Barbara Bonney - Et incarnatus est

[JRS2M]

Sorry, but ONLY 85 351 people have had the wonderful chance of listening to such a marvel?!

Irony apart, these 8 minutes turn easily to ages, if you let yourself flow with the beauty both of the melody and of the voice.

Thank you Mozart! Thank you Barbara!

FRom a guy of Lisbon who loves great music.

[andyuk]

See how the ladies of the chorus hang on her every breath at around 3:00. And so they should.

[MsSonnambula]

So beautiful!!!

[lehninger12]

unerhört gut!!!!

[252kin]

Gracias! Muy Bella melodía y voz.

[romuloVG]

Best performance ever!

[zralokvemigraci]

that made me cry. so beuatiful... as pure as mozart wrote it i believe...

[Kalbek87]

this is the best performence what i heard... i'm very impressed !!!!

[BellezaesDios]

Bravissima! What a wonderful instrument! She's also a beautiful person and teacher! God bless her!

[outza42]

She knows it by heart !! Gives the opportunity to "play and enjoy" with the music with other musicians. Brilliant.

[canadianXleprechaun]

hers is the first voice that truly brought tears to my eyes. stupefacente!

[2010thevoice]

just so beautiful and pure and angelic!

[ucanthandlethetruify]

lol i mean uncomparable? whatever shes great!

[ucanthandlethetruify]

she is incomparable!

[MrNoise74]

Viva Bonney

[ifmusicbe]

This is as close to vocal perfection as it gets. GORGEOUS singing. Not only does this performance demonstrate remarkable vocal discipline, it shows innate intelligence and great respect for the composer and the refined style in which the music was composed. There is so much to learn here--for both students and the current divas of the moment (who often torture Mozart).

[signingupiseasyd]

The quality of her voice in the upper registers is ethereal and amazing

[zehnterapril]

She is AMAZING!! My absolute favorite soprano.

[zehnterapril]

YES, you are right! Barbara is my favorite and the best I have ever heard.

She is my inspiration. When I practice, I aim for her perfection.

[mizzothify]

Wonderful singing. She should wear a different dress though. For afar she looks like cut off at bust hight

[operagirl81]

@mizzothify That was the style back then in the early 90's. :)

[ALYSSA09MUSICSTARS]

Wonderful and 100% perfect - sung with heart and soul - Barbara Bonney will sit one day on the side of Mozart. To sing in this quality is the best we can do. For artists like Barbara Bonney, Arleen Auger and Margaret Price Mozart has written his great Mass.

[DanRobSo]

She makes singing this look so effortless and easy - the truth that this is VERY difficult to sing! Brava, Barbara!

[shkeni]

Just like Callas was the ur-dramatic soprano, so Barbara Bonney is the ur-Soubrette. Simply incredible.

[MrTamzzin]

No score? Amazing. Poise and beauty, this is the best performance of this I have seen, or heard. This from someone obsessed with this Mass. Sensational!!

[ZemArte]

Que nobreza executa a orquestra acompanhando a doçura de Barbara Bonney.

Mozart está feliz com esta apresentação, lá...onde mora a saudade da voz humana e lhe chega quase divina.....

[dibladiblup]

Thank you, Barbara Bonney and Sir Eliot for choosing this tempo. Finally somebody is making music here and not celebrating long and high notes.

[donnamariealba]

Her beautiful voice...it's just awe inspiring!!!

[brucelee31]

LOVED the trill she made with her voice. I've never heard an opera singer do that...or I just haven't watched enough videos of opera singers XD Barbara Bonney is awe inspiring!

[lamiamamma]

Excellent, touching, brilliant interpretation! I have never seen anybody singing it by heart ! Bravo Barbara!!!!!!!!

[jenovan1]

magnifique et touchante interprétation. sobriété, intériorité, profondeur, élévation...c'est divin, c'est Mozart

merci

[SundanceCrave]

she just makes it look so effortless! amazing.

[mrsoldpanda]

Quite simply, sublime!

[zehnterapril]

magnificent voice control!

my absolute favorite soprano and my idol.

[luluMoonlight]

No words to say, just WOW O___O What a voice!!

[mauricedelacroix]

All efforts to define BB is vain. She is a really God´s phenomenon.

[isabelbleuet]

un ange...

[Schollistico]

¡¡Qué brava que es!!how i adore her, she does it easy and beautiful. She is one of the best sopranos; how i'd like to listen to her again sul palco scenico.

[bigpinkbutton]

beautiful

[jimojune]

holy crap that's some nice singing!!

[sellaong]

barbara was my fav singer for eva

[khothye]

I saw this video on TV when I was 15 and felt in love with Mozart and with lyric singing... thank you, thank you Barbara.

