Saw Grace sing Amneris live in Pittsburgh. Fabulous amazing low and middle- the high B flats were tiny and pinched- almost inaudible. This was later in her career. But what a presence- and I will never forget her Carmen with Vickers. Crazy good! Better Mezzo than Soprano. The best Amneris ever- even better than Zajick. She had the temperment and HUGE voice to do this role. I love Grace!!
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I had to laugh when she sung: "Sacerdote, quest'uomo che uccidi tu lo sai quanto un giorno fumate" (which translates in "smoked")instead of "fu amato" (loved) Very funny Italian and underpowered singing.
Yeah, I was surprised they left that mistake in the recording with L. Price. She does the same thing on that studio recording, but not on the one with Nilsson and Corelli.
Let's face it, critics have forever intertwined Verrett and Bumbry. But to say that Verrett sang like Callas is to say that a viola sounds like a violin.They both produce sweeet sounds but are oh so different. Callas was among the greatest singing actresses ever, but the voice of Verett in say Lady Macbeth. Bumbry was a
smart singer who always geve her best, which resulted in listening pleasure, ever when at the top of her register.
Bumbry and Verrett are 2 completely different performers. To me Bumbry had a higher range for the chest register in her hey-day than Verrett. Both are awesome but for me, Verrett has more earth-shattering power in the voice. Her top and low notes are also stronger. I have heard Bumbry struggle more with her upper register but she has a more beautiful tone within her comfortable range. It's pure subjectivism- BOTH make me weak in the knees!
you peopla are crazy- thats open air performance- you should never judge a singer than- its wind and a bad recording of sound- and it cuts always upper register- she is great singer- who sings like that today????? tell me one name????
of course you cannot... so, please - more respect to greatness
Thank you. The thing about Bumbry is no one has ever sounded like her or will again. In that way she IS like Callas and Price and Sutherland, who had sounds no one else could reproduce. Verrett, who I love, had better technique and maybe more notes, but unless she was in her wheelhouse she could sound like anyone. Witness her bland Desdemona. You always know when Bumbry is singing.
Until you mentioned it, I didn't realize that this is the exact problem I have with Verrett, she either has no distinction, or she sounds like someone else (listen to the Abaddo Macbeth and tell me she isn't doing her best to imitate Callas).
Her characterization and commitment to role were second to no one, however.
This will be a long answer, benderpm, so it may take 2 msgs. I think they were both Falcons (that is a type of voice between soprano and mezzo. Carmen is a role writen specifically for that type.) Bumbry's voice was richer with a powerful top and allowed her to do both soprano and mezzo, though I must confess I like her less when she does very heavy mezzo parts (Ulrica, Azuccena). continued below
2nd msgs. Verret's voice was lighter, still when she was young she did some wonderful mezzo roles, especially in bel canto. By the time I saw her, the voice sounded hollow in the lower register (that was the big problem with her Azuccena). The top and middle were beautiful in the Requiem, but the high notes of her Lady Macbeth sound forced to me and I know that her Amelia was a faillure at La Scala. (continued below)
3rd msg. In short, I like them both in Falcon parts (Carmen, Eboli, Medea) but I think Bumbry had a wider range and could also do dramatic soprano parts comfortably. What I really like from Verret are her belcanto recordings from the 60s (Orsini, Elizabeth, Seymour). They were both great actresses, but bumbry's personality was more fascinating to me.
Yes, both. Bumbry in Macbeth (Seattle late 70s -all 3 of her performances,) Tannhauser at the Met at the same time and Medea in Athens in 1993 or 1994, I think. Verret as Azuccena at the Met in the late 70s (horrible singing!) and as a soprano in Verdi's Requiem in Epidaurus in 1980 or 1981. In that, she was excellent.
1)The problem, to be honest with Bumbry is that she is always strong, strong, strong, and that she has a little wobble, and not much legato. This highlight of Amneris is a rare moment of self introspection she might have in a role. But she has a fascinating timbre and a dominatrix temperament for sure.
