Stella Zambalis is Tosca, singing "Vissi d'Arte"

[islandofgrass]

Bravo! And as for the breath comments earlier, Montserrat Caballe performed Vissi with the same phrasing. I loved this performance...

[StellaZambolis]

This is my incredible teacher!!!She is the best singer out there and she is better than what you even see here.

I have never been in the presence of anyone so talented as Stella Zambolis and I have had excellent teachers and even a coach from Covent Garden and never have I been so close to such a LEGEND!!!!

Patrice Rasmussen, Soprano

....who one day will be great after Stella's help

[DonRolini]

What a lovely performance and the legato on the bflat was nice

[mariasarda]

Une grande voix !!!!

[juadan]

I've been a fan of Stella Zambalis' since hearing her sing Michaela in a Minnesota Opera production about 12 years ago. She had impeccable breath support, great legato, a beautiful limpid tone, and superb musicality. I am glad to see she still has all these. Thanks for posting this video.  I hope you will post many more of this wonderful artist.

[bradoperaman]

I think that taking the breath before AH would have been more effective but she still sang this nicely.

[locojazz74]

Extraordinary!!! Beautiful delivery..

[gmr2broadway]

It is not a "stupid" choice. Puccini wrote the breath in because most sopranos' head would explode after singing that line. I don't particularly like the -way- that Zambalis sang it, I would have liked her to linger on "Signor" a bit before moving to the "Ah", but I would never call it wrong to sing through the line. In fact, I think it highlights it.

[operapazzo1]

Please, people can't you understand that it's wrong not to take the breath after "Signor", Puccini wrote it for a REASON!!! and also because there us a huge allargando on the Ah (Aflat to G) part and it's so antimusical to rush it because a soprano wants to do it in one breath...really stupid choice!!

[singspieler]

Fargo--Moorehead? Where is that??

[TitoBelize]

Haha, no worries..it's on the border of Minnesota and North Dakota. For as little as it is the arts scene is not too bad and some great singers come through there.

p.s. Haven't you seen the movie "Fargo" with the thick Midwestern accent?

[smartsteve]

amazing !is she greek?

[TitoBelize]

Yes, she is of Greek descent. The Scarpia in this particular production was Greek and they conversed in the language often.

[cek1111]

Man, do you have tremor of the hands.

[gspichuni]

Brava!!!

[arr1on]

Did anyone manage to get any of her Norma clips before they were pulled?

[ilbacioditosca]

Brava!!!!

[sstatent]

Wow...no breath at the end and gorgeous tone throughout. A beautiful Vissi d'arte. She is singing her first Norma in Rochester NY in January 2007.

[sstatent]

The video moves around a bit, but the sound is pretty good. And Zambalis, as always, sings like a goddess. Wish I had been there. Thanks for posting.