Marian Anderson- Élégie (Massenet).

[alludaangel]

What a rich, voluptuous voice! What a talent!

[paulostroff99]

Awesome.TY R for posting

[DCFunBud]

Very very powerful.

[dbzlouis]

merci le chant était au programme de solfège

[mothaibailoveyou]

this isn't french is it?

[buffiexoh]

@mothaibailoveyou It is originally, yes, but she's singing it in English here.

[piecemaker74]

used to play this on piano, such a powerful composition!

[neetrab]

I'm proud to say this was my cousin's cousin... I wish I was alive to see her sing live...

[786Saj786]

not my kind of music but i was captivated by her voice

[jpr11011]

@786Saj786 Same here! I had to do a report on her in English class, and I decided to check out her music. I love it!

[lappe34]

Leontyne Price kind of reminds me of her :)

[TVWriterGuy]

Now THIS woman is a beautiful woman.

[tamerlano236]

It's very beautiful. Great music. But the best version I've ever heard is Nicholas Spanos's.

[Tenortalker]

Marian Anderson had a huge and well - deserved career. She sang all over the world for many , many years. She was greatly loved and even if she was deprived of Constitution Hall initially, thousands turned up to hear her sing at the Lincoln Memorial. She sang at the Metropolitan ( though a little past her prime) and opened the doors for other African-American artists. This recording reflects the lady, serene, beautiful and eloquent.

[mtf60]

@jrh685

I am a vocalist how would love to benefit from an MP3 accompaniment of Elegie. Please let me know how to obtain it from you.

Thank you,

MTF60

[Chutson353]

Truly a voice one hears only once in a hundred years

[Composerland]

Yes, we have a LOT to learn from our past foolishness; and yet we never seem to learn the important lessons. Always a new someone or some group to shut out. How she must have suffered some nights... The singing and playing was heavenly.

[kenrayez1]

beautiful

[Lavybrown]

Beyond beautiful, so sad and moving i can actually hear her crying and longing for her lost love. If i can be half as beautiful i will have it made

[Sandruss]

aaaaaa

[WeicheWotan]

Heartrending and exquisite. And more profound than Rosa Ponselle's recording. This song could have been written for Marian Anderson.

[543693The]

Ecrire ? après une audition d'une telle qualité? je n'ai pu le faire...je reviens et hommage à cette merveilleuse chanteuse contralto : Marian Anderson exprime en profondeur l'Elégie de Massenet...elle est bouleversante et sa chaude voix accentue toute le mélancolie voulue par le compositeur....après l'écoute...le silence....et que justice vous soit rendue...belle Diva !!

[jessechene]

I have died and gone to heaven! Imagine a contralto and a violist on the same song! And what a contralto and what a violist. Thank you, so much.

Jesse Chene

[paulostroff99]

In a word-awesome!

[kremetart1]

Poor Zamara Bell! I hope you feel better. I also get those days, but there is always love to be found, since God is still out there! A very moving performance and beautiful voice!

[emergoncalves]

Meu Deus que coisa absurdamente linda! Beautiful!

[aadamy]

Ô, doux printemps d'autre fois, vertes saisons, Vous avez fui pour toujours! Je ne vois plus le ciel bleu; Je n'entends plus les chants joyeux des oiseaux! En emportant mon bonheur, mon bonheur... Ô bien-amé, tu t'en es allé! Et c'est en vain que [le printemps revient!]1 Oui, sans retour, avec toi, le gai soleil, Les jours riants sont partis! Comme en mon coeur tout est sombre et glacé! Tout est flétri pour toujours!

[skipperdoll13]

@aadamy Thank you posting these lyrics to this piece. I have been trying to search for them, thank you. This is such an amazing piece. :)

[aadamy]

TRANSLATION:

O sweet springtimes of old verdant seasons You have fled forever I no longer see the blue sky I no longer hear the bird's joyful singing And, taking my happiness with you You have gone on your way my love! In vain Spring returns Yes, never to return The bright sun has gone with you The days of happiness have fled How gloomy and cold is my heart All is withered Forever

[TikkleMeTorry]

Does anyone know where I could get an MP3 of an accompaniment for this piece? Preferably just piano.

[ivelosthewilltolive]

Very moving. What a disgrace that this great artist was not allowed to have the career she deserved.

[bonnies1234567]

@ivelosthewilltolive -- I loved Marion Anderson since the time when I first heard her in a movie presented in High School in 1954. The suppression that she experienced, I believe, added the richness and depth to her interpretations. Her dignity brought attention to her and to her race as a most beloved interpreter of serious music.

[EmilyGreene1984]

@bonnies1234567 Why should anyone focus on anyone's race? Marian Anderson said her goal was for people to listen to the music. :)

[bonnies1234567]

@EmilyGreene1984 -- Yes, but have you read her autobiography, "My Lord, What a Morning." She writes about her experiences during difficult times.

[Herrotic]

@ivelosthewilltolive She has opened the door to the others, I'm sure that it's what she would have wanted :)

[Shundry3]

When i first heard this song it was

played by my violin teacher

and i started crying because it was so beautiful

not knowing what the true reason was

Now as i listen since it seems as if

My world gets worser day by day i just cry untill im sick of it,just sick of living and trying to be strong

Im just tired of holding in the tears  -Zamara Bell

[injamaven]

what a glorious contralto!