[acempdc]

after 6:00 - could ANYONE compose something so minimalistic and perfect? I'd love to know if there is any other such composer.. drop me a line!

[TheOnlyOriginalKebim]

love her.

[Arjunaismyname]

I totally agree with you musicalmommy..

The ornamentation is performed with sublime beauty. She's like a bird flying, falling and rising effortlessly.

[Janibeva]

Qué manejo de la voz, hermoso simplemente y delicioso de escuchar.

[musicalmommymichelle]

Her voice is so perfect for Mozart

[romuloVG]

@musicalmommymichelle absolutely

[zgmgeing]

It leaves you speechless!

[dodi132]

sublime.....the best of the best....

[OperaLover84]

Speaking as someone who is obsessed with vocal pedagogy -- this is a masterclass is beautiful singing here. See how relaxed her face is and how little she uses her jaw. She makes the sounds inside, and that's how it's done. Brava!

[capachina]

better yet...she doesn't sing from her throat...there's no tension there either.....man i'm jealous!

[tuadolcefanciulla]

So true. So true. She'll be able to sing well into her 70's with such excellent

technique. I've studied since 1993, and MAYBE in another 10 years I'll approach

such excellence of technique.....nah,

probably not, but I can work and hope :~)

[yveskoala]

@OperaLover84 I couldn't agree more!!!! :)

[jenson7720]

@OperaLover84 One could only dream of having this perfect technique ...let alone the natural beauty of the voice...she makes it look so damn easy ...no fair!!!

[mairanya1]

Beautiful.  Thank you.

[liuawy]

Beautifully effortless!

[kabuenhapodre]

SOU FÃ, ABSOLUTAMENTE,

[amandaissotiny]

perfection!

[HolyMotherofGrid]

This woman is a pure-toned GODDESS!! She is to me the embodiment of the maxim "Become the music. You are the note, while the note lasts." I hope to hear her silver-throated tones in my dreams tonight - probably won't but it sure would be nice.

[MusicBeautyLove]

She is AMAZING!

[vincik80]

splendida interpretazione... voce nobilissima e ottima concertazione....

[trazom365]

Oh my God!Her voice is amazing...I love it...

[solrock220]

Shes divine, a godsent voice x x x

[acatalano2641]

Look no further for an utterly sublime performance by the Beautiful Barbara Bonney.

[franklindavid]

What control! what a voice.

[Jitpring]

Pedants: STOP ANALYZING. Simply allow the glory to wash over you.

[piguis5984]

Astounding technique... marvelous control over every single note she sings, best singer of our times!

[nanouchnika]

Magnifique ! très belle voix

[elessar2k49]

She makes it look so easy; like she's just breathing.

[Glenmed]

Exquisite. Only the mouth moves (and the vocal chords). What a demonstration of this kind of singing!

[DivaSoprano]

Not only is her technique amazing, but her musicality is astounding. True music making. Thanks, Barabara!

[ursus1302]

....like an angel.....

[mauricedelacroix]

Fantastic Bonney! God bless you. God himself has given you this angelical and strong and marvelous voice to praise Him. I´m your greatest fan in Brasil.

[coloraturakae]

She is the picture of easy singing. No tension or weird affects to get the sound out. Gorgeous! Oh, to have technique like that...

[floweringfootprint]

Amazing!! She has become one of my all time favorite sopranos. The control she has and the warmth she has is something to learn from!

[ImSoBored54]

Her control, and the ease and subtly with which she exudes such beauty, just astounds me. Her voice is... beyond words. Thanks for posting this.

[toneant]

ugh...bonney is so...AMAZING! you see no tension at all, its so natural...her voice just takes my breath away.

[verum621]

Bonney has an absolutely sublime voice...thank you for posting this!

[ChicLink]

she looks like julie andrews

[neoqueenser89]

oh my <3

[Merlin1940]

The video was perfect and very nice. The current distortion is due to Google's "fiddling disease" currently destroying at fast pace the wonderful YouTube since they bought it. See "Community Help Forums > Bug Reports & Issues > NARROW VIDEOS WITH BLACK BARS ON SIDES?" thread/bff505368ea7ba59

Wed 3 Sep 2008 07:49 GMT

[thomasg74]

Amazing,my favourite rendition of this,thanks for posting this.

[ebaytimr]

She's the most enjoyable one to watch and to listen to singing this song on YouTube. However, my recording of Ileana Cotrubas singing it is my favorite.

[hullguy123]

It is so much easier to watch Barbara Bonney sing oratorio than Nathalie Dessay who's always moving as if she didn't get her dose of prozac.

[paladinne]

you sould not speak like that.......even it is thrue........we cannot undestand all the things without make mistake.....so pls look at te good things and apreciate beautiful parts

[wotansings]

And the winner is: Arleen Auger!

