Sondra Radvanovsky is a great singer. I herad her Tosca last year at the Met.Her Vissi D'Arte was a great piece of singing.
The voice has similarities to a number of singers: Rosalind Plowright, some overtones are reminiscent of Callas and Souliotis, and there is a touch of Gheorghiu in the sound.
With virtues come some imperfections similar to those singers.
Now about Dmitri Hvorostovsky. His is a lyrical baritone and I lack here bite that was there with his Italian predecessors.
Sadly that is how the story goes. The baritone never gets the girl!!! Which I think is unfair as I can name a lot more great baritones than than tenors. But there you go. By the way after Verdi finished the opera he said all it needed to be well performed was the 4 best singers in the world. He is a fantastic baritone and she is also a very good Leonora
they are both fantastic in this... the recent metropolitan opera performance was amazing!! why would Leonora fall for Manrico when the sexy and passionate Conte di Luna is around??!?
Dimitri is wonderful.. she is kneeling by the microphone and hence the unpleasant tone to her voice. however her vibrato is a little too much for me.. Its really a tremulo.. of sorts.
The unpleasant metallic character is obviously clipping of the audio from her mic. She is overpowering the mix. Live, she'll knock your socks off! Do not miss a chance to attend one of her performances. Many detractors nitpick and compare to others, which is absurd. A great voice that will stand alone. Listen and judge yourselves.
@SHOLOMEY Sondra Radvanovsky odna iz lučših verdi-pevic v mire. U Fleming est' drugoj, bolee liričeskij (i na moj vzglad nemnogo pereslaščennyj) golos. Renée by ne smogla pet' Leonoru v opere. Dmitrij horošo znaet, s kem pet' i s kem net!
Sondra is very good operatic singer,but now I realize what it constantly disturbes me in her singing. It's sharpness , sometimes it comes with metallic notes...There's also unpleasant vibrato which must be reduced to moderate . Dmitriy is always marvellous and impeccable .
@spqrmor Videos on YouTube are just for fun, it's problematic to use them as a reference. The original format was .wmv, which is not too bad, but could have been worse. Have you seen/heard her Vissi d'arte?
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@frufruJ Thanks for your advice.I know she 's wonderful soprano.I would like to hear her live some day.That would be the best criterion to me for sure.Naturally all great sopranos are unique and I admire them all.
@spqrmor Is it possible that the sound quality is harsher towards her voice than others'? I have seen her live and to my ears she didn't have the unpleasant tinge that she has here... But I understand you, I wasn't crazy about her voice in the beginning, either, even though that could've been just the sound, too. Have you got her CD?
Just please don't make negative assumptions based on my videos! ;-)
@frufruJ She is a lyrico-spinto soprano; her voice has a natural sharpness. However, in my opinion, it suits her perfectly for the dramatic roles she sings. However, her vibrato is sometimes heavy. At the MET (Il Trovatore), her first aria was ruined because of her heavy vibrato (I felt she hadn't warmed up properly). After that, she was magnificent.
Hvorostovsky valóságos Luna gróf!! Bár "csak"koncertfelvétel ,mégis hatalmas átéléssel,szenvedéllyel--ja,és Valami csodálatos hanggal-amilyen csak neki van-énekli ezt a duettet S.Radvanovsky-val! Nagyon köszönöm!
@goldenagesunshine - Maybe you should see Sondra Radvanosvsky in the house. Her voice sounds far different than it does here. She's basically the best dramatic Verdi Soprano out there right now hands down.
Hi - I agree with you. Her voice at the Met (4000 seats) is HUGE. She is also a good actress and looks good onstage. The metallic sound, on which so many have commented on negatively here, is exactly what allows the voice to pierce the orchestra and chorus and project into the house without amplification. The problem is she's singing close-up into a microphone that is actually set to enhance Hvorostovki's voice!!
S.R. is not a spinto, she's basically a lyric attempting heavier roles (not always suited to her voice) And besides, I hear nothing exciting at all about her singing. A lot of fuss for not much, sorry. Color, pathos, projection, are quite common. And the orchestra plays like a chamber orchestra rehearsing. It's not cuz 2 singers look pretty sexy indeed that they're (reference made to S.R.) great singers. She's young and has experienced many vocal problems already. Simply l-i-s-t-e-n: it's awful.
ezayi, I don't allow any profanities under my videos, that is the reason why I'm deleting your comment.
On a second note, if this is supposed to be a response to the above comment, it tells something about yourself. If you can't keep a debate on a certain level, don't enter it at all.
How many times did you see Zinka act in the theater?She was notoriously bad.Price didn't exactly study with Stella Adler either.She could be hilarious, despite the vocal greatness.[I am well aware of her Aida and Forza videos. BUT, did you see her Trovatore for starters?She was like Theda Bara vamping.] Since when are you able to slam Sandra at the expense of these other ladies. No doubt the MET and the other great theaters can't wait to hire you as her acting coach.
amazing you dare mention the name of Zinka in amy sentence with this horrid out of pitch singing of this supposedly young singer. big mistake. Zinka was a voice this is not.
saw this opera in Barcelona last sunday, in a beautiful performance and even more beautiful mise en scène of Gilbert Deflo. this piece is superb, and in the version of this video, preciously performed by both artists. Thanks for posting it!!
My impression of her performance is that its adequate. She doesn't evoke superlatives for me like say Price, Milanov, MIllo, Tebaldi or Stella in this role.
