With regard to her diction, she's singing at the MET of all places. The Met has some of the highest standards, the most highly trained teachers and coaches on staff, and they wouldn't have let someone pronounce things in their own way without good reason. I find she sings much like someone who speaks the language fluently and who is trying to be true to the language of today. No one starts fights when an Austrian sings German with a slight accent or variation.
You poor little people who want to nick pick language.
All singers distort their words at time. It was a nice joke when some slavic singers pronounce Que in Italian as Kavay, so what?
What is your point anyway? Are we trying to say that this poor Black woman is incapable of pronouncing words correctly, so we should not count her as a trained singer on the world stage?
Why not just go to a site where people are singing this role to your liking and not waste your time here.
She and her voice are gorgeous. Her chest on a couple of her low notes sounds kinda crazy, but who am I to judge? Haha!
Also, addressing the French , I'm not questioning how much she knows about it (obviously she's a stunning performer and I'm sure she knows her stuff), but a LOT of her pronunciation goes directly against what most of us are taught in diction classes these days. But again... who am I to judge? I certainly haven't sung this well, ever. :P
It is a beautiful rendition, don't get me wrong. but she seems to clip certain phrases that would be more effective if she would extend them just a hair longer. still beautiful though.
this is my absolute favorite, her voice is perfect, (along with her French!!),and her acting is superb- you really feel the emotion- especially when she goes her her knees at 2:20 (and the note!!!)
She sounds a bit like Leontyne Price, but Ms Price's diction was far much better. Ms Mitchell needs to be better coached for all her vowels. Although she may come from another school of technique where the line, the tone and the acting come before the diction in regards to opera aria interpretation.
Miss Mitchell is fluent in French. She spent many years in France at many of the opera companies there. Perhaps you should just go to the other sites for Je Dis instead of wasting your time here, since you are so disgusted.
Miss Mitchell sings this aria with great sound and passion.
in 3:58-59 she sounded like singing it an octave lower... why? how did she make that kind of high note? o.o i know she sang it right.. just so weird it sounds like that...
wow, never heard Bizet sounding like Verdi...almost portrayed as a Tom-Boy-like Micaela, unique performance :)but her voice is Amazing, Brava! alot of depth in her voice. Thanks for this clip.
Agreed! LaMitchell's chest did get er.. carried a little too much into her singing. (I remember as a little boy making my family laugh commenting oon her tremendous lung capacity) However.. in retrospect her youtube clips are VERY impressive. This is one of the finest interpretations that I've heard of this aria. Bizet's gorgeous "echo-dacapo" duet between french horn and Miceala beginning at 3:50 is to me one of the most AWESOMELY beautiful key changes EVER written. Sends chills up my spine!
I agree with you totally. This was Miss Mitchell's debut role at the Met. this video was around ten years after that. What incredible high notes. Also her acting is right on the mark.
Leona Mitchell is semi-retired and living in her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. She is the cultural ambassador for the state of Oklahoma and frequently performs concerts. She recently completed a 4 night engagement at the Metropolitan Room in New York along with Sara Rice.
i dont understand
genovevatrimarchi 2 months ago
With regard to her diction, she's singing at the MET of all places. The Met has some of the highest standards, the most highly trained teachers and coaches on staff, and they wouldn't have let someone pronounce things in their own way without good reason. I find she sings much like someone who speaks the language fluently and who is trying to be true to the language of today. No one starts fights when an Austrian sings German with a slight accent or variation.
alexandravictoriacs 7 months ago
You poor little people who want to nick pick language.
All singers distort their words at time. It was a nice joke when some slavic singers pronounce Que in Italian as Kavay, so what?
What is your point anyway? Are we trying to say that this poor Black woman is incapable of pronouncing words correctly, so we should not count her as a trained singer on the world stage?
Why not just go to a site where people are singing this role to your liking and not waste your time here.
HU1914 9 months ago
Normalement elle doit chanter en français!!!!!
tidaliumpelo 11 months ago
No es una voz para esta delicada aria, aparte, dice cualquier cosa! Aplazada en francés!
normendez55 1 year ago
She and her voice are gorgeous. Her chest on a couple of her low notes sounds kinda crazy, but who am I to judge? Haha!
Also, addressing the French , I'm not questioning how much she knows about it (obviously she's a stunning performer and I'm sure she knows her stuff), but a LOT of her pronunciation goes directly against what most of us are taught in diction classes these days. But again... who am I to judge? I certainly haven't sung this well, ever. :P
armavirumque7 1 year ago
BRAVA!!!! Absolutely wonderful!!!...you can tell she is putting in 120% into this role!!!
