Kathleen Battle - Merry Widow - Viljalied

[MrAndredekock]

This is charming and beautiful. Brava Ms Battle! My own personal favorite is Beverly Sills' rendition of this on her commercial CD, Welcome to Vienna and her soft high notes (the 2 traditional high notes, B natural I think) are absolutely stunning and her breath seems to last forever! For whatever reason Ms Battle chose not to sing the traditional high notes, but this was still charming and beautiful.

[teresa1texas]

Was directed at YouTube in general and if u don't like what I write click the daggone x and leave me alone : l

[teresa1texas]

@jumpstreet1983 won't you get a day job...you sound like a sniping first grader. My comment about 95 was actually a question I failed to punctuate and u came Unglued! My other comment...

[WeeGrahamsaccount]

You tube is terrific you can get a chance to see some of the most perfect performances. This is very lovely but of all the singers Elisabeth Scharzkopf gives the most satisfying performance.

[hepzebahsu]

Beautiful song beautifully sung. Thanks for posting.

[siriusminx]

Say what you will, Kathleen performs her instrument exquisitly.

[blkchk]

Can't we just enjoy the singing people? Geeez!

[SandrineSoprano]

I like this song. Very much.

[couturesixfour]

where, where, where can this be purchased on DVD?

[Uruguruh]

One of the sweetest voice ever. So beautiful...

[Garpinator]

In spite of all the criticisms opera snobs love to post on youtube, I truly enjoyed this. Thank-you, Coloraturafan. Can anyone tell me who the orchestra and conductor accompanying Ms. Battle are?

[sopera123]

too bad she chickened out on the high B, should be no prolem for her.

[couturesixfour]

@sopera123 have you ever had diarrhea and couldn't go in to work...damn! she is a human just as you are! who is to say that on this particular day she was not able to produce that note...does this negate the complete work! sickening ingrates!!!

[troppofiato]

Sweet, very small, average voice with a mannered technique and delivery. Never understood what the fuss was all about.

[lovesGenet]

and what can u bitches produce ? No technique or personality or musicality go put it n a cat tin.GREYGARDENASSES!How dare you eternal pupils pontificate! stay in musical theatre where u belong!

[JumpStreet1983]

I'm quite aware of what year it was taped, and that's why I stated that 10 years earlier (in 1985), she would have hit the note with ease. There's nothing wrong with constructive criticism, as no opera singer can be perfect at all times. After so many years of constant use, the voice will start to decline. If you are upset about what people write here, then you can surely take your own advice and click the red X at the top-right.

[misbreadfruit]

@JumpStreet1983 People need to do a lot more self analysis rather than spending so much time deconstructing others. Are you stating a constuctive critique or merely just sniping? Are you passing off an insult as constructive criticism? Who are you helping? Surely not Miss Battle who has been a money maker and award winner for many years. She really does not need your advice. People are tired of "art critics" like yourself. If you dont like what you hear you click the red X.

[JumpStreet1983]

@misbreadfruit I'm certainly not insulting Miss Battle, as I'm a huge fan. But no singer is immune from constructive criticism, and I would never insult her. However, you do not own Youtube, so it isn't your place to decide who posts what. So until you buy Youtube and can censor comments, anyone can write whatever they want here. Don't like what I wrote? Too bad.

[misbreadfruit]

@JumpStreet1983 Clearly you need to take your own advice. You obviously can't stomach constructive criticism yourself. I, too can write whatever I want here, and that means I can constructively critique your critiques. I don't need to buy youtube to censor your comments just like you dont need to buy youtube to critique Ms Battle. If you can't take it...Don't dish it :)

[teresa1texas]

Want to critique someones singing, write a magazine. The point of YouTube is for people to watch videos that they WANT to see, not bash the ones they don't. What is wrong with some people? If I don't like whats in a particular video, I just click on the little red X in the corner and get on with my life....Did I miss the briefing???? LOL

[JumpStreet1983]

10 years earlier, she would have hit the high B at the very end with no problem at all. Leaving it out cheats the aria itself, because it gives the listener something to look forward to and puts a cherry on top of the cake. Overall, Kathleen's voice was in top form until 2003 or so.

[teresa1texas]

@JumpStreet1983

The caption says that it was taped in 1995

[Leoboy729]

@JumpStreet1983 This is also transposed up, probably at her request.

[chipmunktubetop]

I love her.

[re6356]

Even the best singers seem to be a target for the knowalls. She has one of the sweetest voices I`ve ever heard, I can overlook the very minor technical shortcomings. I thoroughly enjoy this rendition.

[couturesixfour]

i love kb's voice. i aspire to produce such wonderful sounds. we all will face the day when our instruments begin to decline. her breathing in some performances that i've heard seems to be a problem that is health related, not a lack of proficiency. she has the sweetest tone of all. i prefer her softer side. i'm not an opera person, but i do sing and i do understand breathing and the haunting presence of air...but who hasn't had a bad show. we are all human!!! fallible!!! temporal!!!