@jmahlon Price and Stella are really up there and Millo is like a camp vision of her earlier (outstanding self). BTW, Radvinosvsky has superior agility and a perfect trill: more than you can say about most of these other ladies. You better get used to her because she is the preeminent Verdi soprano of our day. Who else among the young'ins do you prefer? Or perhaps you prefer Guleghina in these parts? LoL
Violetta Urmana is promising. I had hopes for Fritolli but that hasnt seemed to pan out. I don't argue that Sondra is good here, there are just a couple of uncomfortable moments in pitch/expression. She seems to lack a bit of confidence perhaps. I have hopes for her she's on her way. But I don't thinks she's the only possible Verdian soprano out there.
Compare Zinka's and Stella's Vespri Bolero for starters... Stella's just lumbers along like her recording of Linda di Chamounix. Oh yes, then there is Zinka's. But wait, she never recorded that coloratura showpiece. I wonder why? Compare Sondra's Lucretia Borgia final scene with the other ladies. But wait... They never sang Donizetti's heroine. I can just imagine Zinka's attempt. Of course, she never sang DONIZETTI. As for Stella, let's just say Linda was more than enough for us and the critics.
She has a very nice voice but not better than Price´s, Millo´s or Zinka´s voice. The quality in their voices is much more superior than Radvanovsly. That they didn´t sing this or that, that´s not the matter. In fact, Price and Millo, both sang repertoire and roles where they had to sing coloratura and they did it excellent. I like her voice and could hear her any time but her acting here really stinks. Way overacted.
Your point was that Price, Stella and Zinka (I never said one word about Millo)were the equal to her in AGILITY.YOU MISS THE PT: I don't give a darn whether you like or hate Sandra.Feel free now to pick on her nasal hairs.The topic: AGILITY. Zinka, Price and Stella had the big voices to sing Verdi.The first two sang Mozart too with success--NOT LIKE A Sutherland --but in their only way.They would never dream of singing Donizetti because they do not have the AGILITY. That is ONLY in YOUR dreams.
first off your cheerleader status is awarded for the Rad seriously challenged by a single note in pitch. That you dare speak this fraud in the same breath with the great Milanov is testimony to your fantasy. Millo is superb in this rep, and hardly camp. Say it repeat with ruby slippers this girl is in real trouble. Not to mention this fraud of a verdi baritone. bark and pitch. great evening.
So agree. I hope that we have dozens of great Verdi sopranos of course. [Frittoli was impressive indeed. Certainly Muti loved her but I don't see her continuing on that exhaulted level as you point out.] I do not hear that lack of self confidence in SR. As far as her faults are concerned, we can all complain about Tebaldi's this or Callas' that. No one is without faults. I think it is just a question that she may not be YOUR Verdi soprano. I hope it is Urmana or some else ASAP. Good luck!
wow i'm so excited cos im going to see this opera with these singers on my birthday soon... it's going to be my first time attending the opera and i can't wait... it looks so good!!!!
yes, i did go! and i loved every minute of it. hvorostovsky wasn't as good as he was in this video, unfortunately, but he was still wonderful. radvanovsky was magnificent, the miserere blew me away. i didn't like the storyline so much, but the music was so intensely beautiful it really didn't matter.
Thanks for the reply. I caught a performance, with Quinn Kelsey instead of Hvorostovsky. Kelsey was excellent, but Radvanovsky brought down the house, especially with the misere.
Radvinovsky is just spectacular and yet she's not mentioned in comments. I guess I'm out of touch but to me, she's the best I've heard in about 40 years. Go to utube and hear the rest of her Il Trovatore. Just so fabulous.
Il Trovatore is arguably Verdi's darkest opera. Even though the plot might seem a bit improbable for an intelligent 21st century person, sometimes you have to swallow such things in this genre. Enrico Caruso once said that all you need to stage this opera is the four best singers in the world.
Generally, I'd say it's one of the "not-so-demanding-for-the-listener" operas, a lot of action, drama, fiery music etc.
So, in context should I see it? or is it kind of goary (?spelling?) Haha, and actually no. The phantom of the opera did. Just because it was opera, and so Carmen came to my city so I saw it and was in love with operas, But potts is pretty amazing, so I like him but he wasn't the first person to put me up to opera. :)
Did you mean "gory"? Depends, what is "gory" to you?
Well, the burnt witch and baby are only sung about, and the execution [usually] takes place behind the scene :-))) But these days of the directors' tyranny, even Donizetti can be gory :-(
I suggest reading the summary on Wikipedia.
You seem to be the first person I know to like both Potts & Co. and "real" opera :-)
Ya I read the wikipedia summary and it seemed pretty gory to me. Haha, ya, I think Potts did a good job singing, but No one can replace the originals like Pavarotti. Can you tell me any of your favorite operas?
Which parts there are gory? The dead babies are just mentioned. In Verdi's time, it was controversial because of the soprano's suicide.
True, there are few tenors out there these days, but try Juan Diego Florez. He's a different type than Pav (leggiero), capable of WILD coloratura and with a range above Pav. Then Vargas, Villazon, Cura, Kaufmann... And, of course, other voice types. I've heard somebody say that Hvorostovsky is "the Pavarotti of baritones", though I don't like comparing.
PS: I can't say which operas are my favourites, it keeps changing, and there are too many. You, as a "beginner" :-) might like Puccini, especially La Bohéme (there's this beautiful movie now with Netebko and Villazon), Verdi's La Traviata (be careful about the production, I saw one with pole dancers), or some operas buffas, like Mozart's or Rossini's.
I guess the dead babies are what caught me off gaurd. I see I will take a look a La Bohéme since someone else pointed it out to me. Thank you for the advice and information! :) I will take a look at those!
