Leontyne Price "Senza mamma" Suor Angelica Live 68

[tatters1232006]

THE 20TH CENTURY HAS THROWN UP ALOT OF FINE SOPRANO,S BUT NO ONE COMES GREATER THAN LEONTYNE PRICE

[baritoneortenor]

first time i've shed tears in a long time

[Chasson0318]

Good God That last note!

[Stevo8844]

This is fantastic and so beautiful.  I wish I could find her singing the finale.

[callastoujours]

OMG... Superb!

[kikiluvdiva22]

Amazing!!!I I wish I could sound like this.

[1923pars]

Price spins the last top note like gold thread....

[bladezone1]

PRICE!!! The top is just perfect!!

[ruthnix]

I had the studio version of this when I was a kid .Thank you so much for posting this it was my favorite

[Operanut9]

For me the most incredibly moving performance of this is by de los Angeles. The voice is, as always, sheer perfection. Crystalline purity of tone with a real identification with the music.

[GoldenAgeSunshine]

Supremely unearthly, divine and angelic, luscious tone, pathos, intelligence and coloring ... That floating "PPP" is simply amazing. Bless You, Leontyne!

[vivomusique]

I am the 5,555th viewer of this supreme example of artistry. Interestingly enough, I realized it after I gave this performance a 5 star rating! I guess the stars were aligned for my blissful opportunity to listen to one of the reigning (and yet living) golden voices of our time.

[JeeRant]

Finely sung, but for some reason I can't really see her in this role.

[operadonna]

Divine.

[shadowbreaks]

es una maravilla esta hermosisisma diva de divas que bendicion tener a alguien como ella en el mundo operistico!!!!!!!!!

[wedidntknow]

This woman is hailed as a great Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi Soprano. These composers are masters of the vocal line. The Musicality required to sing thier heroines require all of the components listed above...yes she has her faults as does all the greats but overall few can match her. she can sing the sweet and innocent lui and the next day sing Leonora in Il Trovatore and then end the week singing il re pastore! I think it was an excellent performance.

[Andante735]

How anyone could sit here, and listen to this lovely woman sing something so completely wrong for her voice is truly amazing. You can't scoop from register to register - this is seamless legato territory folks! You can't even hear some of her voice in the lower register. The tempi is wrong-- it's just rushed and just so wrong.

[Andante735]

Listen to 1:06 - 1:23 - that says it all.

[yesblanche]

Pardon me Andante735...but Puccini was indeed one of Miss Price's specialties...if you don't like it...don't listen...the rest of us happen to appreciate her impecable instrument.

[Andante735]

Pardon me yesblanche, but the last time I checked, Miss Price's fach was Verdi, not Puccini. Apart from Liu, and a recorded Butterfly, Verdi was her mainstay. I think you need to do 2 things - learn more about operatic history, and accept the fact that this forum is open to praise, as well as constructive critique. If you don't like my comments, then don't read them. Simple isn't it? Imbecile.

[Andante735]

Again I'll repeat, this music is completely inappropriate to her voice. It can't be sung properly with scoops down to lower registers, broken legato, and tightened notes. Judging by the collective intelligence of this thread, I'll assume that if she sang Anna Bolena, it would be the best thing next to sliced bread eh? Unbelievable.

[yesblanche]

Wow someone is bitter! You've no right to call me an imbecile...and those of us who are fans do have a right to respond to detractors without being collectively insulted. Again...if you don't like it don't listen...and please do not email me any more nasty comments

[Andante735]

No, not bitter, just direct and with a low level of patience with people who really don't know much about music. Again, if you don't like it, don't read it. If you weren't such an imbecile, you would realize that I am "not" listening to this piece. I happen to like Price a great deal, when she sings music suited to her voice.

[yesblanche]

Okay this is ridiculous...you want to call names and insult people you win....you know nothing about me, where I went to school, or what I do for a living...but I'm an imbecile and know nothing about music. Great. Again...DO NOT send me any more personal emails...that is not why anyone is here.

[bcom11]

You are the most ignorant imbecile on this thread. You just know soooo much, right? So much that you can call people names and insult them in private emails? Well if that makes you feel good, so be it. You will never be the one with the world renowned fame as an opera singer....just a bitter commenter. Sad...

[bcom11]

that comment is for Andante735, btw

[Andante735]

I'm devastated.

[tastyoperasinger]

I was looking through andante's favorites, to see the "approved" list of videos, and apparently andante is an Olivia Newton-John fan.  CLEARLY she epitomizes true artistry and knowledge of musicality. Her instrument is also OBVIOUSLY nearly impeccable.

