Nana Mouskouri & John Williams - Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras №5 (1968)

[rohricwl]

I never saw so many pompass and pretentious asses in one place. So they didn't perform exactly what the composer wrote? So they left out a section of the composition? I don't care! Was it beautiful and a pleasure to hear? Yes. Try listening as a human being, and not as an anal-retentive archivist with his nose stuck in a musty tome.

[2754628]

Hey, dears, please, you shouldn`t be so snobbish!

[607777777]

Sounds good to me she looks beautiful

[sltomsik]

@607777777 The composer spent his young-adult life wandering Brazil and playing in cafes for tips & meals -- at length, he had collected a musical treasure from Amazonas, a region where many explorers lose life or sanity. Chants by Indians, slaves, miners, and farmers were heard through the his cello and guitar. This is one of them. Brazil recognized this, gave him a grant and a teaching position. Samba-cansão, Afro-sambas, Brazil's street music -- had a beginning with Villa-Lobos.

[sltomsik]

@607777777 So it's a primitive chant inspired by a primal, volcanic landscape so intense it takes away your breath and your words -- so when you find a way to express it musically, this is what it might sound like. And the guitarist -- taught by Segovia, provides a clear accompaniment. John Williams has an interest in modern and experimental forms -- very adaptable as guitarists cannot always be. I dunno, I've been there, felt the hot humid air, gasped at the volcanic up-surges...sounds like it.

[lucasapendino]

Muy bueno... lastima que no la hagan completa!!!

[Erickvazquezc]

Fail.



[Baez971]

une catastrophe!

[Raiodeindra]

"Terrible" or "horrible" are the buts of the stupids!!!

[scileten]

Amazing voice

[vhernandezo]

Bellisima canción, dedicada a ti my Love...

[MegaLochgelly]

God , this is depressing.

[marvintheatre]

Beautiful tone to her voice, but this version is lacking

[swampzoid]

pure lovliness

[davinka1234]

this is horrible

[georgiannanyman]

Ego and the love of the feeling of singing this enchanting melody got confused here -o.k.for fun but just serves here to reveal the vocal limitations of the singer and was ill- advised.Listen to the quintessential version by Bidu Sayao no.1, to set the bench-mark for the best -with authentic Brazilian Portuguese- and enjoy the lesser merits of all the rest just for comparison. Perhaps there is a new singer out there who can equal Sayou (now gone) but she is still undiscovered!!

[CanalTal]

É bom mas já vi melhores interpretações. Essa é bem diferente das outras.

[Raiodeindra]

Perfeição Máxima!!!

[RomeuAlmeida]

Impressionante a voz!

[Solnitron]

It's indulgent of people who, once making a big name for themselves, decide they can do anything at all musically... be it at an amateur level (which this is). .. Knowing their fans will still like it. 

[Recordbhoy]

@Solnitron You think Nana & John Williams are amateurs ?

[TOMAZINHOSHOW]

Let the world know that this is a song BRAZILIAN, a masterpiece composed by Brazilian maestro Heitor Villa Lobos

[EnricoCaruso]

She might follow the scoreboard, and don't change the scale. Singing like she did, she kill completely the music.  She turns it warm.

[EnricoCaruso]

She killed the music. Help! Help!

[susietellstales]

I am at a loss why anyone would so harshly critique Nana's singing of this piece. Villa Lobos compositions were highly influenced by folk music and by the indigenous peoples of his native Brazil, and he himself had minor formal training. As a matter of fact all the "Art critics" on here would have probably snubbed him because of his meagre Classical training. I think Nana sings it as it was meant to be sung, natural with just a touch of refinement

[abelmonteiro2]

@susietellstales

Sede coerente!

[MyMagic111]

Further on my comment below: because of her great love of the Classics, Nana has always tried to expose to those who otherwise might not get the exposure, extracts from beautiful compositions like those of Villa-Lobos. Her intent was not to give a full performance of an entire work, but rather just a taste of the main theme or themes. For those who want to hear more, they can listen to other performers. The Classics are just one facet of Nana's broad repetoire.