Only in the beginning, Ferrando is telling the story to the soldiers (and the audience), and in the second act, Azucena is remembering the event, that's all. There's also some fighting with swords, nothing more.
La Bohéme is noted for arguably the smallest plot in the world of opera :-) They fall in love, they separate (during the intermission), she comes back and dies, the end :-) But the music is so beautiful! I weep every time at three points, one in each act.
@frufruJ How can anyone dare call Dima the Pav of all baritones?! Why he is nothing like Pav! Esp when comparing the physical dimension, Dima 's physique is liken to Baryshnikov or Jean Claude Van Dam!
Kobbé's Opera Book, as I recall, finishes its chapter on Trovatore saying something like "... and thus this gory tale, set to one of the most tuneful scores in all opera, comes to an end." Yes the opera is dark and violent but it is also incredibly beautiful. In fact I believe there are more "pieces" (arias, duets, trios, etc.) in this opera than in almost any other.
And, by the way, you didn't seem to mind all those murders in the "Phantom of the Opera" ;)))
@TedinNY Oh wow!! I saw it afterall:) and it was amazing! and yeah haha I don't mind murders and stuff like that, especially because of phantom of the opera ;) hahahah
Thank you for posting this clip. I'm so tired of some people criticizing Sondra Radvanovsky, it's just a fashionable thing for them to do. There are clips like this, and there are live ones from the recent Met performances on here, where you can hear the solidity of her technique. I personally really enjoy her darker tone.
...and thank you, frufruJ, for posting this clip! I just love the very musical, very Verdian way these singers pick up and echo each other's gestures (eg at 6.29ish)
I agree - I was at the ROH on Friday and thought it was one of the great evenings of 30 years of opera-going. Radvanovsky, Hvorostovsky and Alagna all sublime and the production a Rolls Royce vehicle for passion - both the audience response and the reviews of the previous performance bizarrely muted. I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking the evening absolutely magnificent...
Thanks for your comment, Earlsdon. I hope the singers get to read these lines. I wonder why the applause was so short. Gosh, my heartbeat is still elevated when I think about the evening!
I could not agree more, was there as well... it was sublime, they all did great... I didn't understand either, I was afraid for alagna for a minute or two, specially in 'di quella pira' but he delivered beautifully, and not to mention Hvorostovsky!
Anybody who was there on Friday: Is it just me, or was the final applause sooo short? I mean, is it normal at ROH? Even the [mostly] no-names here get a longer one...
I also saw Il Trovatore at Covent Garden on Friday and thought it was sung beautifully. Especially this part and I won't forget Il Balen for a very long time
I cannot understand these harsh critics from allmajor UK press. It was such a beautiful production though staging a bit dark. I came to the opening night.They sung beatifully.
Nof "all", as far as I know. Try musicalcriticism com, it sounds reasonable. Anyway, I haven't read many reviews, but only some of them were a little harsh to Sondra, none of them to DH or Alagna...
Saw both of them in this opera in the Royal opera this week. Beautiful! He is so powerful, precise and skillful. Amazingly sung! She has a very powerful voice. Enjoyed it! Shame that critics were so harsh to her.
never thougt that such great singing is possible in our times. i always thougt i am to late to see this great interpretations. thank god it is not true.
"m'avrai ma freddo esanime spoglia" in full chest voice then easy-fast dramatic coloratura in "colui vivra"... Essential Verdi and fantastic Radvanovsky!
i LOVE how they both got SOOO wrapped up in the duet that when he went to kiss her, they were both like "oh shit, this isn't real" and started silently giggling, lol. it was hilarious to watch. they were like "uhhhhhhhh". omg dmitri is sooooo hot i can't stand it.
Es lo malo de tener a tu lado a un hombre tan admirado. Dima es tan hermoso y tan sexy que seguramente su esposa debe estar (necesita estar) bien acostumbrada a que otras mujeres lo miren con ojos de deseo, y ademas como él es tan apasionado en sus interpretaciones seguramente habra visto escenas como esta en todas aquellas operas donde hay "interaccion" con la soprano. (¡sopranos suertudas!)
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
what? radvanovsky has a lovely voice? give me a break. these are probably the two worst verdian singers of the last quarter century. sure, the format is better than usual. but it doesn't change the fact that his voice is smaller than my dachshund's and that hers is uglier than that same creature's arse.
Please! Whose agenda are you sponsoring? I have been going to the opera for more than 45 years, and Radvanovsky is the real thing. She is the finest Verdian soprano singing today, and I was also cheering her Puccini at her recent tremendous triumph as Suor Angelica in LA.
rexeterna you are right about the ordinary voices of them AND what kind of circus is this ? to make those ridiculous face gestures while singing ! and movements in a concert ! This is of the worst taste !
Thank God (in this case, YouTube), that I was able to see many of your comments. You can't find words of praise even for the greatest!?! You are either Mario del Monaco, or a *very* frustrated singer. These - and others, that you've been criticising - are the greatest. I doubt you can do better. Tell me, why can't you just enjoy?
Sondra Radvanovsky is a great singer. I herad her Tosca last year at the Met.Her Vissi D'Arte was a great piece of singing.
The voice has similarities to a number of singers: Rosalind Plowright, some overtones are reminiscent of Callas and Souliotis, and there is a touch of Gheorghiu in the sound.
With virtues come some imperfections similar to those singers.