[sweetvlc]

And THE winner is: Kathleen Battle!!

Check it here in youtube.

[amballa]

you have to be joking!!!!

[PillyCremina]

Barbara Bonney è veramente una cantante meravigliosa ed una persona bellissima anche umanamente. Dopo averla conosciuta la stimo ancora di più!

[nsdhay]

I absolutely adore Bonney's voice but i have to stay i am still in love with the first recording i heard of this piece - Camilla Tilling, Gabrielli and Consort Players. But both are indeed heavenly. I love the fact that Mozart wrote it whilst smitten - there are definate moments of climaxes and exctasy!

[BlkMuscGent]

Also, Bonney displays better technical control. For example, consider how she places the crucial high B natural. It has spin and is well-covered. McNair's high B natural, on the other hand, is a little wide (with no cover). It also is loud; this is ok, but not ideal.

[BlkMuscGent]

I have the McNair recording, as well as both Bonney recordings. In my opinion Bonney's the overall winner. Her legato, dynamic control, pianissimi--they are all superior to McNair's. McNair's only trump card is her unrivalled trill--Bonney's trill doesn't even come close--and superior agility. (Too bad we're not discussing "Laudamus Te.") And while McNair possesses ravishing tone, I find Bonney's tone more ravishing, warmer, and emitted more evenly and generously.

[xgianpatrick]

brava...

[chicogert]

Esto es arte y no mamadas. Gracias Mozart, y gracias que me a quien quiera que haya sido que me haya dado chance de ver y escuchar esto hermano, de verdad.

[prokarajan]

I have a great respect for Sir JE-G.His renditions of Bach are among the best.His dedication to the musi of Bach beyond admiration.But I think in this performance he rushes in the woodwind section before the entrance of Soprano.This is a piece that need be performed with an utmost tenderness.I prefer Barbara Bonney's recording of this piece with Berlin Phil under the baton of great Claudio Abbado in 1992.

[Merlin1940]

In Abbado 1991, probably Arleen Auger sings the Kyrie (with the poignant "Christe solo") and "Et incarnatus est", and Barbara Bonney the "Laudamus".

Now I agree that Gardiner sometimes overwhelms the sopranos, even if Bonney (a lyric soprano) "resists" better than McNair (who lacks power in lower notes). Altogether I find the best one (with Gardiner) is McNair in "Et incarnatus est", and Bonney in Kyrie (Christe solo).

Mon 11 Feb 2008 10:19 GMT

[OlivierMolinier]

No, it is the other way round. Auger sings the Laudamus and Bonney the other two. Heavenly!

[Merlin1940]

OlivierMolinier, Where do you know this from?

Thu 14 Feb 2008 15:56 GMT

[OlivierMolinier]

I've got the CD.

[Merlin1940]

What is exactly written on the CD? Sorry for asking, there are good reasons for both solutions, e.g.:

- Barbara's range (lyric soprano) is lower than Sylvia's (see my Mon 11 Feb 2008 10:19 GMT above);

- "Kyrie" and "Laudamus", while sharing same mezzo range (A3-A5), are usually sung resp. by a Soprano (demanding her 2-tone lower) and a Mezzo (quite at home);

(continued...)

Thu 14 Feb 2008 20:54 GMT

[Merlin1940]

(...continuing)

- "Et incarnatus est" hits the uppest normal soprano (C6) and over-descends by a half-tone its lowest one (C4); usually sung only by sopranos, and not by all of them (hence seems to me unlikely for Barbara);

- Gardiner lowering all notes by a half-tone (415Hz-A) only strengthens the above.

Thu 14 Feb 2008 20:55 GMT

[Merlin1940]

Sorry for making this OT sub-thread too long, and for not correcting earlier: after thinking, I think Olivier is right: whatever good reasons for both, in Abbado 1991 it is most probably Barbara Bonney singing the "Kyrie" and "Et incarnatus est" (like here with Gardiner), and Arleen Auger the "Laudamus" (unlike many other instances).

Wed 3 Sep 2008 08:03 GMT

[utlandagatan]

Between Sylvia McNair and Barbara Bonney, Bonney is simply the best!

[elvenlove]

Truly Lovely. One of my favorite pieces.

[Merlin1940]

Did you actually hear Sylvia McNair? The wonderful ones here on youtube are hard to sort; yet none can't approach McNair, particularly for purity, plainness, exactitude; see comments: "otherwordly", "godess", "could melt marble", "angelic", "divine", "pure, effortless, and refined", "flawless", "celestial", "spiritual essence", "the most beautiful recording of human voice", etc, etc - which I share 100% (as everyone or nearly)

Mon 12 Nov 2007 15:43 GMT

[ArturoPVLondon]

Bonney sings well but I don't like he mannerisms and when she tries to fake some of her lack of control with mannerisms! But still a good singer!

