Rudolph Bing Gala Lucia di Lammermoor

[vorspiel1023]

@colino72: I am sorry that the comment of August 27 was directed at you; it was meant for Baritanist. I hope Baritanist reads today's comment as well as the comment of four days ago. I stand by a wonderful memory and stand by my opinions based on what I heard, in person, nothing less nor more.

[colino72]

@vorspiel1023 No problem - I figured as much.....

[vorspiel1023]

@ Baritanist: I heard Luciano Pavarotti live March 4, 1978, in recital, at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. Just Pavarotti and his pianist. NO microphones, nothing but that glorious voice. The Fox has acoustics that can best be described as average; it is an old 1927 movie palace, seats about 2800 or so, but Pavarotti filled the space with the exquisite lines and placement of his voice. I rest my case; in person the voice was one of the greatest I have heard in over 50 years of listening to opera!

[Dunhamsky]

Brings back memories of when I rehearsed and performed in a Sutherland production some 38 years ago

[VMDICKS]

This is the best I have heard from Signore Pavarotti.

[BirdArvid]

Edgardo too heavy for Pavarotti? What know-it-all bullshit! You may wish for Corelli, which I'm sure is also lovely, but don't say he's too light for this! It's Donizetti, not Wagner!

[Baritanist]

Pavarotti was a light lyric, this role was definitely too heavy for him.

[colino72]

@Baritanist What BS!!!

[Baritanist]

@colino72 ROFL. Pavarotti always used hidden microphones. If you were a singer you'd hear that.

[colino72]

@Baritanist Wow, and were you his hidden sound engineer?!? Living in a little house at the bottom of the garden with the other mythical creatures?

Really, that IS BS. I do sing, including opera (chorus), my teacher was a member of the Australian Opera chorus and worked with Joan Sutherland numerous times and Pavarotti in concert once. Not a microphone in sight. Further, do some reading of Richard Miller - he does spectrographic analysis of Pavarotti and his voice is perfectly balanced.

Idiot

[Baritanist]

@colino72 Apparently, you know nothing about singing. Pavarotti's voice was small without microphones, the balance of registers does not play a role when in comes to size. I know people who are doing the tech part in opera houses, and I can assure you, they all have microphones and they are using them especially for people with fat record contracts in spite of their Mickey Mouse voices... like Pavarotti. Two modern examples: Calleja and Florez.

[colino72]

@Baritanist Right, seems you are the absolute expert then. I wasn't talking about the balance of registers, I was talking about harmonics and formants. Heard of them, fuckwit? The balance is in the harmonic partials, which gives the chiarascuro - balance of dark and bright formants. Acoustic analysis by Miller of Pavarotti shows an impressive balance, unusually so, and over loud orchestras at that. I really don't think you know what the fuck you are talking about, and I have made my last comment

[Baritanist]

@colino72 You go with your "chiarascuro", you expert. ROFL

[vorspiel1023]

@colino72 .. You sir, are dead wrong about Pavarotti. I heard him in 1978, Fox Theater, Atlanta, old movie palace built in 1927, average acoustics. Pavarotti and a piano, no microphone, just the VOICE, Large, expansive, focused and above all meltingly beautiful. He sang Nessum Dorma at the end of the recital, and we wept and cheered at the sheer beauty and majesty of the voice. You are entitled to your opinions, but not to your own facts.

[colino72]

@vorspiel1023 I think you need to read my comments again....It was the venerable, know everything but say nothing, Baritanist who was saying that Pavarotti was not a good singer and could not be heard without microphones. I was saying that this was crap. Re-read, and then perhaps tell the other guy what you just said... BTW, I would imagine that he would say that recital is different (no orchestra), but it can also be harder... Great that you got to see him live - wish I had.

[heigei1]

Last night they gave a gala performance in heaven.

[heigei1]

Beautiful - simply beautiful.

[fabouw]

This is a piece of art!! Where can I get more? Is there a DVD available?

[Bigman240]

Watch Sutherland: sometimes she only sings an "O" vowel!

[aferiha]

¡Conmovedor!!!!!!!!

[Remalia19]

2 sacred ''monsters''...AMAZING!!!What a beautiful duet!

[alecs1976]

boy she was so ugly !

[robertdonkers]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no need to put comments like that one.

[alecs1976]

@robertdonkers

actually there is never a need for comments on youtube.....but I'd be curious to meet the beholder that would find joan sutherland beautiful...