Now about Dmitri Hvorostovsky. His is a lyrical baritone and I lack here bite that was there with his Italian predecessors.
chaiter1 1 month ago
Listen the same duet with Barbara Frittoli (and DH, of course), and fill the difference. What a marvellous job!
po1212Po 5 months ago
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po1212Po 5 months ago
Absolutely marvellous!
eglechisiu 6 months ago
I know what you mean eurydike - i am addicted to this video too :-) ...i saw them live, close up, at Covent Garden in 2009 - but this is even better!
Mazeppa7 6 months ago
I prefer Fleming ,too( she' a wonderful partner, not just a great singer, Dmitri himself mentioned it)
po1212Po 9 months ago
Sadly that is how the story goes. The baritone never gets the girl!!! Which I think is unfair as I can name a lot more great baritones than than tenors. But there you go. By the way after Verdi finished the opera he said all it needed to be well performed was the 4 best singers in the world. He is a fantastic baritone and she is also a very good Leonora
Ariadne7710 9 months ago 2
they are both fantastic in this... the recent metropolitan opera performance was amazing!! why would Leonora fall for Manrico when the sexy and passionate Conte di Luna is around??!?
beehappy23 10 months ago 7
Dimitri is wonderful.. she is kneeling by the microphone and hence the unpleasant tone to her voice. however her vibrato is a little too much for me.. Its really a tremulo.. of sorts.
kgarmaker123 10 months ago
The unpleasant metallic character is obviously clipping of the audio from her mic. She is overpowering the mix. Live, she'll knock your socks off! Do not miss a chance to attend one of her performances. Many detractors nitpick and compare to others, which is absurd. A great voice that will stand alone. Listen and judge yourselves.
Elexmage 10 months ago
i am addicted to this video:-)
eurydike 10 months ago
NE PONIMAYU ,PO4EMU DMITRIY S NEY POET V ETOM KONZERTE. V DANNOM SLU4AE SOPRANO PORTIT DUET. OBOZHAYU EGO DUETI S RENEE FLEMING!!!
SHOLOMEY 11 months ago
@SHOLOMEY Sondra Radvanovsky odna iz lučših verdi-pevic v mire. U Fleming est' drugoj, bolee liričeskij (i na moj vzglad nemnogo pereslaščennyj) golos. Renée by ne smogla pet' Leonoru v opere. Dmitrij horošo znaet, s kem pet' i s kem net!
frufruJ 11 months ago 2
Who did her hair? Jessica Spano? She needs new people.
They're both wonderful singers - thanks for posting this video.
gustopheles 11 months ago
The best conte di Luna , her Leonora is fantastic
Rafaello251 1 year ago
@Rafaello251 yes, i like Radvanovsky a lot. best di luna, best Onegin:)
eurydike 1 year ago
好棒的聲音 真是上帝所賜天籟之聲太棒了 交響樂之配合歸於指揮及所有音樂家
jingcisu 1 year ago
I only hope he will be healthy and sing in the live in hd Trovatore :-)
eurydike 1 year ago
Radvanovsky is fantastic. Hearing her sing Leonora live, in the accoustics of a big opera house is a great experience.
novasafo 1 year ago
She puts me in mind of Rosalind Plowright on so many levels.
timkendal 1 year ago
Wow he's just great!! Now I regret not going to his concert soooo much...
Opera7Star 1 year ago
Sondra is very good operatic singer,but now I realize what it constantly disturbes me in her singing. It's sharpness , sometimes it comes with metallic notes...There's also unpleasant vibrato which must be reduced to moderate . Dmitriy is always marvellous and impeccable .
spqrmor 1 year ago
@spqrmor Videos on YouTube are just for fun, it's problematic to use them as a reference. The original format was .wmv, which is not too bad, but could have been worse. Have you seen/heard her Vissi d'arte?
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I think it's amazing!
frufruJ 1 year ago
@frufruJ Thanks for your advice.I know she 's wonderful soprano.I would like to hear her live some day.That would be the best criterion to me for sure.Naturally all great sopranos are unique and I admire them all.
spqrmor 1 year ago
@spqrmor Is it possible that the sound quality is harsher towards her voice than others'? I have seen her live and to my ears she didn't have the unpleasant tinge that she has here... But I understand you, I wasn't crazy about her voice in the beginning, either, even though that could've been just the sound, too. Have you got her CD?
Just please don't make negative assumptions based on my videos! ;-)
frufruJ 1 year ago
@frufruJ She is a lyrico-spinto soprano; her voice has a natural sharpness. However, in my opinion, it suits her perfectly for the dramatic roles she sings. However, her vibrato is sometimes heavy. At the MET (Il Trovatore), her first aria was ruined because of her heavy vibrato (I felt she hadn't warmed up properly). After that, she was magnificent.
LordHettrick 9 months ago
She sings like a buzzy cat....is not good...
TheBasilio 1 year ago
Wonderful music show ! great !
Watchyou2008 1 year ago
I'm just hearing her for the first time-- the sound she produces is clear and rich, incredible.
leoniemikele 1 year ago
Fabulous chemistry!!
