Susannah: Cynthia Clayton

[dbrel]

Lol.. she just judged Met Auditions here -- was incredibly nice to all of the singers, and has a wonderful sense of humor.

[llcooljay1887]

I just realized I have had the extreme honor of doing this opera with Ms. Clayton!!! I didn't recognize her at first in this video. She is such a talent, and quite an actress as well. Plus she is a wonderful lady as well. Taught all of us a few things! It was a joy to hear this aria nightly in person. Brava!

[dbrel]

You are definitely not a mezzo -- not in color, not in range, etc. I think your performance is wonderful -- as someone else said, very unaffected and beautiful. You sing this aria better than Cheryl Studer , who is on the recording..i LOVE the way you extend the last "up" -- just gorgeous. Please have some confidence in what you are doing -- you're on the right track, and we enjoy listening!

[Homoclassicus]

As you said, this indeed a beautiful and touching interpretation. She simply sings the aria straight and with the proper ammount of emotion, without affectation or "oversinging". Her voice reminds me Patricia Racette's, another American soprano with a vulnerable lyric voice and an ability to move people without mannerisms. The best interpretations are always nuanced but simple.

[Mimisdf1]

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous -- great musicality, especially in the end. Brava.

[illavynvelendril]

Wow this is amazing. I'm asking opinions around: Does anyone think a fairly high and very young mezzo soprano could sing this piece??

[urgrad03]

@illavynvelendril : Maybe the aria, but not the opera... too much time above the staff.

[illavynvelendril]

@urgrad03 Agreed. Totally. I wouldn't want to do the whole role. Nooooway.

[llcooljay1887]

@illavynvelendril i think if a mezzo could pull off the really high tessatura they are not really a mezzo....

[illavynvelendril]

@llcooljay1887 Thanks, yeah my voice has been between the two fachs, I don't know what I'm growing into yet. For now I think I'm going to stay away from this piece until I'm more secure in my top or when I'm older take it down a key or two. :)

[llcooljay1887]

@illavynvelendril PLEASE don't take it down any keys. I feel like that would ruin the integrity of the aria. If you have to take it down then the aria is not right for you. I understand your pain, because I am in between fachs, but the composer wrote it in the key it's in for a reason, and it's not gonna sparkle the same way if you take it down a few keys. Just my opinion though...

[dbrel]

@llcooljay1887 Go tell that to Marilyn Horne (who started out as a soprano) or Jamie Barton, Marilyns protege who has an incredible top to her voice.. and is definitely a mezzo.

[stevenprovidence]

Cindy your amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[LazEstrada]

UH UH UH UH UH - MAZING!

[valleigh]

My favorite version of this aria on YouTube. Very authentic East Tennessee accent, beautiful singing especially those rich velvety lower tones. I also like the audio recording of Phyllis Curtin, who premiered the role of Susannah in 1955.

[ifmusicbe]

Thanks for sharing this video. I attended this performance in the Bay Area and remember Cynthia's voice absolutely soaring over the orchestra. That isn't captured by the video, but the performance is still as moving. Brilliant singing that got rave reviews from the SF Chronicle.