[robertdonkers]

Believe you me, there will be many people who will find her beautiful. You might not think so, others do. There will be people who think you look like a toad where there are others who think you are beautiful. But best thing is to comment on her wonderful voice what she is famous for. I once met Dame Joan and to be frank I did not find her ugly at all, she was very kind and charming which makes her beautiful.

[alecs1976]

@robertdonkers

let me guess...you're not really into women, right ? and of course: her voice was great...only few people will doubt that, in fact many will find her voice fantastic...but where are the many people who find her beautiful?...come on...please... :)

[robertdonkers]

I bet you like he looks of Birgit Nilsson's look too?

[alecs1976]

@robertdonkers

I am sorry, but I don't know what you mean... ?!

[robertdonkers]

Look her up, another great beautiful soprano

[bcom11]

@alecs1976 typical ignorant societal standard of what beauty is. shut up and take that negativity elsewhere.

[nizzlenizzle]

His voice is SOOO resonant oh my goodness

[spizzell1]

I love how you can hear her voice echoing through the hall. Such a big, wonderful voice. And what can be said about Pavarotti? The Best.

[hayyu2008]

Ok Sutherland wasn't great at Italian, BUT she was a legend. Just see how audiences went crazy. She, as well as Callas, are the Holy Grails of 20th century opera!

[italianoameta]

@hayyu2008 she did understand and speak italian. she is an incredible soprano.

[hayyu2008]

@italianoameta Amico, I think she was the greatest coloratura ever. I stand corrected about her Italian. All I meant in my comment was that people always are silly and coment about her Italian pronunciation ... Her voice was unique and she ste the standard for all aspiring/existing Bel Canto sopranos! Viva Joan!

[MarcoCariatiOpera1]

The best tenor and soprano!!

[MarcoCariatiOpera1]

Technically the two best opera voices of our time!!!

[verismo21]

Liked it

[webbersarahlover]

I dont like her voice...but adore pavarotti

[malfada22]

I don't care how Sutherland pronouces her words. I would give anything to have her sing today. It would be heaven in place of the mediocre singer we have nowadays.

[troppofiato]

It's a good thing Sutherland makes such beautiful, effortless sounds - makes it easy to forgive her that she enunciates like she has a potato stuck in her mouth. Pavarotti was the opposite - perfect, clear diction, plus non-stop gorgeous, effortless sounds. Marvelously sung duet - no voices like this around today.

[TourneledosRossini]

Pavarotti écrase complètement la Divine Sutherland (physiquement bien entendu) !

[ANTMAR100]

THE GREATEST DUO THERE WAS

[heigei1]

SIMPLY THE BEST.

[Houndentenor1998]

He sings like a F****** God here. I was there that night in 1972 working as an usher at the Met. What a night!!!!

[doddsalfa]

One of the greatest moments in opera singing!

[bloydaage]

Never heard pavarotti better. What warm and round and juicy voice!!!

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

To suggest that Pava's voice declined beginning 1972 is quite a stretch unless one is deaf!

[maxhansendk]

Sutherland has the most ugly soprano voice I have ever heard!

It makes me feel uneasy because of her "squeeky" ugly sound.

It is incredible how anyone can like this hollow screaming.

Even my cat sounds better!

[vocalissimo1]

If your cat sounds better than Sutherland, then I say, let's hear your cat! It must be the cat of the century!

[johnhoie]

Amen to that! I'm mostly a tenor/baritone fan, but Dame Joan gets my vote for voice of the century. It seemed she could do anything she wanted vocally, and sang where other sopranos squeaked. Listen to her in the opening scene from Lucia, the duet from Lakme, or Casta Diva.

I'm not one to say the old singers are better than the current ones, but there never has been a coloratura like Sutherland.

She was also capable of amazing vocalism in dramatic roles. Listen to her recording of Turandot.

[colino72]

Sorry, you can say that you personally don't like her sound, and I'll live with that, but she was technically (which is objective) the best of her time, and I would say no-one has matched her since. Diction is about the only thing I would say was off. I find her about the most listenable soprano I have heard recordings of, and she always seemed to sing with 20% in reserve. Her very high notes were fantastic, over the full dynamic range.

Cat indeed - listen to pussy cat dolls, about your level.

[arturo8402]

These two were such a powerhouse pair!! Will we ever hear anything as beautiful?

[pasfresh123]

She seems like she is wearing THREE wigs, one behind the other. What's the deal? Like a horizontal Marie-Antoinette.