[OME10S]

the voice is beautiful. I wonder who it is a whole tone higher than the original and I very much dislike her unlogical freedoms in the theme. For the orchestra it must have been a disaster to accompany her in this unlogical beat. It tires me out. Too bad because her material -voice- is great

[silvanero]

Magical and sweetly song....What an artist you are Madame Battle....Brava !!!

[aecampion]

she has significantly less stage presence than sumi jo does and i like sumi's version better, but this is still beautiful. correct about the breathing. and i wish she'd hit the B it adds so much, but i can't do that so i can't judge.

[branko1b]

it is utterly ridiculous to compare Sumi Jo to an opera singer with a proper voice

[nycamk]

she totally through away her career.

[Phoenixxe]

Even with all the facial contortions she made, 'opera face', as i've coined it, she opted out of the high note ending? And breathing all over the place?! Nuh uh Ms Battle.. you didn't push it out. Mediocre at best and i'm a FAN!

[yazmillah]

Villia - our souls are entwined - I REMEMBER BEING ON THE 10TH ROW CENTER ORCHESTRA ON THIS PERFORMANCE. I still shiver inside when I remember this nights some some 2 decades ago.

[Lillars]

Please !!! Qui est le chef !

[plbug9933]

but it is good

[plbug9933]

i wish i could honestly apprieciate music like this but i cant

[Phoenixxe]

Try. You won't regret it. It reaches and massages our inner being. Cheesy but oh so true. Simply divine

[misbreadfruit]

@plbug9933 Count your blessings! As you can read from the comments on this page there is a ton of assholes who claim to like classical music.I like classical music and try to stay far away from other classical music "fans"

[omniscope99]

what can be more divine?

[boris1281]

one of the last real primadonnas and thats why I love her! This is a great performance, who cares about meaningless details!

[re6356]

Quite possibly the sweetest version of this song. How she pronounces her German is neither here nor there, that does`nt detract from her performance. I`m a stickler for technical presentation, this was O.K. by me.

[Sarapppppp]

nah... she makes this lovely tune not lovely at all.

[JuillHope17]

oh this was sooo bad.... i wish there was a video of her singing this when she was younger and in her prime in the 80s. from 89 and on her voice went into decline and got airier and her faces when she sang got odder and odder. this really is not a good representation of her voice at all. how sad. IiM NOT SAYING I DON'T LIKE KATHLEEN BATTLE'S VOICE, i just don't like this performance at all. youd think her german would be better after all the german rep she's sung.

[0omnibus0]

Bad pronounciation.

[countertenorbuff]

Sorry, but she sounds like a like a little girl that needs a respirator.

[Babejuda]

Brava! Wonderful!

[sour7lemon]

Wow, I felt she took way too much tempo liberties, and of all people to omit the final B natural, and rather transpose the whole aria up a step. Bizarre performance.

[Nahfanmot]

I do actually agree here, presuming "tempo liberties" is what i expect - not singing exactly in the same tempo as the music?

I'm not an expert or anything, but it definetely seemed as if she kept singing a little ahead. Excuse my lack of technical terms! This is very new to me. (:

[musicadei]

can someone post the duets with Hampson?

[japanesedesignerx]

歓迎舞踏会のお礼に歌うハンナの美しいメリー・ウィドウ「ヴィリ­アの歌」（Merry Widow - Viljalied ）が素晴らしい！あまりに切なくて、聞いているうちに優しい気持­ちになってくるのだ。キャスリーン・バトルはパーフェクトだ！　遠い昔のお話にに私の気持ちを飛ばしてくれる。Amazing! Great!　生で聞けたら絶対泣いてしまうだろうな。

[Taihowan]

Wonderful performance. One of her very best.

[iTubeVlc]

Simply gorgeous. As always.

Brava Kathy.

[dutchtallguy]

A good looking diva with an attitude, and a typical way of singing: facial distortions and lots of air around the note's she produces. Nice dress by the way.

[yn65he]

Thanks so much! Please post Old-fashioned wedding and Dunque io son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sschimel]

This is much better than the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

[richardvergara]

Do you have the one from the Met Museum with her in that wonderful large red dress and the piano? I love the recital-style of that performance. So intimate and perfect for her voice.

[kinddude]

Coloratura fan - Thank you. You knew, didn't you, how Kathleen Battle's art can lift spirits. For your sharing this -- and the other pieces you've shared - you have my gratidude.

[Gordrees]

My favourite operetta aria sung by my favourite soprano. Ecstacy!

[D9l3tt]

Thank you so very much for posting my requests! you are great.

[primobasso]

Amazing!