is stunning in this. and the bunny hop at the end is adorable. sorry, i had to say it :)

[tkguy30]

SHE IS SO GREAT!!!

[fabrizzzio48]

As most of what goes around in New York's Metropolitan: OVERRATED. Norman, in the interviews I have watched of her, she developed quite a conceited idea of herself. In spirituals she has no spirit.

This particular performance it's ok, but lacks grip. and too short for such audience fuss.

But Metropolitan audiences over-applaud their singers, because it's THEIR opera house. Like a home audience in a football game cheering for their home team. But, the home team in not necessarily THAT good.

[fabrizzzio48]

Forgot to add:

Levine as flat as always. No feeling, no depth, no humanity. Just "nice" notes and a balding bunch of unflattering bush of hair swapping around. Add to it his ever-permanent hypocritical smile.

The PERFECT choice for Metropolitan. What a toruture to have to see this man all over for the last couple decades.

Thank God that there is such thing as retirement and old age, to save us from eternal torture.

[cycadheaven]

I believe this was Carnegie Hall, not the Met.

[xpressbooks]

No. no. no.  Stick to Porgy and Bess.

[xpressbooks]

Pardon?

[AmericanEvita]

JESSYE NORMAN's "Dich Teure Halle" is absolutely amazing...she has a gifted Wagnerian voice but such a shame that she did not truly take on the entire Wagner heroine repertoire..she had a voice that could indeed blast over large orchestras...she had one thing in her favor...a sincere spirituality and need to express her voice in dramatic song...I love her version and believe its even better than La Nilsson!

[Babs22h]

i love her depth at 3:02 few soprans are as beautiful down there.... it is so lovely!

[Babs22h]

levines hands in the beginning are very thrilling the way he commands the orchestra.. very cool

[theboysontheradio]

She's a-mazing.

[Billphili25]

Wonderful voice! Definitely one of the best... but... She really over opens and pushes too much- her high B was over opened making it a tad under the pitch and also very tight sounding, she also rushed the last beat. But still a amazing voice! :)

[albertthrelkeld]

i hear all of norman's upper register as under pitch in this performance. technically, i have always questioned the extent to which norman "opens". it's such a cavernous sound, often too covered and pitches seem "held", not focused and forward for my taste. yes, she's one of the great operatic figures, but this aria, in particular, demonstrates why I have always questioned her singing technique---if I can be so picky. She's definitely an arousing performer.

[katshu210]

With the vibrato sometimes it's dificult to tell the precision of pitch...but she has it. That comment is covered with your hidden jealousy...

[yes4albert]

What a wonderful performance by Miss Norman in her prime. Her German was always fantastic. Her voice is definitely unique in timbre. And she is one of the loveliest, most gracious divas I ever met.

[Babs22h]

shes cute... when she bows and take the unexpected bouquet of flowers! brava jessye!

[s0ndhe1m]

Stupendous!!! I still can't get over that Elisabeth was her debut role!!! What a goddess!!!

[markpianoman]

fabulous! super diction too!!

[Bigman240]

LOL What does she do at the end of the aria?

[operaman20]

I know! HAHHAAH!! She should of just made like a bunny and hopped off that stage!

[ellerveira]

Simply perfection.

[minirausch]

lolz at bubbles. the ding dong daddy of cincinnati..

[j72050]

..you mean that skinny kid that stood up without a chair is the now rotund Levine?

[Plowrightclips]

stunning listen to it lots ......

[Liwah]

And to you Ms Norman,sei mir gegrüsst!!!

[Liwah]

Am I the only one that has a fantasy of being the world's next heldentenor and to duet with Ms Norman in Die Walkure?

[MusicalTenor23]

@Liwah no your not the only one! count me in bro! ^^

[Challenger2060]

Its a good rendition. The tone is a bit too dark in some spots, she should've move the sound to the hard pallete. but otherwise it is a sparkling performance.

[fluteness]

yes no yah

[castodivo]

What an astute observation!

[nichtsleezy]

It could use a bit more squillo and the pitch could be better. It is a little low.

[primobasso]

I've watched this clip quite a number of times now, and each time it gives me goose bumps. Jessye Norman is simply amazing!

[VoyArrasando]

lol @ :36 through :54, I hope everyone had a seat belt because Jessye's voice quite possibly would have blown them out of it! <3 Jessye

[VoyArrasando]

LMAO @ 4:14 where Jessye "woo's" herself , rofl She knew she had this down packed son!

[KaminaOne]

I tell you, this is Jessye at her absolute finest! And Jimmy kept the orchestra nice, bright and buoyant. Good stuff! Thanks for posting!

[benderpm]

Beautiful!

[2ManyHighCs]

Oh my. . .

[fiercejarret]

I was sooo hoping someone would post this. thanks!!!!

[Lohengrin]

This is Elisabetta's sound... Norman is a Goddess

[PakoChile]

No, it's not...it's too beautiful and big but it's not the lyric sound of Elisabeth.

[ezayi]

Yes, she is!

[rrgallo]

Completely agree with you!! This is closer to Venus' sound than to Elizabeth's

[godivapaw]

Desperately fabulous!!!

[SweetFiness]

incredible interpretation...her German is impeccable...not off by the least little bit!!! Love it!!

[DIVOTENOR]

I absolutely love this!!!!!

[olgamarga]

¡Dios,qué cantante!

[balladtree]

YESSSSSSSSS I love this one!

[primobasso]

Absolutely amazing, as usual!

[dynamicstuff73]

i want to be Jessye when i grow up!

[VoyArrasando]

lol ^5 (high five) me too!

[VoyArrasando]

lol @ jessye giving wagner a slap on the booty in this performance! Aww Jessye I <3 you!

[wmbdm]

Like to hear her Sing, NightWish-SwanHeart!

[jonhi1]

Virgo and her Voice!!!! Flawless as always

[lamarcallas]

this is the shit!!!!

[cashmerequeen]

Great!!!

[foropera]

Finally on line! After Price, just in her best repertoire.

[BAMBAM8993]

Oh my! Wonderful