[musicalme27]

@pasfresh123 Wow! That is so important. Never mind how great she sounded.

[vickersman]

Imagine these 2 and Rysanek and Vickers singing in the same concert....wow,what a powerpacked concert this must have been.WOW!The PAv looks great without the fuzz-should have kept it off!IMHO

[Shipskeel]

Dont forget Merrill and Tucker.

[vickersman]

loved Merrill-one of the great american Verdi baritones-never liked Tucker-thought he screamed everything.MHO

[doddsalfa]

No,but their still in the second division':)

[Shipskeel]

they are or they're, not their

[joelweisberg]

Shipskeel, may I thank you for the correction on the frequent misuse of the word "their" I'm glad somebody finally did it. Thanks again!!

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

GermanOS-What also comes to my mind is this though. The high notes make the tenor really exciting. It a voice which is in utmost danger as compared to a baritone, for instance. The tenor voice is a the very edge of a cliff. You take off and you fly away, experience absolute nirvana. You fail to take off and you die. That is the beauty of it.

[vickersman]

and the terror!!!!!

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

GermanOS-I suppose if a tenor chooses his repertoire carefully to accommodate his lack of range, but does anything else that pertains to superb singing well, he can still produce artistic excellence. Above all, if he is honest about it does not pretend to be something that he is not, I am inclined to think it would be acceptable. But what you're describing is a singular occurrence; well at least that is how I feel it.

[mdehkram]

Pavarotti sounds great here.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Joeleole-Carreras never had a C, let alone a reliable B4 even in his good years which were very short (1970-78). Accidentally hitting a C is not considered operatic singing. Top tenors do it day in day out (figuratively speaking) for a good 20 years before they transpose a semitone. It's rather sad to see how 18 yo uninformed youngsters have the audacity to cluelessly comment without acquiring knowledge first.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Ok, I respectfully disagree to a certain point. Not all top tenors can hit high C, take Richard Tauber for instance, literally had NO high C and had an extremely shaky B which he avoided most of the time...but anyone who considers him anything short of a magnificent tenor is beyond stupid...some people just don't 'have' the note in their voice...now, if you have the note but can't sing it most of the time due to flaws in the technique (as is Carreras), that's a complete different ballgame.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Joeleole-As a 18 yo clueless fiddlestick what do you know about Pava? His was didn't decline. It darkened gracefully, and he moved into spinto roles and sung in Il Trovatore, Aida, Tosca and such. All of which was an operatic gem. I'd suggest you get informed first! Some of us have seen him live well before you were conceived!

[johnhoie]

I heard him live early and late, and his voice did decline. Pavarotti consciously tried to increase the size of his voice and carry more weight into the upper register, to the detriment of his voice. Until 1972, he was the best lyric tenor I ever heard; after that, he was merely great.

Listen to the Primo Tenore album, preferably in vinyl on a good system. It was recorded in 1971, and he was amazing.

[castorp278]

Please listen his ''La sonnambula''and ''Cavaleria rusticana''from late 70's. His voice has the agility and freshness just like in 60's and early 70's.I would also recomend his ''Un ballo in maschera'' from early 80's with Solti - still one of the greatest recording of this opera and still one of the greates voices (probably his last great recording).So,the word decline you are reffering to is probably too strong here.And do not forget that ''I Puritani''is from 1973.and ''Butterfly'' from 1974.

[johnhoie]

I heard the Cav, but not La Sonnambula. Did he record Ballo a second time? I have him in it with Tebaldi. The Butterfly is glorious, but that I Puritani demonstrates what I'm talking about. Listen to A Te, O Cara from that and from the Primo Tenore album. The ringing clarity on the top notes is gone. The same with Di Quella Pira from the complete recording versus Primo Tenore.

[castorp278]

He recorded ''Ballo'' for second time in early 80's with Solti and Margaret Price. I did not hear him with Tebaldi but the one with Solti is excellent, performed with such a style and intelligence. Look at the amazon for further details. I heard his ''A te o cara'' from the ''Primo tenore'' and I find it better as well but I'll be pretentious and say that his voice on that album is incomparable among all opera singers. That kind of vocal potency lasts probably only several years.

[castorp278]

But his ''I puritani'' still stand as a great paradigm of belacnto singing. I will be pretentious again and say that very often the only tenor that beats Pavarotti is Pavarotti himself.

[castorp278]

Bryn Terfell said about Pavarotti that ''his premiership voice puts us all in the second division''. So, even when he ''declined'' in that second division he was still among the best.