Paddy818 1 year ago
What a virile performance!
ahimsainternational 1 year ago
O what a sexy man he is! I love him!
carlalore12 1 year ago
i am no expert and you neednt believe it, but this is beautiful:-)
eurydike 1 year ago
i can´t stop listening to their duett:-)) i like it very much.
eurydike 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
zeuswotan: non un grosso problema, cantano molto bene!!!
fidemtg1 1 year ago
zeuswotan: non un grosso problema, cantano molto bene!
fidemtg1 1 year ago
This is the worst rendition i've ever heard. Fast and furious! Where is the bel canto line? And of cource I am not talking about voices
zeuswotan 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I russi hanno masacrato l'opera italiana!!!
zeuswotan 1 year ago
@zeuswotan How much you know about opera is demonstrated in the fact that you don't know Radvanovsky and Orbelian are Americans. Sorry :-)
frufruJ 1 year ago 2
@frufruJ Vous exagérez un peu! Il reste les voix tout de même.
louvet66 1 year ago
@frufruJ Russians and Americans then!
zeuswotan 1 year ago
@zeuswotan lui è bravo lei è da censura
Sorrentodellesirene 1 year ago
@Sorrento Delle Sirene
lei potrebbe essere un poco meglio, ha un piccolo tremolo che non e molto gradevole. La voce ha una certa qualità
Lui e buonissimo
joanabanyeres 1 year ago
She really does remind me of the young Plowright, in voice, looks and acting !
Plowrightclips 1 year ago
Hvorostovsky valóságos Luna gróf!! Bár "csak"koncertfelvétel ,mégis hatalmas átéléssel,szenvedéllyel--ja,és Valami csodálatos hanggal-amilyen csak neki van-énekli ezt a duettet S.Radvanovsky-val! Nagyon köszönöm!
ophunka 1 year ago
@ophunka szerintem ìs!
TheDmitrilover 1 year ago
this duett is wonderful.
eurydike 1 year ago
Amazing "SCOSTATI!!!!" 4:14
diesis23 1 year ago
@diesis23 no, verismo style, not Verdi Style.
breberto 1 year ago
With Fleming was better. Renee have a beautiful and goddes voice!
Katrine28091996 1 year ago
this video is great, his voice is perfection here:-)
she is great too, of course.
eurydike 1 year ago
i am afraid i will have to buy il trovatore on dvd. i like the music, i like this count luna. another expense:-))) on opera.
eurydike 1 year ago
Comment removed
Katrine28091996 1 year ago
@goldenagesunshine - Maybe you should see Sondra Radvanosvsky in the house. Her voice sounds far different than it does here. She's basically the best dramatic Verdi Soprano out there right now hands down.
Bookiepro 1 year ago
@Bookiepro
Hi - I agree with you. Her voice at the Met (4000 seats) is HUGE. She is also a good actress and looks good onstage. The metallic sound, on which so many have commented on negatively here, is exactly what allows the voice to pierce the orchestra and chorus and project into the house without amplification. The problem is she's singing close-up into a microphone that is actually set to enhance Hvorostovki's voice!!
TedinNY 11 months ago
His voice has all the beauty of lyric baritone and enough dramatism for singing Verdi perfectly
po1212Po 1 year ago
S.R. is not a spinto, she's basically a lyric attempting heavier roles (not always suited to her voice) And besides, I hear nothing exciting at all about her singing. A lot of fuss for not much, sorry. Color, pathos, projection, are quite common. And the orchestra plays like a chamber orchestra rehearsing. It's not cuz 2 singers look pretty sexy indeed that they're (reference made to S.R.) great singers. She's young and has experienced many vocal problems already. Simply l-i-s-t-e-n: it's awful.
GoldenAgeSunshine 1 year ago
Great rack at 0:23 ;)
odraciRRicardo 1 year ago
SING IT! My god, they are exciting!
georgerannie 1 year ago
i lovesky the russiansky namesky =)
onotuoedaul 1 year ago
Quel duo sublime! Merci à vous frufruJ
77Opera 1 year ago
I had the chance of seeing this pair live in Montreal. Truly amazing, although Hvorostovsky was not at top. Radvanovsky is an amazing spinto.
LordHettrick 1 year ago
Wonderful video. Thanks for posting this!
1950billb 1 year ago
He is simply not a Verdi baritone. I just finished listening to Bastianini and Stella, and well .....
chengducat 1 year ago
And shes singing Elisabetta...
CatalinaDM56 2 years ago
ezayi, I don't allow any profanities under my videos, that is the reason why I'm deleting your comment.
On a second note, if this is supposed to be a response to the above comment, it tells something about yourself. If you can't keep a debate on a certain level, don't enter it at all.
frufruJ 2 years ago
I think all this is overacted... especially hers.
ezayi 2 years ago 2
How many times did you see Zinka act in the theater?She was notoriously bad.Price didn't exactly study with Stella Adler either.She could be hilarious, despite the vocal greatness.[I am well aware of her Aida and Forza videos. BUT, did you see her Trovatore for starters?She was like Theda Bara vamping.] Since when are you able to slam Sandra at the expense of these other ladies. No doubt the MET and the other great theaters can't wait to hire you as her acting coach.
pkunzip501 2 years ago
amazing you dare mention the name of Zinka in amy sentence with this horrid out of pitch singing of this supposedly young singer. big mistake. Zinka was a voice this is not.
EnriqueCross 1 year ago
saw these 2 at the Met last year what a thrill
charlie8943 2 years ago
saw this opera in Barcelona last sunday, in a beautiful performance and even more beautiful mise en scène of Gilbert Deflo. this piece is superb, and in the version of this video, preciously performed by both artists. Thanks for posting it!!
baahoui 2 years ago
BRAVISSIMO!
cindarella1980 2 years ago 2
J'adore cet opéra et pour moi, les deux sont merveilleux !
jackylen57 2 years ago 3
BRAVO................Dmitri is wonderful.
MRDUMAI 2 years ago
Radvinovsky is relly spectacular, and it is very strange that only one person is mentioning it.
Great duetto.
