I was lucky enough to be in the audience at LA Opera for this, and I have to say, I've never cried so much as when I heard Sondra sing this aria. Seriously; sobbing. She was so incredible, in voice and acting. It was one of the most transcendant moments of opera I've ever experienced. BRAVAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Incidentally, I also saw her perform Leonora in Trovatore at LA Opera, and it was equally as incredible. She will be reprising the role with the Met in April. Check it out if you can!
@Katiekinsism Omg, I was at that performance too! I cried my eyes out when she sang this aria. And the ending was so beautiful with the floating virgin. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet her after the performance so humble and so sweet and absolutely beautiful!
I ADORE Sondra's singing and am so happy to see so many positive comments here. Unfortunately her performances in NY are received with mixed reviews. She is one of the most intense and committed singers I've ever seen - she captivates me like no other. Unfortunately I don't think recordings do her justice. I saw Pat Racette sing Suor Angelica at the Met last night, and she was fantastic, but I hope to see Sondra sing the role some day. She should be singing more at big houses, I don't get it!
I think she just needs to move to heavier repertoire. I don't think she's suited for Verdi at all. She's got a huge, dark voice that would work better in heavy Puccini and light Wagner.
I, too, attended this production just to hear Sondra Radvanovsky's Angelica. It was one of the greatest nights at the opera I have heard in thirty years. The last time I saw an audience so completely riveted was after a performance of Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites at San Francisco Opera two decades ago -- I hope Radvanovsky has plans to sing the role of Mme. Lidoine in that opera. I think she would bring to that role everything she brings so heartbreakingly to Suor Angelica.
I try and follow my sister's work as much as possible. Sondra clearly has God's gift for singing and can (certainly) move people emotionally, even me. I know that my sister has it...just right...with her singing when I get "that feeling", sending shivers down my spine. She has a vocal quality that I have found in only a few select performers. Her singing style is clearly unique to her and to her alone.
I heard your sister sing here at the Kennedy Center this past Monday night with Dmitri, and I must say that she is the best soprano in the world right now. She's the best we've had in many, many years, and is a throwback to the great singers of last century. She is the most perfect Verdi soprano since Rosa Ponselle, and I also think she'd make a wonderful Norma.
@rsradvan May God bless you, your sister and your whole family. What a gift, well nurtured. My 17 year old daugther is an acorn lyrico hoping to grow into an oaken spinto someday. I tell her, when in doubt, listen to Sondra.
Glorious! I saw her perform this as well. She sang with such emotion and gave herself completely. I was fortunate enough to be in orchestra...I was sobbing by the finale.
I drove up to L.A. from San Diego also just to hear Ms. Radvanovsky in this role. She was fabulous - moved me to tears! I had seen her twice at the SD Opera, first in Il Trovatore, and then in Don Carlo. I love her voice. Thanks for this aria.
Right for the color, for the emotion, for the notes... A true lirico-dramatic soprano for our generation. Bravissima ragazza che ci tiene per il cuore e la mente... carismatica !!!! BRAVA !!!!
I was also at this performance and it was the stuff of legend- not just the voice, but the acting ability and spirituality as well. I was so smitten I flew across the country to see her again in Lucrezia Borgia at the WNO. You could hear the audience audibly gasp at some of the amazing things she pulled off.
THANKS for this clip! I was in the audience, and it was one of those very rare performances you'll never forget. I was sort of resigned to sit through SA because I was curious about Woody Allen's Gianni Schicci. But holy sh*t... she blew the roof off the building.
holy SHIT is she amazing. OMG, i've literally in the past hour finally listened to her after all of my friends have been telling me to, and i CAN'T get enough. she is one of the best sopranos alive, and OMGGGGGGGGGGGG, she's just ridiculous. like, wtf, god, why can't we all sing like this? lol, jkkk. but no, she's amazing and... just WOW.
You are a mind reader! I was just discussing her performance and tried to find a good clip on YT of it. Superb--I hope they did film at least one performance.
One of Puccini's five sisters was a nun and during the period he was composing Il Trittico, the Maestro went to visit his sister at the convent,where he was always received with all the honours due to the great man he was. That day he played at the piano fragments of Suor Angelica and told the story to the nuns, who were all listening in tears.
Thank you for this very good performance and the change you gave me telling this true little story.
I was lucky enough to be in the audience at LA Opera for this, and I have to say, I've never cried so much as when I heard Sondra sing this aria. Seriously; sobbing. She was so incredible, in voice and acting. It was one of the most transcendant moments of opera I've ever experienced. BRAVAAAAAAA!!!!!!
Incidentally, I also saw her perform Leonora in Trovatore at LA Opera, and it was equally as incredible. She will be reprising the role with the Met in April. Check it out if you can!
Katiekinsism 1 year ago
@Katiekinsism Omg, I was at that performance too! I cried my eyes out when she sang this aria. And the ending was so beautiful with the floating virgin. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet her after the performance so humble and so sweet and absolutely beautiful!