[ravelmeister]

wow...how about primrose on here....all three are amazing this is beautiful

[flon5flon]

Forgot to say that Marian Anderson is very, very special to me and many, many others

[drangdrang]

Oh, yes! I have been among them.

[paulostroff99]

Sensational singing! Brava! TY.

[meltzerboy]

I agree even though the performance is slightly truncated. While Chaliapin's version will always remain my favorite, I'm glad you steered me toward Anderson's beautiful recording. Ponselle and Kraus are also worth hearing, and I believe Rethberg recorded the Elegie as well.

[flon5flon]

Meltzerboy:  and what about Caruso with Elman!

[meltzerboy]

Sometimes we forget the obvious: of course, Caruso's recording with Elman is beautiful as well.

[192021mike]

I agree with you on Chaliapin. Elegia by Chaliapin is the best of the best. The best performance of the greatest singer of the century. But if we dare to compare, it says a lot about great Marian Anderson!

[vrob125]

I say that Marian would have supported President Obama because it would have meant that the time had finally come when she would not be barred from singing (imagine!) in certain places because of the color of her skin. It would have meant that she no longer had to sit in the "back of the bus" in her own city. It would have meant that maybe the popular "lynching" incidents were no longer a threat. It would have confirmed the fact that racism is no longer the defining element of American society.

[EmilyGreene1984]

But you don't know if she would have voted for him and that's a shallow reason to vote for someone - just because they are the same color. I wouldn't vote for a man who was my own skin color, if their beliefs and principles were not the same as mine.

[etcetera34]

MAGNIFIQUE! Hermosa cancion!

Beautiful voice!

Interesting life!

AMAZING WOMAN!!!

[unclejohnthezef]

beautiful

[vrob125]

Marian Anderson was not as profoundly uncomfortable with the image that was foisted on her as a "symbol" of civil rights as some would think. (Sort of like the fiction from slaveowners and racists that slaves really enjoyed their bondage.) However, she was uncomfortable with the secondhand status that comes with racism.

She would have sung her heart out on the day that Barack Obama was inaugurated.

[yui992]

i agree! have she been born a bit later she would had flourished even more. :|

[EmilyGreene1984]

How do you know she would have supported him?

[EmilyGreene1984]

Again, you have no idea if she would have supported Barack Obama. She could have been a Republican and conservative for all we know and then what? Are you going to think any less of her? Read the history about her and it shows she preferred to keep out of the whole civil rights/political scene. Its supposed to be about the music.

[stickershomeplus]

Marian Anderson was profoundly uncomfortable with the image that was foisted on her as a "symbol" of civil rights. When she was barred from performing at Constitution Hall, and sang at the Lincoln Memorial instead, it was very upsetting to her. She did not seek to be the center of controversy , but merely wanted to perform. With all due respect to political "symbolism", it is all too easy to attach great meaning to things that are really quite simple. It has nothing to do with Barack Obama.

[HappyHounde]

Beautiful. Beautiful...... Every way. Brava

[luckycharm25]

I did a biography on her and she has quite an amazing background. Also what a gorgeous picture!

[trezestemalamoarte]

e melodia pe care i-o canta lotte lui grig..in "elevul dima dintr-a saptea"

superb:X

[danapiatraneamt]

asa e... de curand am terminat de citit romanul :) de acolo am avut curiozitatea sa caut melodia care starnea atata nostalgie in sufletul lui Grig. Imi pare rau ca nu a pus bazele Grigoridei, ca nu ii mai pasa de idealuri desarte, cum de altfel, le si numeste,/// si mai ales de el si Lotte.

[pebblesj5]

Simply breath taking! What more can one say?

[MacTsar54]

Marian Anderson's voice was one of those that always leaves you wanting more. How I wish Miss Anderson had lived to see the Obama inauguration.

[EmilyGreene1984]

How do you know if she would support Barack Obama's principles?

[EmilyGreene1984]

Well that's certainly debateable. There may be some people who may be proud a President of their own skin color is in control - but that's really (regardless of their skin color) a stupid reason to be proud of them. Its all about their stance and principles that is what is most important. And Marian Anderson has since passed away a while back now - so, unless she stated where she stood on regards to politics, you can't say for certain weither she'd be upset or proud about Barack Obama.

[VSL123]

You're just ignorant.

[BWV1906]

we are all proud of the usa for electing a black man...and im a black man too...but not all americans support what he is actually doing...like myself....but im sure marion woulda sung at the inauguration...:)

[abigail1922]

I am in toatal agreement with you.

[musikenergy]

She sounds just like the viola. Breathtaking.

[MissLimLam]

wow... What a wondeful voice.

I love the viola in it too, and the piano.

[lawrxe]

This interpretation is really breathtaking: Primrose's viola sings as intensively as the singer.

[skatesindreams]

This recording is sublime, and deserves to be better known. Miss Anderson was one of history's greatest artists.

[vinteriors]

She has one of the most beautiful voices I ever heard. Her voice is easy to listen to, with a gentle sensibility that keeps the listener wanting more.

[ActionscriptFlash]

Wow.... This is amazing....

[paulostroff99]

A gorgeous voice! Brava! TY.

[operalover58]

I agree. Arturo Toscanini said her voice was "heard once in a hundred years". Sibelius appreciated her beautiful contralto and altered his compositions for her.

[rockyrichp]

My comment is," where are all of the comments". She is so wonderful in so many ways. This is one of few people I wished to have known.