MegaBreez 2 years ago 17
My impression of her performance is that its adequate. She doesn't evoke superlatives for me like say Price, Milanov, MIllo, Tebaldi or Stella in this role.
jmahlon 2 years ago
They're all deceased, she isn't.
pfeliks 2 years ago 2
lol no they're not.
jmahlon 2 years ago
@jmahlon Price and Stella are really up there and Millo is like a camp vision of her earlier (outstanding self). BTW, Radvinosvsky has superior agility and a perfect trill: more than you can say about most of these other ladies. You better get used to her because she is the preeminent Verdi soprano of our day. Who else among the young'ins do you prefer? Or perhaps you prefer Guleghina in these parts? LoL
pkunzip501 2 years ago
Violetta Urmana is promising. I had hopes for Fritolli but that hasnt seemed to pan out. I don't argue that Sondra is good here, there are just a couple of uncomfortable moments in pitch/expression. She seems to lack a bit of confidence perhaps. I have hopes for her she's on her way. But I don't thinks she's the only possible Verdian soprano out there.
jmahlon 2 years ago
Superior agility?... in your dreams!!!
ezayi 2 years ago
Compare Zinka's and Stella's Vespri Bolero for starters... Stella's just lumbers along like her recording of Linda di Chamounix. Oh yes, then there is Zinka's. But wait, she never recorded that coloratura showpiece. I wonder why? Compare Sondra's Lucretia Borgia final scene with the other ladies. But wait... They never sang Donizetti's heroine. I can just imagine Zinka's attempt. Of course, she never sang DONIZETTI. As for Stella, let's just say Linda was more than enough for us and the critics.
pkunzip501 2 years ago
She has a very nice voice but not better than Price´s, Millo´s or Zinka´s voice. The quality in their voices is much more superior than Radvanovsly. That they didn´t sing this or that, that´s not the matter. In fact, Price and Millo, both sang repertoire and roles where they had to sing coloratura and they did it excellent. I like her voice and could hear her any time but her acting here really stinks. Way overacted.
ezayi 2 years ago
Your point was that Price, Stella and Zinka (I never said one word about Millo)were the equal to her in AGILITY.YOU MISS THE PT: I don't give a darn whether you like or hate Sandra.Feel free now to pick on her nasal hairs.The topic: AGILITY. Zinka, Price and Stella had the big voices to sing Verdi.The first two sang Mozart too with success--NOT LIKE A Sutherland --but in their only way.They would never dream of singing Donizetti because they do not have the AGILITY. That is ONLY in YOUR dreams.
pkunzip501 2 years ago
first off your cheerleader status is awarded for the Rad seriously challenged by a single note in pitch. That you dare speak this fraud in the same breath with the great Milanov is testimony to your fantasy. Millo is superb in this rep, and hardly camp. Say it repeat with ruby slippers this girl is in real trouble. Not to mention this fraud of a verdi baritone. bark and pitch. great evening.
EnriqueCross 1 year ago 2
There is something to be said for the living.
joeboo36 2 years ago
So agree. I hope that we have dozens of great Verdi sopranos of course. [Frittoli was impressive indeed. Certainly Muti loved her but I don't see her continuing on that exhaulted level as you point out.] I do not hear that lack of self confidence in SR. As far as her faults are concerned, we can all complain about Tebaldi's this or Callas' that. No one is without faults. I think it is just a question that she may not be YOUR Verdi soprano. I hope it is Urmana or some else ASAP. Good luck!
pkunzip501 2 years ago
@MegaBreez people concentrate on praising or criticizing Dmitri:), but she is a great singer, too:)
eurydike 6 months ago
jose cura fra i baritoni !
bodiloto 2 years ago
wow i'm so excited cos im going to see this opera with these singers on my birthday soon... it's going to be my first time attending the opera and i can't wait... it looks so good!!!!
Gothigraphic 2 years ago 6
So, Gothicgraphic, did you get to see them? What did you think?
Gollimopple 2 years ago
yes, i did go! and i loved every minute of it. hvorostovsky wasn't as good as he was in this video, unfortunately, but he was still wonderful. radvanovsky was magnificent, the miserere blew me away. i didn't like the storyline so much, but the music was so intensely beautiful it really didn't matter.
Gothigraphic 2 years ago 3
Thanks for the reply. I caught a performance, with Quinn Kelsey instead of Hvorostovsky. Kelsey was excellent, but Radvanovsky brought down the house, especially with the misere.
Gollimopple 2 years ago
bleah ... Cantate anche piano!!!!
pesciolino7 2 years ago
Radvinovsky is just spectacular and yet she's not mentioned in comments. I guess I'm out of touch but to me, she's the best I've heard in about 40 years. Go to utube and hear the rest of her Il Trovatore. Just so fabulous.
r4ralph 2 years ago 5
Thankyou for posting. Dmitri is wonderful.
Ardderchog !
Alexjhs 2 years ago 2
.
I love this Opera...
If these singers came to mi Country I would do my best to go to hear them...
The Bariton singing "Count Di Luna" is just MAGNIFICENT....
If I were you,
LetyenMorelia 2 years ago 4
Can anyone tell me If I should see this opera? it's coming to my city.
711luvAquaatmall 2 years ago
You should see every opera ;-)
Il Trovatore is arguably Verdi's darkest opera. Even though the plot might seem a bit improbable for an intelligent 21st century person, sometimes you have to swallow such things in this genre. Enrico Caruso once said that all you need to stage this opera is the four best singers in the world.
Generally, I'd say it's one of the "not-so-demanding-for-the-listener" operas, a lot of action, drama, fiery music etc.