[Merlin1940]

Sure Barbara does fall to mannerism sometimes, but less than about everyone else - and I indulge them: a woman, singing this, with what Heaven gifted her with, how could she not feel the most beautiful thing in universe? I oppositelly find them all very modest to not be even more self-confident.

Mon 12 Nov 2007 15:52 GMT

[Merlin1940]

For the lack of control, you may think of her particular way of placing the breaths. What I found is that she doesn't try to make them invisible, but to make they don't disturb the song - slightly different, yet very appropriate IMO. She may put a (very) little too much vibrato, but IMO she doesn't lack of control.

Mon 12 Nov 2007 15:56 GMT

[vitellia]

I've listened to Sir John's recording with Sylvia McNair, and I prefer Barbara Bonnie. And I always thought Sylvia McNair's rendition was perfect. This is beyond words.

[pagerbear]

Perfectly lovely, a joy to watch and listen to.  I love a singer who uses the voice God gave her, not trying to make it something else. Just see how relaxed her face, neck and shoulders are as she sings even the most difficult phrases! What technique!

[WLLover01]

If one didn't believe in angels, this would be the turning point! Those pure high notes are to die for!

[Merlin1940]

Now as over-unbelievable as it can look, yes there is even better than Barbara Boney: try Sylvia McNair's "Et Incarnatus Est" (again with Gardiner), seen by some as "The most beautiful recording of human voice" - available on CDs "Great Mass in C minor" and "Mozart for the Millennium" (That last CD is 14 of Mozart's most moving arias, with the best soprano for each, finest conducting, not to mention perfect sound recording). 2007-0906.1053 GMT

[ElvisStillRules]

Thank you. This is what I love about youtube. Good information. I'm off to the library or record shop :-)

[Merlin1940]

Popular legend has this composed a few centuries ago by a man, called "Mozart", and sung by women. Of course not: this is written by God, and sung by Angels.

[DreadlyHead]

She doesn't even quite open her mouth, but the tone which flows out is soooo clear and amazing. she has the best soprani-voice of all the sopranis that I know... besides... i like her voice more than the one from Anna Netrebko. she uses the music only for pr and money, she doesn't really feel the music now that she this so famous.

[Sochilinda]

The best version of this beautiful piece for me, is definetly Sumi jo. She is really amazing with her voice, breath and phrases.

[rosasilvestris]

please DeGyE, never take this out!!!!!!

thank you so much for posting that video! i just sat in front of my computer with my mouth open the whole eight minutes, she's absolutely amazing!

it's so great barbara is comming to teach in salzburg now!

[dhlrpdls]

How can she sing so easily? No sign of tension or difficulties... A.M.A.S.I.N.G!!

[Xerexda]

Can any soprano who sang this part before tell me if the breaths taken at the second part are correct . or more than usual . NB i know how dificult this piece is . yet just want make sure.

[primobasso]

She did take quite a few breaths in the middle of phrases. You should listen to Kathleen Battle's rendition. Absolutely amazing. Not to discount Barbara's version, as it is quite superb as well.

[carlyn65]

Yes, this is truly one of the most difficult arias to sing...I've done it myself and the breaths are appropriate and necessary. CLR

[operatube]

i suppose you mean "necessary" only because the singer would otherwise go blue in the face. it is far from "necessary". watch arleen auger sing it, also on youtube. (barbara bonney's is quite lovely, nevertheless.)

[carlyn65]

A matter of personal taste, of course, but I do not like Auger's performance as much as Bonney's. I find that she uses a reedy sound on the long phrases in order to achieve them without a breath, which, for me, makes the performance uneven. And, I do find that she sometimes barely makes it, which is a little disconcerting. Generally, I love her voice, but give me the breaths and a good tone every time in this piece.

[BeauTenor]

I agree. I love Auger, always have. BUT, I adore Bonney's voice, even though smaller voices are generally not my cup of tea. Her's is so evenly produced, bottom to top she has the same silvery, beautiful tone. I've yet to see or hear her sing badly. AND, she manages to do it without all the manipulations that Battle has always had to manage just to get the sound out. Watching her was like torture.

[Xerexda]

i have alwaysed loved Barbara , so my judge will not be so objective . yet to my taste the performance is very elegant . her singing is so lovely to listen and to watch so suitable for this repertoir.

[andreamoboe]

Barbara Bonney is amazing! Her voice has everything. Her voice just sparkles and every note and word is important. The best soprano I have ever heard! :)

[OurOwnTube]

according to wikipedia she's a soubrette