[appledude35]

Pavarotti's voice is incredible, WOW! I don't think that there were tenors at that time who could compete with him.

[johnhoie]

What a blast from the past! I watched this live at the time, then got to see the same two with the Met on tour in New Orleans a month later singing La Fille du Regiment. Pavarotti got a 10 minute standing ovation after the big aria.

I remember this duet shared hit of the night with the Merrill/Tucker duet from La Forza.

[Mooorhe]

I have a pirate recording of the New Orleans La fille du regiment, the applause doesn't seem to last that long, are you sure it was 10 minutes?

I'm very jealous of you for being able to see it live. Lucky you.

[johnhoie]

To be honest, I didn't time it, but it may have continued on for some time, except that Pavarrotti broke the mood by snatching a flower conveniently place in the barrel of a soldier's rifle and tossing it to Bonynge (the conductor).

A couple days later, I got to see McCracken and Milnes in Othello. Unfortunately, McCracken went on suffering from a gall stone attack, and his voice was weak. Milnes was wonderful, if a bit hammy.

The Met orchestra blew my socks off; easily the best I've heard.

[Mooorhe]

Interesting, I spoke to someone else at that performance, he said that he vividly remembers Pavarotti standing on his tiptoes and nailing the first C splendidly. He also mentioned Pavarotti and Bonynge signalling to each other, as though to say 'oh, it's all about you, not me'. I think he's the best lyric tenor up to 1976, he did start adding too much weight to the voice, trying to sing Manrico and Cavaradossi.

I have the Pour mon ame from the Met tour uploaded on my profile.

[johnhoie]

I remember that too. But he nailed them ALL splendidly, especially the last long one.

That aria made Pavarrotti a superstar. People (including me) are infatuated with the High C, and that aria had not been sung in the original key in about 100 years! When he did it, it was an event. We were actually counting the C's - 9 in all- as he sang them.

He said rather famously that the first time he sang that publicly, he wasn't certain whether to tighten his diaphragm or his sphincter.

[Houndentenor1998]

LOL...I had forgotten the comment about his sphincter!

I held the curtain for most of those La Fille performances at the Met in 72. What amazed me about Sutherland and Pav was their consistancy.

Night after night he popped out those high Cs. The last one is not written in the score. It's optional. He nailed it everytime

Pav's voice was marvelous in 1972 as was Sutherland's.

[55patri]

magníficos

[billthaxton]

I didn't know Michael Chiklis sang opera. He is pretty good.

[redsox2213]

what an awesome gala

[aguacun]

Gorgeous!

[supernovaaaaaa]

GLORIOSO Y MAGISTRAL!!

MAESTROS PAVAROTTI Y SUTHERLAND.

Por esos años grabarían juntos la impresionante TURANDOT de 1977 bajo la dirección de Mehta para el sello DECCA. Para mí la mejor versión que existe.

[jorguilar]

Esta gala es del año 1972, la grabación de Turandot es de 1973. La Lucia completa que ambos grabaron es de 1971. Sin duda las mejores grabaciones de Pavarotti son del inico de esa década.

[jorguilar]

One of the best videos of Pavarotti's earliest years, this Texaco farewell Bing gala from the Met deserves to be issued commercially. What a joy to hear his God kissed vocal chords. The rest of the gala is also wonderful.

[phof15]

I watched this on TV live in May 1972. When I heard the tenor I thought to myself my god there isn't anyone who can sing like this. The next morning, I went to my voice lesson at IU and asked my professor, Jean Deis, who that was. He told me it was Luciano. So for over 35 years I never stopped listening with any less wonder than that night. He changed the way I live just by hearing that voice. Goodbye, Caruso, Bjoerling, Prof Deis, and Luciano. Thank you for all you taught me. P Hofmann

[meltzerboy]

I recall seeing this gala on television. I believe Pavarotti and Sutherland were the first artists to perform that evening.  Both great of course.

[peiboler]

thats the fucking traviata not lucia

[epa300]

If that's La Traviata, it sounds amazingly like Lucia di Lammermoor. :)

[peiboler]

im sorry iwas wrong,i played traviata and lucia followed and i missed up.

[sonnet43]

haha, nope, it's lucia.

[zurniktenor]

I thinks some one played with size of the cideo.Pavarotti looks fatter than he is.And the Sutherland loos tinner than bal bla.Close your eyes and listen..Also "Bulent Bezduz" sings beautifulu with Eb Cadance.