[MyMagic111]

For those of you who find her performance of this beautiful piece distasteful or just plain wrong, please do not listen to her performances of other classical works, as you will most likely, not like them either. Nana has a deep love and understanding of classical music and tries to share this appreciation with us. I have been a fan of hers for over forty years and even to listen to her aging voice today, I can still be awed by her performance.

[paulostroff99]

Superb! TY for posting.

[wcavuca1946]

The problem is what Solnitron mentions below: she (Nana) left behind the most difficult part of this work, which would also require her to perform (sing) a text in our language, Portuguese of Brazil... John does his part quite well, but she misses the actual challenge of this wonderful Villa-Lobos aria... Not good at all.

[Solnitron]

This is terrible! Not only can Nana not sing it accurately in the correct octave throughout, as the composer intended, but she is leaving out most of the song-- the hardest part, that also involves singing in Brazillian Portuguese. Her voice isn't frankly robust enough, as an operatic voice, to sing it in any case. If you can't do it, then don't and god forbit don't record it! Pretty pathetic and people will still like it somehow.

[AhhFreshMeat]

@Solnitron Come on, don't be such an ass. If everybody would play music only at the point of perfection, there would be no musicians at all. At least she is spreading out the idea, this masterpiece of mestre Heitor Villa-Lobos. It's far from perfection, but still touches the heart.

[pannever76]

@Solnitron I believe that it is not always prerequisite to be an opera singer in order to sing a classical song. Artists can and must experiment, this is creation! Nana created something new, I agree that it is not their strongest performance for both artists, but I can understand the different character of this version...

[sltomsik]

@Solnitron "One foot in the academy and you are changed for the worst!" -- Heitor Villa-Lobos, the composer. Villa-Lobos was an amateur folk-musician who played cello in cafes in marginal villages. He was known for doing everything a properly trained music professor would disapprove. So, I would ask you how you are so sure the self-taught street-musician who lifted this indigenous chants would have disdained re-scoring it within another folk-singer's limited range?

[poupee58]

As a singer Nana Mouskouri has only one defect...she can't bloody well sing.

[sleepybom]

Love it !! from Japan...

[jsbachflute]

doesn't she reach those high notes in the begining? why did she move them one octave lower?

good voice

[orvoca]

@jsbachflute because she can't reach those high notes

[key2kingdom]

13 morons pressed the wrong button.

[orvoca]

@key2kingdom you mean 167...

[oterrivelivan]

Very good!

[Orange1117]

Cool, young Williams :P

[afoolonahill]

her voice is incredible!!

[guitar1050]

Awesome

this beautiful composition always sounds good it's a masterpiece.

[Titedidas]

Achei linda a voz desta mulher, principalemente nas notas mais graves. Gostei muito!

[inima689]

nana mouskouri le chante pour son plaisir , ou en berçant son enfant

[Amemusique11]

This is maestro John Williams. Not the same from E.T., Star Wars, etc... This John Williams is a guitar maestro from England. MAESTRISIMO! Great video!!!

[eddypfunk]

@Amemusique11 australia actually!

[sologuitardeath]

Wow...on many levels. Also John Williams makes such a great sound with that spruce Hernandez y Aguado guitar. This video will get many replays. Thanks so much to mnemonyxx for sharing.

[Boldstrummer]

Left out a whole section. . .  but nice as far as it goes.

[adrfbh]

Orgulho-me de ser brasileiro. Viva sempre Villa Lobos!!!

[Optichero]

love it...

kevin

Singapore

[scarpia1965]

Sorry, this ist terrible! Listen to Anna Moffo!

[LaGuitarrayYo]

@scarpia1965 Yes Anna Moffo is fantastic on this ! :)

[opera508]

This Aria belongs to Bidu Sayao. Please don't massacre it.

[iTubeVlc]

Pourquoi ces sauts d'octave Nana? Si tu n'as pas la voix pour, limite-toi à tes chansonnettes et laisse les grands compositeurs en paix.

