Elly Ameling Live sings Debussy's "C'est l'extase"

[PhillipLWilcher]

@BumpersMomClaire Thank you for sharing a meaningful thought with me. Bless you! I shared a correspondence with Ned over many years from the early 80s although of late not so. He must be close to 90 now. I adore his art songs. I love Blues, Billie Holiday and the like......I had the thought the other day that the Ebarme Dich by Bach intoned by Billie Holiday would be just as valid as any other interpretation by a classical singer. I would have loved to have heard that - can you imagine!

[annea1b]

@goldenthroat. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong. Ameling remains the gold standard for singers, male or female, opera or lieder. I recall a recital she did at Indiana University years back, and I overheard students saying "My voice teacher told me I HAD to come her her." And later one said "Now I know why." Her presence and her voice are greatly missed. No one comes close.

[adia216]

wow. i'm a singer and i've listened to elly ameling for quite some time now. i find it difficult to believe that she is considered to be unpopular. i know one of my teachers had referred to her as the "fabulous elly ameling." I also know from working with him that Mr. Baldwin (AMAZING accompanist) also thought her to be one of the finest singers he worked with and brought her up often in master classes. so to those who haven't discovered her...shame on you =P

[HelloKitty86]

thanks ameling for helping me learn this piece! lol

[ncapino]

*sigh* I absolutely love this setting of this poem.

[franimalistic]

Breathtaking!

[chazinko]

Such an incredibly sublime musical imagination Debussy had.

[sopranocarina]

WOW!.. so lovely............

[himitsunosallychan]

なんという声となんというピアノでしょう！第一音からうっとりさ­せられます。生で聞いた人たちはきっと暫く言葉がでなかったので­は.....

Absolutely hypnotizing. Thank you!

[PhillipLWilcher]

Wonderful, really wonderful!

I have feared from time to time that Art Song was becoming a neglected genre amongst today's composers save the likes of such wonders as Ned Rorem. I sincerely hope not. It is the one form by which all composers can assuredly learn and develop their craft.There is no greater discipline and delight. Just listen to this!

[tritone212]

For diction, interpretation, and clarity of tone, Ameling is the voice students' guru. Every phrase is obviously so premeditated, but she still manages to make it sound fresh and spontaneous. She truly does justice to the beauty of the compositions she sings.

[billyguns2]

It doesn't get any better than this. I wish someone would make again available Ameling and Baldwin's French song album; it is the pinnacle of art. How I love these French chansons!

[goldenthroat86]

@billyguns2 The reason the album is no longer available is that no-one wants to hear Ameling. Although at the time, some thought she was the best thing since sliced bread, she was mostly regarded as a VERY average singer with a small, unattractive voice. She wasn't popular among singers then and is (IF it's possible!) even less popular now!