CincinnatiTenor 1 year ago
too dramatic, Micaela should sound more innocent and delicate
violetavalery 1 year ago
Brava! A perfect rendition of this aria! THAT IS A VOICE!!! It's a shame we dont have voices like this anymore in the world of opera!
cdivo39 2 years ago
This is the most moving rendition that I have heard of this aria.
Brava Leona
LivaDena 2 years ago
It is a beautiful rendition, don't get me wrong. but she seems to clip certain phrases that would be more effective if she would extend them just a hair longer. still beautiful though.
dconfessgrl 2 years ago
this is my absolute favorite, her voice is perfect, (along with her French!!),and her acting is superb- you really feel the emotion- especially when she goes her her knees at 2:20 (and the note!!!)
not to mention that she is gorgeous!
wiseazz 2 years ago
Absolute perfect.
fdh1004 2 years ago
Miss Mitchell speaks fluent French.
Amazing how racist we get when it is applied to this person of color. Her French coach was stunned with her French as well as many Frenc patrons.
HU1914 2 years ago
She sounds a bit like Leontyne Price, but Ms Price's diction was far much better. Ms Mitchell needs to be better coached for all her vowels. Although she may come from another school of technique where the line, the tone and the acting come before the diction in regards to opera aria interpretation.
hullguy123 2 years ago
dude! so do i! and i'm black
ponchodevane 2 years ago
@HU1914 No, her French is full of distortions, starting with the first word: JA DIS
liedersanger1 2 years ago 3
@liedersanger1
Miss Mitchell is fluent in French. She spent many years in France at many of the opera companies there. Perhaps you should just go to the other sites for Je Dis instead of wasting your time here, since you are so disgusted.
Miss Mitchell sings this aria with great sound and passion.
Thank God we have her for posterity.
HU1914 1 year ago
@liedersanger1 She is disgusting. She never should sing French, like many others!!
vivegedda 2 months ago
thats not french
ponchodevane 3 years ago
And THATs not seven inches. But I'm sure the both of you did the best with the tools that you have.
wotanman 2 years ago
is it just me or do u hear this too?
in 3:58-59 she sounded like singing it an octave lower... why? how did she make that kind of high note? o.o i know she sang it right.. just so weird it sounds like that...
Angeltots 3 years ago
wow, never heard Bizet sounding like Verdi...almost portrayed as a Tom-Boy-like Micaela, unique performance :)but her voice is Amazing, Brava! alot of depth in her voice. Thanks for this clip.
kavalier78 3 years ago
Brava! But I think she would have made a better Carmen than Micaela.
IMO her dark velvety voice is better suited for the gipsy.
john5748 3 years ago
She does have a dark chest voice yes, but her higher soprano notes are serene. If you hear her Liu in Turandot, her high B's are celestial.
Jaydoggy531 3 years ago
Agreed! LaMitchell's chest did get er.. carried a little too much into her singing. (I remember as a little boy making my family laugh commenting oon her tremendous lung capacity) However.. in retrospect her youtube clips are VERY impressive. This is one of the finest interpretations that I've heard of this aria. Bizet's gorgeous "echo-dacapo" duet between french horn and Miceala beginning at 3:50 is to me one of the most AWESOMELY beautiful key changes EVER written. Sends chills up my spine!
wotanman 3 years ago
I always thought that Leona Mitchell would become a legend, but her career was never as big as I think it deserved. Truly a first-class voice.
Gigglingatagas 4 years ago 3
I agree with you totally. This was Miss Mitchell's debut role at the Met. this video was around ten years after that. What incredible high notes. Also her acting is right on the mark.
Brava Diva.
HU1914 3 years ago
Lovely singing by Ms. Leona Mitchell. This is one of her first roles at the Metropolitan Opera.
talmagedotson2 4 years ago
Miss Mitchell is great in this part. One of the world's greatest interpreter and singers of this role.
HU1914 3 years ago
is she retired?
corellilover 4 years ago
Leona Mitchell is semi-retired and living in her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. She is the cultural ambassador for the state of Oklahoma and frequently performs concerts. She recently completed a 4 night engagement at the Metropolitan Room in New York along with Sara Rice.
talmagedotson2 4 years ago
thanks
corellilover 4 years ago
this is too light for her
corellilover 4 years ago
Very very good!!!:)
Ofelia00 4 years ago
thank you Ece, I like her very much : )
lasultanica 4 years ago
I love her singing;)
Tenor65 4 years ago