Pauvre Villa-Lobos et pauvres brésiliens qui doivent subir ce crime.

[Hoore500]

In my time they said this kind of people are not well in their head. Is that really "Nana la grande mama"?

[poupee58]

John Williams mechanical ?? (like usual and Banana Moskouri massacres this beautiful music.

[LaGuitarrayYo]

Oh well too bad but this was not a good day for either of these great performers. John very mechanical and without phrasing, Nana even changing octave (to manage I suppose) and not singing the notes for their full value. Tempo too slow..... but hey there is always Monday! =))

[basausi]

@LaGuitarrayYo : Agreed, and again ... John was way too green and Nana was no Salli Terri (Duet with the Spanish Guitar)!

[Deerse]

@LaGuitarrayYo

Most untrained ears do not recognise the subtle accents and phrasing as well by John Williams.

This man has played, performed and recorded with Julian Bream, Itzhak Perlman and Paco Pena. I'm sure they immediatly understand where I am refering to. I forgot Segovia's words offcourse in 1958.

But I gues that many students and amateurs agree with you.

[dedog2003]

@LaGuitarrayYo Lol @ "John very mechanical and without phrasing". This is John every time he plays buddy, I thought you were going to comment on the botched note at the beginning...

[LaGuitarrayYo]

@dedog2003 Mmmmm well in fact I am a great fan of John's (which some people on here don't realize) but nobody is perfect 100%. Why is it not possible to have opinions about performances - dunno. Anyway, I like both artists, maybe shouldn't have said anything spontaneoulsy! In the name of peace!

[lacigarrados]

que horrible!

[g0g022]

??? como va decir eso!

[minasgekos]

Nana the world wants to thank you for killing another masterpiece of music.

[mokacode]

lololol...............

[Toffusaurelius]

wtf is he doing running the tempo like that. ew.

[tbroseiscool]

are you criticizing john williams' guitar playing? That's a great way to look silly. Very efficient.

[craigalake]

I don't consider "efficient" to be a quality that I would aspire to in musicianship.

[tbroseiscool]

@craigalake that's a relief. because it seems you misunderstood, criticizing JW is an efficient way to look silly-- Now you know, and efficiency in use of hands is definitely one aspect a guitar player worth his salt should aspire.

[craigalake]

Obviously they went to the same optician.

[MaryFlute816]

ROFL!!!!

[gamahdez]

zapatero a tus zapatos!

[henricamus]

au secours ! quel massacre ! C'est bien beau de vouloir interpréter un chef d'oeuvre encore faut-il pouvoir le faire... dans quelle galère est donc allé se fourrer John Williams ! Villa Lobos ne méritait pas ça !!!

[viandante]

Unfortunately this is a farse. She doesn't have the top B flat and sings half of the phrase an octave lower. She cannot cope with the phrase legths and chops the phrases with a breathing after the long note. I mean, the charm is ruined by her inadequacy.

If we are to compare versions of the piece, let's compare between people who actually CAN sing it.

[hernando46]

Nana de nana!

[joeocho88]

WELL,I DISAGREE!

What makes artists unique is their own perspective and interpretation they bring to the song.

And that is their right because that is how THEY see and feel and interpret a song.

If you like it ( and I am a HUGE NANA MOUSKOURI FAN!), then you buy their albums and attend their concerts and if you don't like their work, then stay away and let people who love the artist attend and shower adoration!

THIS EXCERPT WAS WAY TOO SHORT and OH SO BEAUTIFUL.

[susuemikado]

well said joeocho

[HamburgerIngo]

like in her best times in hamburg...thank you so much.

[EdmondoTenore]

Popular singers like Nana will naturally be attracted to such a beautiful melody & then proceed to ruin it!

[kpcart]

lol, look at the amount of thumbs down you got.

[EdmondoTenore]

How may thumbs down are there? You obviously have time to count but I don't care - it's still bloody awful singing - listen to 1.15 - that says it all!