Tell me, did Potts convert you? :-)
frufruJ 2 years ago
So, in context should I see it? or is it kind of goary (?spelling?) Haha, and actually no. The phantom of the opera did. Just because it was opera, and so Carmen came to my city so I saw it and was in love with operas, But potts is pretty amazing, so I like him but he wasn't the first person to put me up to opera. :)
711luvAquaatmall 2 years ago
Did you mean "gory"? Depends, what is "gory" to you?
Well, the burnt witch and baby are only sung about, and the execution [usually] takes place behind the scene :-))) But these days of the directors' tyranny, even Donizetti can be gory :-(
I suggest reading the summary on Wikipedia.
You seem to be the first person I know to like both Potts & Co. and "real" opera :-)
frufruJ 2 years ago
Ya I read the wikipedia summary and it seemed pretty gory to me. Haha, ya, I think Potts did a good job singing, but No one can replace the originals like Pavarotti. Can you tell me any of your favorite operas?
711luvAquaatmall 2 years ago
Which parts there are gory? The dead babies are just mentioned. In Verdi's time, it was controversial because of the soprano's suicide.
True, there are few tenors out there these days, but try Juan Diego Florez. He's a different type than Pav (leggiero), capable of WILD coloratura and with a range above Pav. Then Vargas, Villazon, Cura, Kaufmann... And, of course, other voice types. I've heard somebody say that Hvorostovsky is "the Pavarotti of baritones", though I don't like comparing.
frufruJ 2 years ago
PS: I can't say which operas are my favourites, it keeps changing, and there are too many. You, as a "beginner" :-) might like Puccini, especially La Bohéme (there's this beautiful movie now with Netebko and Villazon), Verdi's La Traviata (be careful about the production, I saw one with pole dancers), or some operas buffas, like Mozart's or Rossini's.
frufruJ 2 years ago
I guess the dead babies are what caught me off gaurd. I see I will take a look a La Bohéme since someone else pointed it out to me. Thank you for the advice and information! :) I will take a look at those!
711luvAquaatmall 2 years ago
Only in the beginning, Ferrando is telling the story to the soldiers (and the audience), and in the second act, Azucena is remembering the event, that's all. There's also some fighting with swords, nothing more.
La Bohéme is noted for arguably the smallest plot in the world of opera :-) They fall in love, they separate (during the intermission), she comes back and dies, the end :-) But the music is so beautiful! I weep every time at three points, one in each act.
frufruJ 2 years ago
@frufruJ How can anyone dare call Dima the Pav of all baritones?! Why he is nothing like Pav! Esp when comparing the physical dimension, Dima 's physique is liken to Baryshnikov or Jean Claude Van Dam!
gloria25031 1 year ago
@gloria25031 I'm sure they were referring to the voice ;-p
frufruJ 1 year ago
@frufruJ I see no resemblance between Pav and Dima's voice, unless they refer to style, then perhaps a valid argument can be made.
gloria25031 1 year ago
@gloria25031 I'm sure they meant the beauty, involvement, technique and artistry :-)
frufruJ 1 year ago
@frufruJ Perhaps...but Dima is an artist of his own caliber! :-D
gloria25031 1 year ago
@711luvAquaatmall
Kobbé's Opera Book, as I recall, finishes its chapter on Trovatore saying something like "... and thus this gory tale, set to one of the most tuneful scores in all opera, comes to an end." Yes the opera is dark and violent but it is also incredibly beautiful. In fact I believe there are more "pieces" (arias, duets, trios, etc.) in this opera than in almost any other.
And, by the way, you didn't seem to mind all those murders in the "Phantom of the Opera" ;)))
TedinNY 11 months ago
@TedinNY Oh wow!! I saw it afterall:) and it was amazing! and yeah haha I don't mind murders and stuff like that, especially because of phantom of the opera ;) hahahah
711luvAquaatmall 11 months ago
Thank you for posting this clip. I'm so tired of some people criticizing Sondra Radvanovsky, it's just a fashionable thing for them to do. There are clips like this, and there are live ones from the recent Met performances on here, where you can hear the solidity of her technique. I personally really enjoy her darker tone.
goto41 2 years ago 2
...and thank you, frufruJ, for posting this clip! I just love the very musical, very Verdian way these singers pick up and echo each other's gestures (eg at 6.29ish)
Earlsdon19 2 years ago
I agree - I was at the ROH on Friday and thought it was one of the great evenings of 30 years of opera-going. Radvanovsky, Hvorostovsky and Alagna all sublime and the production a Rolls Royce vehicle for passion - both the audience response and the reviews of the previous performance bizarrely muted. I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking the evening absolutely magnificent...
Earlsdon19 2 years ago 2
Thanks for your comment, Earlsdon. I hope the singers get to read these lines. I wonder why the applause was so short. Gosh, my heartbeat is still elevated when I think about the evening!
frufruJ 2 years ago
I could not agree more, was there as well... it was sublime, they all did great... I didn't understand either, I was afraid for alagna for a minute or two, specially in 'di quella pira' but he delivered beautifully, and not to mention Hvorostovsky!
arianabyu 2 years ago 3
Anybody who was there on Friday: Is it just me, or was the final applause sooo short? I mean, is it normal at ROH? Even the [mostly] no-names here get a longer one...
frufruJ 2 years ago
Nothing special. He just quickly ran away with Sodra. I wonder why FT reviewer emphasised this detail.
cherryyuchu 2 years ago
:-))) The same he did after the performance... quickly ran away, only not with Sondra, but his wife :-)
frufruJ 2 years ago
I also saw Il Trovatore at Covent Garden on Friday and thought it was sung beautifully. Especially this part and I won't forget Il Balen for a very long time
jamesflat 2 years ago
I cannot understand these harsh critics from allmajor UK press. It was such a beautiful production though staging a bit dark. I came to the opening night.They sung beatifully.