I find Verrett much more Callas like, by her phrasing, and the legato of her vocal emission. About her voice power, look at the Gioconda duet at Covent Garden: they have the same huge and large dark voice, but it's richer in the middle with Bumbry, and richer in Verrett in the low and high notes. I don' t compare them too much cause they are very different artists, I don't speak only of their voices...I was right near in the wings, in the theater when both of them worked.
Since when do we judge mezzos based on how well they sung soprano roles? But, if you insist on such comparisons, compare their Lady Macbeth and you'll see what I mean. Verret, even in the studio recording,struggles to cope with the high tessitura. There are 2 live recordings with Bumbry and she is awsome, both in singing and acting. She was a force of nature. Verret was a fine, but more "controlled", actress and a good singer, though her instrument was neither rich, nor especially powerful.
I don't think Verrett "struggled" with the tessitura at all. In fact, although I am a die hard fan of BOTH women, Bumbry did tend to have off nights when the tessitura in soprano parts was just too much. In soprano rep, Verrett was the more consistently secure singer up top. However, that's not to say Bumbry never was. BOTH were PHENOMENAL. up top. However, that's no to say that Bumbry never was
And, incidentally, I think Verrett's voice was planty rich, and had plenty of power. Verrett drove the claque at La Scala bonkers with her Lady Macbeth. IF she'd struggled she would have been booed mercilessly.
I agree with bomeulen...Grace is absolutely the best Amneris ever! I love her. However, only really love her in Opera. I don't care for her that much in lieder. She sings with so much passion in Opera, but it doesn't sound that way when she sings lieder. I know it's not the same...but it kind of is. Anyone agree?
Verrett had greater success in making the transition from mezzo to soprano; is/was more versatile, could sing Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, Donizetti and Rosini was great precision, range and depth.
Tell me, who compared the two? Oh you! My apologies. Do you know Ms. Bumbry to know that she wasn't versatile, and didn't have range. You call Gioconda, Laura, Leonora (Forza, Trovatore) Azucena, Aida, Amneris, Abigaille, Norma, Adalgisa, Turandot, Orfeo, Tosca, Semiramide, not being versatile? Uhm and by the way, I was listing operas in which La Bumbry sang. Get over it!
Truly great! She belongs in the hall of fame of singers. The best Amneris ever, possibly the best Eboli ever and on to of that such a wonderful lied singer and grand lady as well. Thanks for posting this..wouldn't mind seeing the whole video..
I have GOT to get this video! She is hands down THE best Amneris of the past century. For me to make such a statement is a major deal. I love Simionato, Verrett, Barbieri, Stignani, all those good old girls. But, nobody sings this role with the fervor and vocal splendor Bumbry does!
If you look in my channel there are my fav 4 amneris: cossotto, she, verrett and zajick.
papagena92 1 year ago
Saw Grace sing Amneris live in Pittsburgh. Fabulous amazing low and middle- the high B flats were tiny and pinched- almost inaudible. This was later in her career. But what a presence- and I will never forget her Carmen with Vickers. Crazy good! Better Mezzo than Soprano. The best Amneris ever- even better than Zajick. She had the temperment and HUGE voice to do this role. I love Grace!!
garyrobert13 2 years ago
Who was Ramfis in this performing?
LeonoraPasiniani 3 years ago
@LeonoraPasiniani Joseph Rouleau
distefano13069609 1 year ago
Great Aida costumes...love Grace Bumbry ...
AmericanEvita 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I had to laugh when she sung: "Sacerdote, quest'uomo che uccidi tu lo sai quanto un giorno fumate" (which translates in "smoked")instead of "fu amato" (loved) Very funny Italian and underpowered singing.
sancarlo 4 years ago
Yeah, I was surprised they left that mistake in the recording with L. Price. She does the same thing on that studio recording, but not on the one with Nilsson and Corelli.
coldpops 3 years ago
Underpowered? that's a joke. Bumbry had a big voice.
BeauTenor 2 years ago
This is a true mezzo voice.
MrCafiero 4 years ago
The picture quality is wretched but it's lovely to have this document of Bumbry in fine voice. Thanks for posting it!