[jpiano888]

BUT, Nana does not sing the rhythm as Villa-Lobos wrote it!! And Sayao is not a "new artist!" She has been dead for a long time, but she was the soprano for whom Villa-Lobos composed this wonderful otherworldly work!! The best recording is hers, with the composer conducting it an with Leonard Rose on the cello solo. I love Nana's sound too, but I can't stand it when performers CHANGE what the composer wrote! This is not a pop tune where it is okay to alter things!!

[Fixmanius]

Wow! I'm a fan of both Williams and Mouskouri. And I never knew both of them have dueted. Thank you so much for uploading!

[muurtalo]

Where's the awesome middle part???

[Andre1214]

Wonderful John Williams' rendition! Bravo! thanks for sharing.

[yalcinserkanyalcin]

Well, the voice is nice but the way she sings is terrible, so amateurish. However, who knows, she may intentionally prefer to sign that way for guitar accompany.

[ajtj500]

And who are you to offer such criticism?

[yalcinserkanyalcin]

I am a big fan of this great piece. Listen to Bidu Sayao or Victoria de los Angeles . Then, listen again to Nana. Then, tell me the difference please.

[ajtj500]

I listened to both these ladies and, yes, technically they are perhaps superior but I still find Nana's rendition of this beautiful piece to be better because of her ability to put something more into it. Thank you, though, for introducing me Bidu Sayao. She is absolutely awesome! I am always looking for new artists like her. Though I said Nana's performance was better, I do appreciate Bidu Sayao's as well.

[yalcinserkanyalcin]

Your welcome. The point is Anna is not bad, just her style is different. She does not sing this piece in a classical opera form or rather the way Villa-Lobos wrote it. She mixes the opera form and other form, which can be easily noticed.

[60moo]

I've now listened to all three, and Nana absolutely creams the other two ladies. Nana does not sing here in the classical opera form, but her rendition is emotionally multi-dimensional and thus more convincing.

She demonstrates here a broader pallette of dynamics; there's none of that awful cloying vibrato; tone is absolutely gorgeous; the singing is far more legato, like a swan gliding on water.

Overall, a mesmerisingly soulful performance which breathes life into the Villa-Lobos score.

[susuemikado]

well said 60moo

[guillaume5252]

You should try to get yourself new ears!

She's one of the greatest singers of the 20th centuryand her interpretation is marvellous.

[Ahmetal]

this is amazinng. anything else with williams?

[victorgomez91]

Es la versión por excelencia de esta obra tan magnífica del maestro brasileño.

[ludovico2810]

Excelente, sensacional y un video de primera.... Grs.

[pilustren]

By far the best voice on Earth EVER!

[yuenkoi]

voice of an angel - that's Nana Mouskouri.... thank you for posting this marvellous clip

[missboulay]

John Williams THE John Williams? The E.T. Star Wars, Indiana Jones John WIlliams? Cause that'd be fun. Oh, and as usual, Nana is extraordinary. That voice of hers... *sighs*

[mnemonyxx]

No - this is John Christopher not John Towner. Maybe I just dreamt that Wikipedia disambiguation article. Thanks for the chuckle!

[missboulay]

XD And I thought I was going insane.

[hotrodius]

@mnemonyxx No, it's John Williams. There's more than one guy named Williams.

[SonicArchives]

@missboulay Yes John Williams the world famous guitarist not the conductor

[tranzenic]

@missboulay Sorry to say Nana slaughtered a wonderful composition here. She's a great singer however the part is written for soprano which is out of her range. Having John Williams play the guitar doesn't help neither.

[sachibaa]

Thanks for this wonderful video!

Let me link this on my small blog of Plaisir with Nana!

Sachi

[mnemonyxx]

Sorry for my slow response. Embedding enabled.

[NABBANA]

Maravillosa !!!!

[tychaton08]

Merveilleux, tout simplement merveilleux, merci de nous partager se vidéo exemplaire...

[mnemonyxx]

Je t'en prie