SangpourPlaisir 1 year ago
horrid, ordinary.
Anchetu 1 year ago
I ADORE Sondra's singing and am so happy to see so many positive comments here. Unfortunately her performances in NY are received with mixed reviews. She is one of the most intense and committed singers I've ever seen - she captivates me like no other. Unfortunately I don't think recordings do her justice. I saw Pat Racette sing Suor Angelica at the Met last night, and she was fantastic, but I hope to see Sondra sing the role some day. She should be singing more at big houses, I don't get it!
jamchen101 2 years ago
@jamchen101
I think she just needs to move to heavier repertoire. I don't think she's suited for Verdi at all. She's got a huge, dark voice that would work better in heavy Puccini and light Wagner.
Chrysothemis 1 year ago
What a lovely tone she has; rather reminds me of Tebaldi but darker and with the high notes Tebaldi lacked. Gorgeous!
MMK9 2 years ago
I, too, attended this production just to hear Sondra Radvanovsky's Angelica. It was one of the greatest nights at the opera I have heard in thirty years. The last time I saw an audience so completely riveted was after a performance of Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites at San Francisco Opera two decades ago -- I hope Radvanovsky has plans to sing the role of Mme. Lidoine in that opera. I think she would bring to that role everything she brings so heartbreakingly to Suor Angelica.
cashelnd 2 years ago
I try and follow my sister's work as much as possible. Sondra clearly has God's gift for singing and can (certainly) move people emotionally, even me. I know that my sister has it...just right...with her singing when I get "that feeling", sending shivers down my spine. She has a vocal quality that I have found in only a few select performers. Her singing style is clearly unique to her and to her alone.
rsradvan 2 years ago
I heard your sister sing here at the Kennedy Center this past Monday night with Dmitri, and I must say that she is the best soprano in the world right now. She's the best we've had in many, many years, and is a throwback to the great singers of last century. She is the most perfect Verdi soprano since Rosa Ponselle, and I also think she'd make a wonderful Norma.
toscadonna 1 year ago
@rsradvan May God bless you, your sister and your whole family. What a gift, well nurtured. My 17 year old daugther is an acorn lyrico hoping to grow into an oaken spinto someday. I tell her, when in doubt, listen to Sondra.
TomMakeig 1 year ago
Glorious! I saw her perform this as well. She sang with such emotion and gave herself completely. I was fortunate enough to be in orchestra...I was sobbing by the finale.
solisef 3 years ago
I drove up to L.A. from San Diego also just to hear Ms. Radvanovsky in this role. She was fabulous - moved me to tears! I had seen her twice at the SD Opera, first in Il Trovatore, and then in Don Carlo. I love her voice. Thanks for this aria.
Peggyrita1 3 years ago 2
Right for the color, for the emotion, for the notes... A true lirico-dramatic soprano for our generation. Bravissima ragazza che ci tiene per il cuore e la mente... carismatica !!!! BRAVA !!!!
mariasarda 3 years ago 3
I was also at this performance and it was the stuff of legend- not just the voice, but the acting ability and spirituality as well. I was so smitten I flew across the country to see her again in Lucrezia Borgia at the WNO. You could hear the audience audibly gasp at some of the amazing things she pulled off.
channaliba 3 years ago
THANKS for this clip! I was in the audience, and it was one of those very rare performances you'll never forget. I was sort of resigned to sit through SA because I was curious about Woody Allen's Gianni Schicci. But holy sh*t... she blew the roof off the building.
Chrysothemis 3 years ago
holy SHIT is she amazing. OMG, i've literally in the past hour finally listened to her after all of my friends have been telling me to, and i CAN'T get enough. she is one of the best sopranos alive, and OMGGGGGGGGGGGG, she's just ridiculous. like, wtf, god, why can't we all sing like this? lol, jkkk. but no, she's amazing and... just WOW.
JuillHope17 3 years ago
Radvanovsky at her very best. Absolutly perfect timbre and color for the aria/role. Thanks!
iskenderuna 3 years ago
Truly exquisite ending! I found the tempo in general rushed and some of the phrasing jarring. But she does have a beautiful lush sound.
cantorandopera 3 years ago
Lovely ending!
lungdoc 3 years ago
Very moving rendition of this aria. Brava!
MusicaParola 3 years ago
You are a mind reader! I was just discussing her performance and tried to find a good clip on YT of it. Superb--I hope they did film at least one performance.
sospello 3 years ago
One of Puccini's five sisters was a nun and during the period he was composing Il Trittico, the Maestro went to visit his sister at the convent,where he was always received with all the honours due to the great man he was. That day he played at the piano fragments of Suor Angelica and told the story to the nuns, who were all listening in tears.
Thank you for this very good performance and the change you gave me telling this true little story.
raydebouvre 3 years ago