cherryyuchu 2 years ago
Nof "all", as far as I know. Try musicalcriticism com, it sounds reasonable. Anyway, I haven't read many reviews, but only some of them were a little harsh to Sondra, none of them to DH or Alagna...
frufruJ 2 years ago
PS to the above/below: I've just read the Financial Times review; WHAT did DH do at the third act curtain?
frufruJ 2 years ago
Saw them last night at the ROH with Alagna, enjoyed it very much:}}}}}}
solstice50 2 years ago
I saw them a couple of days ago in Il Trovatore at the ROH. :-)
juhoristo 2 years ago
I saw them yesterday! :-)))
frufruJ 2 years ago
My GOD he's handsome. I mean... wow... oh, and nice singing too :)
evilsushix 2 years ago 3
Saw both of them in this opera in the Royal opera this week. Beautiful! He is so powerful, precise and skillful. Amazingly sung! She has a very powerful voice. Enjoyed it! Shame that critics were so harsh to her.
Lowslips 2 years ago 3
Don't listen to the critics, make up your own mind. Enjoyed them too......
solstice50 2 years ago
woah ... Dmitri lost quite a bit of weight
me148 2 years ago
I sae them both at the Met in Trovatore and I heard the most wonderful voices!!! Thank you for sharing this!
camilla0690 2 years ago 2
oy vey, this again? rad has such an annoying voice. my favorite part of this video is right at 0:22.
rexeterna 3 years ago
Her Ernani at the Met last year was rather thrilling. I think she's a wonderful Verdian.
sschimel 3 years ago 4
I saw these two together today at the Met - it was amazing.
fabfourfanatic4 3 years ago
what great verd moments
i love them both
never thougt that such great singing is possible in our times. i always thougt i am to late to see this great interpretations. thank god it is not true.
opera in this range never dies
jocmuc 3 years ago 2
espectacular escena de Il trovatore grande Dmitri, grande Sondra
Grande la Opera
melomanemorino 3 years ago
he is one of the best singers of this time
liric01994 3 years ago 2
My word!!!
chislehurstbat 3 years ago
Wow ! that is hot ! thank you for this breathtaking clip !
midas45 3 years ago
Sondra, Bravissimo !! Wonderful !!
Best regards from Canada's Westcoast. Will see you at the MET in February.
energyglobal 3 years ago
"m'avrai ma freddo esanime spoglia" in full chest voice then easy-fast dramatic coloratura in "colui vivra"... Essential Verdi and fantastic Radvanovsky!
Lohengrin 3 years ago
i LOVE how they both got SOOO wrapped up in the duet that when he went to kiss her, they were both like "oh shit, this isn't real" and started silently giggling, lol. it was hilarious to watch. they were like "uhhhhhhhh". omg dmitri is sooooo hot i can't stand it.
JuillHope17 3 years ago 3
Wow! Wonderful and brilliant performance!
Without costumes and settings they could express this intense drama. Leonora was comitting suicide midst of duet for gods sake.
I can't wait for the Met trovatore.
1019q 3 years ago 2
I wonder what Hvorostovskys wife was thinking at the last moment of the piece)
ClassicA111 3 years ago
Which woman could resist Dima's hotness? <3
Sieglinde84 3 years ago 9
He is "teh hotness," if you will.
HistoryGeek4U 3 years ago 2
Es lo malo de tener a tu lado a un hombre tan admirado. Dima es tan hermoso y tan sexy que seguramente su esposa debe estar (necesita estar) bien acostumbrada a que otras mujeres lo miren con ojos de deseo, y ademas como él es tan apasionado en sus interpretaciones seguramente habra visto escenas como esta en todas aquellas operas donde hay "interaccion" con la soprano. (¡sopranos suertudas!)
operafilia24 3 years ago
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oscarnotwild 3 years ago
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oscarnotwild 3 years ago
Radvanovsky is a really gorgeous singer with a magnificent voice. Brava, Radavanovsky.
olauu 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
what? radvanovsky has a lovely voice? give me a break. these are probably the two worst verdian singers of the last quarter century. sure, the format is better than usual. but it doesn't change the fact that his voice is smaller than my dachshund's and that hers is uglier than that same creature's arse.
rexeterna 3 years ago
Please! Whose agenda are you sponsoring? I have been going to the opera for more than 45 years, and Radvanovsky is the real thing. She is the finest Verdian soprano singing today, and I was also cheering her Puccini at her recent tremendous triumph as Suor Angelica in LA.
operabeauty 3 years ago 4
Agreed. Radvanovsky has proved to have real Verdian potential and is not going to be affected by those with an "agenda" to unfairly critique her.
sospello 3 years ago 2
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rexeterna you are right about the ordinary voices of them AND what kind of circus is this ? to make those ridiculous face gestures while singing ! and movements in a concert ! This is of the worst taste !
maipisimo67 3 years ago
Thank God (in this case, YouTube), that I was able to see many of your comments. You can't find words of praise even for the greatest!?! You are either Mario del Monaco, or a *very* frustrated singer. These - and others, that you've been criticising - are the greatest. I doubt you can do better. Tell me, why can't you just enjoy?
frufruJ 3 years ago
At last an interesting recital of an opera segment. Usually they are done in such a way as to seem disembodied. Bravi.
sospello 3 years ago
Wow! What a woman, this Ms. Radvanovsky - all flesh, blood and lovely voice! There is considerable amount of chemistry between these two singers.
Mwuori 3 years ago