Moegiust 4 years ago
Let's face it, critics have forever intertwined Verrett and Bumbry. But to say that Verrett sang like Callas is to say that a viola sounds like a violin.They both produce sweeet sounds but are oh so different. Callas was among the greatest singing actresses ever, but the voice of Verett in say Lady Macbeth. Bumbry was a
smart singer who always geve her best, which resulted in listening pleasure, ever when at the top of her register.
mm9913 4 years ago
Bumbry and Verrett are 2 completely different performers. To me Bumbry had a higher range for the chest register in her hey-day than Verrett. Both are awesome but for me, Verrett has more earth-shattering power in the voice. Her top and low notes are also stronger. I have heard Bumbry struggle more with her upper register but she has a more beautiful tone within her comfortable range. It's pure subjectivism- BOTH make me weak in the knees!
Archsorceror 4 years ago
I think you hit the nail on the head...
Dymension 4 years ago
she has a great voice .i have also one video of manjola konjari singing this part if you see it let me comment.thank you
tallamande 4 years ago
you peopla are crazy- thats open air performance- you should never judge a singer than- its wind and a bad recording of sound- and it cuts always upper register- she is great singer- who sings like that today????? tell me one name????
of course you cannot... so, please - more respect to greatness
eboli2805 4 years ago
Thank you. The thing about Bumbry is no one has ever sounded like her or will again. In that way she IS like Callas and Price and Sutherland, who had sounds no one else could reproduce. Verrett, who I love, had better technique and maybe more notes, but unless she was in her wheelhouse she could sound like anyone. Witness her bland Desdemona. You always know when Bumbry is singing.
FoggyRoad81 4 years ago
Until you mentioned it, I didn't realize that this is the exact problem I have with Verrett, she either has no distinction, or she sounds like someone else (listen to the Abaddo Macbeth and tell me she isn't doing her best to imitate Callas).
Her characterization and commitment to role were second to no one, however.
epa300 4 years ago
So, am I correct in my hearing that Verrett was a better Soprano than Mezzo to you? And, that Bumbry was great as both?
benderpm 4 years ago
This will be a long answer, benderpm, so it may take 2 msgs. I think they were both Falcons (that is a type of voice between soprano and mezzo. Carmen is a role writen specifically for that type.) Bumbry's voice was richer with a powerful top and allowed her to do both soprano and mezzo, though I must confess I like her less when she does very heavy mezzo parts (Ulrica, Azuccena). continued below
comeamoroso 4 years ago
2nd msgs. Verret's voice was lighter, still when she was young she did some wonderful mezzo roles, especially in bel canto. By the time I saw her, the voice sounded hollow in the lower register (that was the big problem with her Azuccena). The top and middle were beautiful in the Requiem, but the high notes of her Lady Macbeth sound forced to me and I know that her Amelia was a faillure at La Scala. (continued below)
comeamoroso 4 years ago
3rd msg. In short, I like them both in Falcon parts (Carmen, Eboli, Medea) but I think Bumbry had a wider range and could also do dramatic soprano parts comfortably. What I really like from Verret are her belcanto recordings from the 60s (Orsini, Elizabeth, Seymour). They were both great actresses, but bumbry's personality was more fascinating to me.
comeamoroso 4 years ago
Have you heard either singer, Bumbry or Verrett in person? Cameamoroso
benderpm 4 years ago
Yes, both. Bumbry in Macbeth (Seattle late 70s -all 3 of her performances,) Tannhauser at the Met at the same time and Medea in Athens in 1993 or 1994, I think. Verret as Azuccena at the Met in the late 70s (horrible singing!) and as a soprano in Verdi's Requiem in Epidaurus in 1980 or 1981. In that, she was excellent.
comeamoroso 4 years ago
1)The problem, to be honest with Bumbry is that she is always strong, strong, strong, and that she has a little wobble, and not much legato. This highlight of Amneris is a rare moment of self introspection she might have in a role. But she has a fascinating timbre and a dominatrix temperament for sure.
