Leontyne Price & Simon Estes in Aida

[fufy71]

Dizione inesistente l'opera non è solo acuti.....

[MrBluedanube]

Simons bass is thundering!!

[Tenorbravo]

Price is one the best Aidas and Mr. Estes is one the best fathers I have seen singing the Opera Aida. Both are original, unique and magnifique.

[callas777]

monumental performance ...absolutely breathtaking.brava !!!

[Beuthedoll]

Two of the best opera stars ever!

[zinua]

Beautiful. 

[Sebastian740]

Price became very deep and dark near the end of her career.

[ShawDAMAN]

great delivery on the line 'non sei mia figlia!' 

[Gary2837]

What an unbeatable combination!!!  Wished they could have done other things earlier in their careers. I'm pleased she asked specifically for him.

[Sebastian740]

Estes was a Bass Baritone

[Leoboy729]

Price is wonderful, even later in her stage career. Estes also sounds great here. His top notes tore off the roof! He often stated that being chosen to play Amonasro in Price's last performances of "Aida" were some of the greatest moments of his career and that he felt it was a great honor, as Price had specifically asked for him to be cast.

[Leoboy729]

One must remember that the singer's body IS the instrument and reacts in many ways to temperature, air pressure, dust, allergens, or any type of physical distress. A singer of any vocal size that is not feeling they are at 100% on a given night can sound like their voice has less power than it actually does. I've heard Mr. Estes live singing Wagner with full orchestra and I have worked with him one-on-one in a coaching. His voice is definitely big enough for the roles in his rep.

[ahmad123987]

WOW she was almost 60 years old here (57 do be exact)

[Sebastian740]

Estes Amonasro is one of the best I have ever heard!!

[Onegin65]

You're very welcome WiseMonkey888.

[stevevandien]

I've read a few reports that suggested Estes' voice was a little underpowered for his repetoire. I never heard him in person, so cannot comment on this. Having heard Estes on video and record/CD/tape,however, I can honestly describe his true bass-baritone as beautiful and wide-ranging, with an impressive top:). In some of Estes' recordings, the producers seem to have wanted him to switch-hit between bass and baritone. Very few singers have EVER been able to do this --

[stevevandien]

--- the only one whom I can think of is Michael Bohnen, a true phenomenon. Estes simply sounds more beautiful higher up in his range, above that of a basso cantante. He doesn't sound right in Fillipo's arias; he seems to be pouring on excessive vocal weight to sound like a bass in these parts. Give Estes a role that lies continually BENEATH a Verdi-baritone tessitura -- like Macbeth, Amonasro, Scarpia, Porgy --

and he will NAIL it, at least during his prime --

[fiercejarret]

That's funny I've always heard that his voice was HUUUGE!

[stevevandien]

I should have clarified that those reports about Estes being underpowered all concerned his work at the Met, which after all is an enormous theater compared to most major opera houses --

[fiercejarret]

I still find it hard to believe that he couldn't be heard there. I've heard people with much smaller voices than he. And if Kathleen Battle can be heard there, anyone can. LOL

[stevevandien]

I never said "he couldn't be heard there," nor did those I was citing. They only said that Estes seemed a little underpowered when singing his usual repetoire at the Met. They never said they couldn't hear him at all, and I never implied that they did. Battle projected very well at the Met. When, however, did she sing any roles there as dramatic as those of Estes?

[TreblesBasses]

THESE TWO WORK TOGETHER PERFECTLY!

[dookee61]

miss price and Mr. Estes are the best I have ever heard

[Hervinbalfour]

There will never be anyone who sings Aida like the GREAT and Legendary Leontine Price. She was born to sing this role.

[InBoccaChiusa]

Mr. Estes, who had a great voice, rose to the occasion in this scene vocally and dramatically. His Italian tended to be unidiomatic, and his acting a bit wooden. He is magnificent here, perhaps inspired by the unsurpassable Aida of Price. She is totally immersed in the personaggio, and her "O patria, quanto mi costi!" is equaled only by Callas in poignancy and supreme understanding of what she is about to do. As of this date, there is only one Aida. Leontyne Price. Bravissima!

[BrentAudi]

This is awesome! I am blown away at how great Simon Estes voice was in 1985. I don't remember what year he retired?

Thanks for posting this!

Brent

[TheWisemonkey8]

5:51 I can bet this has never been sung with such power and conviction in the Metropolitans history or ever will be again. Ms. Price is a Titan. Kind regards,