[bcom11]

haha oh, but of course

[wedidntknow]

are you crazy! her voice was perfect for this aria... but some people just have to be critical...

[Andante735]

"Am I crazy, her voice is perfect for this aria.." That statement suggests nothing less than an absolute lack of knowledge about vocal technique, style, color, legato, or dramatic pathos. Some people don't have to be critical, some people realize that critical discussions of music involve "critique", regardless of whether it's postitive or negative. Do you have a clue as to why we're here? My guess is no, and that's no surprise coming from someone who knows nothing about this aria.

[wedidntknow]

From her debut til about 1975 Leontyne went back and forth between singing Puccini and Verdi. Leontyne has long been known for being technically sound when others have fallen short. There aren't many sopranos out there that can match her lagato and noone is able to add the colors and dramatic pathos the is able to achieve; it's The reason for her long career. I know more about this aria as well as all opera than you know.

[Andante735]

You really didn't read what I wrote in the proper context. But of course, you know more than I'll ever know about any of this. I know all about Price's early career, and her triumphant and not so "triumphant" accomplishments, as is the case with many other great singers.

[Andante735]

I very simply feel that this aria is not complimentary to her voice.I know full well about her long "legato" line, and her smooth, velvety timbre and color- she just doesn't employ them correctly here.So if your take away sentiments from my post are that of feeling smug and superior, that's your choice.I don't feel compelled to explain my career in artist administration, or my exposure and inolvements with more than a few legenday performers.

[Andante735]

Her technical excellence is not something I choose to argue over - let's just say she had her share of strengths and weaknesses like many others. Well, apart from Ponselle, but that discourse would be way out of your league.

[Andante735]

What she did retain even to the end of her career, were her legendary, finely produced high notes, but her frequent mannerisms while moving from register to register are well known.

[Andante735]

Hollowness comes to mind, but then again you know more than me - I simply sat at the Met and listened to her from 1978 up until her final stage performance of Aida. Now how in the world would that count for knowledge? By the way, your photo is the very epitome of a person with the highest level of musical savvy and discourse.

[wedidntknow]

we all know that she can take stylistic liberties that can be a tad off but she's worked hard to be able to take those risks. we also know that her chest voice can be a tad overwhelming and even more as she aged you continuely pointing this out on page after page only shows your arrogance and lack of character and also respect for a great artist. i'm no fan of tabaldi but if i run across a video i'll listen and not comment.. why? she has already made her mark as a performer.

[wedidntknow]

She has already gone through the critiques and i although i'd rather hear other singers I respect her(esp her La forza) the same with Callas'artistry ;I respect it. Your brutal comments for a woman that has already made her mark are for the most part ignorant (knowlegeable maybe but still ignorant) but you showed your ignorance by attacking a photo that i took in my down time while. Do you see how that was personal and had no merrit as to who i am as a person... Arrogance will do that to you.

[wedidntknow]

i didn't say i knew more than you... i said i know more about the subject than you know.. meaning i am no novist. i live and breath this.. and you know what I agree with your coment about Ponselle she was on a different level and trust me i know all about her career too. My point is technique is not without fault. Our preference is not without fault. your work in administration nor who you know doesn't make you an expert nor a critic, it makes you only a fan of opera.

[wedidntknow]

this is truly amazing... she continues to confirm why i think she's #1... noone sings this perfect live

[AleRoma1968]

Bellissima quest'aria cantata in questo modo e dal vivo. Grande Leontyne!

[lalay513]

Who wouldn't want to sound like this?!

[MusicaParola]

Her Madama Butterfly is equally touching, as is her Liù. Pucciniana all the way. Brava!

[LeeVita19]

Just like an Angel!!!

[cleanears]

MAMMA MIA!!!!! this is real! so moving. the way it is meant to be!

[Glenmed]

A glorious instrument producing a truly fantastic and moving piece of singing.

[SweetFiness]

My god her voice is haunting!! It's unfair there's no one else performing to date that can compare!!

[loumanar]

La più grande voce di soprano del dopoguerra: bella, calda, sei bravissima Leonessa

[BESS20]

Mme. Price IS!!!

[Ruxton]

She's just sensational doing Puccini

[Rory1956]

@Ruxton She'a just sensational doing just about anything, really. It's a shame she never considered singing Elizabeth in Don Carlo. Did she ever sing the whole Suor Angelica?

[Comatose7890]

the high note at the end is amazing!