foropera 4 years ago
I find Verrett much more Callas like, by her phrasing, and the legato of her vocal emission. About her voice power, look at the Gioconda duet at Covent Garden: they have the same huge and large dark voice, but it's richer in the middle with Bumbry, and richer in Verrett in the low and high notes. I don' t compare them too much cause they are very different artists, I don't speak only of their voices...I was right near in the wings, in the theater when both of them worked.
foropera 4 years ago
Bumbry's was not as successful in many of her soprano roles as Verrett was.
benderpm 5 years ago
Since when do we judge mezzos based on how well they sung soprano roles? But, if you insist on such comparisons, compare their Lady Macbeth and you'll see what I mean. Verret, even in the studio recording,struggles to cope with the high tessitura. There are 2 live recordings with Bumbry and she is awsome, both in singing and acting. She was a force of nature. Verret was a fine, but more "controlled", actress and a good singer, though her instrument was neither rich, nor especially powerful.
comeamoroso 4 years ago
I don't think Verrett "struggled" with the tessitura at all. In fact, although I am a die hard fan of BOTH women, Bumbry did tend to have off nights when the tessitura in soprano parts was just too much. In soprano rep, Verrett was the more consistently secure singer up top. However, that's not to say Bumbry never was. BOTH were PHENOMENAL. up top. However, that's no to say that Bumbry never was
BeauTenor 4 years ago
And, incidentally, I think Verrett's voice was planty rich, and had plenty of power. Verrett drove the claque at La Scala bonkers with her Lady Macbeth. IF she'd struggled she would have been booed mercilessly.
BeauTenor 4 years ago
I agree with bomeulen...Grace is absolutely the best Amneris ever! I love her. However, only really love her in Opera. I don't care for her that much in lieder. She sings with so much passion in Opera, but it doesn't sound that way when she sings lieder. I know it's not the same...but it kind of is. Anyone agree?
fiercejarret 5 years ago
outstanding
operadoc 5 years ago
what a crap production and such hammy acting, Why is it that every Amneris i have seen overacts.
chubblove 5 years ago
Perhaps because you judge operatic live performances by TV standards?
comeamoroso 4 years ago
Verrett had greater success in making the transition from mezzo to soprano; is/was more versatile, could sing Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, Donizetti and Rosini was great precision, range and depth.
benderpm 5 years ago
I like Bumbry, but VERRETT is the better singer, actress and musican; she is real. To compare the two is like apples and oranges.
benderpm 5 years ago
Tell me, who compared the two? Oh you! My apologies. Do you know Ms. Bumbry to know that she wasn't versatile, and didn't have range. You call Gioconda, Laura, Leonora (Forza, Trovatore) Azucena, Aida, Amneris, Abigaille, Norma, Adalgisa, Turandot, Orfeo, Tosca, Semiramide, not being versatile? Uhm and by the way, I was listing operas in which La Bumbry sang. Get over it!
courtneybaritone01 5 years ago
i prefer when at the final "sul voi" is longer, though bumbry works it wonderfully, as usual
chapuzeto 5 years ago
I just love it Brava Diva
waterfordwinstons 5 years ago
Grace Bumbry is my idol, i would love to play that role one day. (username spelled wrong cuz right way was taken)
futurebumbrey 5 years ago
Truly great! She belongs in the hall of fame of singers. The best Amneris ever, possibly the best Eboli ever and on to of that such a wonderful lied singer and grand lady as well. Thanks for posting this..wouldn't mind seeing the whole video..
bomeulen 5 years ago
Amneris, yes, Eboli I think belongs to Verret...
Dymension 5 years ago
greatness
eboli2805 5 years ago
I have GOT to get this video! She is hands down THE best Amneris of the past century. For me to make such a statement is a major deal. I love Simionato, Verrett, Barbieri, Stignani, all those good old girls. But, nobody sings this role with the fervor and vocal splendor Bumbry does!
courtneybaritone01 5 years ago
I agree 100 % , nobody sang Amneris like la Bumbry!!
lungdoc 5 years ago