[LordMoe9]

Pavarotti's face might look fuller just because he has no beard.

[VerdianoBR]

Amazing performance. Pavarotti still had better looks and made some effort to interpret as well as sing greatly. His bright and flexible voice really shines. Sutherland is also fantastic, with her voice more velvety and involving than ever. It's great to see a singer like her, it's clear that she enjoys and loves singing Lucia as if all the difficulty of this role were nothing for her!

[Joeleole]

The Recording the Jose carrerasd and Montserrat Caballe did of this opera, in this duet Jose carreras snings a high Eb and it's just astounding, why didn't pavarotti do it, i'm sure he could've.

[colino72]

Really? Carreras a high Eb? Must have been a LONG time ago. A lot even from the late 70's on from him is transposed down. I haven't heard one Boheme where he sings the high C version of Che Gelida - always the transposition.

[Joeleole]

The recording was done in 1977 with Caballe, Ramey, and Lopez-Cobos. And yes a High Eb, in regards to Boheme. You're right, he either opts for the lower harmony or he transposes and finishes on the high B. Having listened to his high C after figlio del cielo when he was young in the Turandot recording he did with Caballe and Freni i am glad he didn't, it dosen't sound a good note in his voice but the Eb just blows your socks off it's incredible!!! But i'll shut up now...:D

[colino72]

Cool - I actually really like Carerras attitude. He really puts the effort in and has worked hard all of his career, works on interpretation and of course he IS an excellent tenor. He just doesn't compare well vocally with Pavarotti - just the instruments they have each been given.

[Joeleole]

I agree totally, like Tebaldi and Callas, they both have totally different sounds and i like them both for different reasons. Though i have to say i prefer Carreras... but that's just me. Thanks muchly :D

[LordMoe9]

Carreras?

Eb? O_O

are you sure? Sorry if I find that hard to believe. I believe you, but I didn't think Carreras had the pipes for that high a note. if so, then that's crazy.

[Joeleole]

Yes he did...:) He was brilliant up until 1980 then his voice declined quite quickly after that. Anyway another note: I commented a while ago on Carreras's High C not being good, however i recently aquired his Madama Butterfly with Scotto in San Fransisco and the high C at the end of Vieni la Sera is glorious though just clipped a tad short for my liking... ANYWAY!! thanks!

[LordMoe9]

is there anyway you can upload the recording of this Eb? Like maybe on Windows Movie Maker, just put the audio with a picture? If not, I understand. Forgive me, I am just curious to hear this.

[Mooorhe]

He didn't really, that's studio, he never sang an Eb live.

[Joeleole]

I never said he sang it live....

[Mooorhe]

But you said he had the pipes for an Eb, and he certainly did not.

[Joeleole]

Well I'm sorry to have to contradict you but he sang an Eb above High C with Caballe in the Studio recording of "Verrano a te sull'aure" from Lucia di Lammermoor. there is a video of it on youtube! look it up! and please don't contradict me without doing your research first!

sincerely

[Mooorhe]

The words 'studio recording' are key. In my opinion, having the 'pipes for that note' entails being able to actually sing it live. And I don't think Carreras ever 'had the pipes' for a live E flat.

[Joeleole]

Then neither did Pavarotti...

[Mooorhe]

How is that even slightly relevant?

[Aneurin1]

Brilliant

[Chasson0318]

Why wasn't this included on the recording?

[kerander]

Nobody - Nobody can sing like the Pavmeister. Glorious.

[Ginotti]

This Gala dates from 1972

[cmorgan22]

Have to guess that this was from the early 1960's when both were in excellent voice!

[rodialva]

Yes Pavarotti con pomodoro.

This time he was extremly fat.

But he was wunderful for sure.

[Cantachepassa]

This is the real Pavarotti.Sei Grande,Maestro.

[Ginotti]

Sorry, I only have some highlights on video.

However I do posess the complete concert on audio.

[magicmonkichi]

Any chance of getting a copy?

[LuigiLA]

Wow, he doesn't even look like Pavarotti, maybe because he shaved?!? I have seen many old Pavarotti's videos, but he doesn't look like this one at all. I guess they did a great job with the make up.

[Orfeus80]

Pavarotti is indeed fantastic! If only he could teach Sutherland how to pronounce (Italian) well. Anyway, she's in good voice here too.

[orestis23]

hey man, might you have the milnes part of this gala? i think he sings dunque io son, if you could upload that i would be SOOO GRATEFUL! thanks!