Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - Handel - Theodora - As with rosy

[littlechocoleto]

Heard her as Sesto first - never heard anyone sing the role better. Beautiful.

[baward]

I'm sure some of the other performers (such as Dawn Upshaw) are crying with the emotional heft. (Or they could merely be acting!)

[baward]

Marvellous, spine tingling.

[dubonetducon]

There are no words. .. Only tears of ecstasy.

[lulumaude]

What joy to be able to see her singing.

Miss her still.

[Kerguelen1]

Three people lack souls.

[TheVaughan5]

Astonishing singing, what a loss to the musical world. The production is junk, it's interesting how we have to get the producer's name to boost his already inflated ego, afer all he IS much more important than the singers and for that matter the composer.

[EffulgenceDiva]

This is the most amazing singing I've ever seen. She is so connected, so gentle. It truly is like she's ushering us into Heaven. Thank you for posting.

[jeanrosw]

Je suis ébloui par les chanteurs : Upshaw, Hunt, Daniels et Croft.

Le spectacle est surprenant: Sa modernité souligne l'actualité du propos et sa laideur, son absurdité.

À droite, le Pouvoir vulgaire, brutal et assoiffé de jouissance et à gauche, une secte de fanatiques cultivant le misérabilisme et l'auto-flagellation. Droite et gauche ne se rejoignent que dans l'intolérance.

C'est une vision du monde peut-être réaliste mais déprimante.

[Adessosf]

She's sublime. And this production of Theodora, available on DVD, has to be the best baroque opera/oratorio recording ever made; one outstanding performance after another. Thank God we have it.

[OperaLovingGay2]

No one can sing Handel like this wonderful artist could. Her death was a great loss to the opera and concert stage.

[finalwordoftruth]

Proof there are and were always angels here on earth.......moving to say the least!

[billyguns2]

The is the greatest thing ever put on YouTube.

[zamyrabyrd]

beautiful singing but the staging is really distracting and unnecessary

[Mamselle100]

It's the most beautiful music I've ever heard. Thank you Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - you will never be forgotten & you live on through your sublime music. RIP

Parisa

[Aidan55]

To hell with anyone who takes exception to Peter Sellars. This is vocally sublime AND theatrically exhilarating. BRAVI!

[RicardoRivera82]

Beautiful!!

[wenarto]

THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL BEST, RIP LORRAINE

[grandadpoppyable]

and just enjoy that fantastic,..typically baroque and just as typically Handel,.. lute continuo. Amazing im almost wetting my pants with joy.

[chrdona1970]

Is it me, or is that cadenza she does just hair-on-the-neck and goose-flesh raising? Exquisite.

[gslanfranchi]

@chrdona1970

No, it is not just you. This was 'the' thing that made me love her immediately.

[bleetenor]

@chrdona1970 Absolutely agree. My god, it's really incredible. Like an angel.

[fimerle]

An agnostic in a book I'm reading is so overwhelmed by Lorraine's sublime voice he thought it ''almost enough to make him believe in God''. What a superbly rich and powerful voice and what a great loss to the world with such an early death. The only other singer posessing as warm and sensitive a voice as Lorraine was my all time favourite contralto Kathleen Ferrier who also died from breast cancer at an early age. Listen to Kathleen on YouTube and try to appreciate her wonderful voice.

[wheelervirgil]

@fimerle Hi, I listen almost obsessively to Lieberson and this aria.

Could you tell me what the book is? Thanks, Chris

[fimerle]

@wheelervirgil :Sorry Chris but the book is not as cerebral as you may have hoped! It is a detective novel, albeit a well written one, by Peter Robinson titled Strange Affair. I had never heard of Lorrain before coming across the reference to her in this book. It goes to show what priceless nuggets of information can be gleaned from the most unlikely sources!!

[fimetic]

I believe Lorraine to be the greatest soprano/mezzo-soprano that ever graced a Handel aria. There's a quality in her voice that can turn base metal into gold or reduce the stony-hearted to tears. You are so missed Lady.

[grandadpoppyable]

Lorraine a very great enterpreter of GFH as is Croft. However listen to some recordings of Kenneth MaKellar and tell me if he is not the best Handel man, even tho he little on stage on that repoitre. Netrebko, and all the rest can stick to boring Bach. I dont my mind enriched just my heart. Take a note of McNair as well, altho not up there in voice quality she can figure out what GFH wanted to come across

[shnimmuc]

@grandadpoppyable Bach touches the mind then the heart. Handel touches the heart then the mind. His technique was not second to anyone including Bach An amazing aria and an amazing performance. Life changing..

[fimetic]

I believe Lorraine to be the greatest soprano/mezzo-soprano that ever graced a Handel aria. There's a quality in her voice that can turn base metal into gold or reduce the stony-hearted to tears. You are so missed Lady.

[gregvoz1]

Lorraine Hunt was one simply of the finest Handel singers I ever heard. Her bravura singing (Serse with the LA Opera in the 1990s) was unbelievable, but what still impresses me most was her way with the "pathetick" and noble. She lavished extraordinary care and voice upon the smallest nuances of line and feeling, never producing anything but the most limpid and heartfelt sounds. An artist's artist. We love you Lorraine!

[IA2329]

fabulous fabulous fabulous

[heyboy08]

I love you, Lorraine. Through your gift, you will live forever.

[bachounet2]

She was amazing and her performance is magical.

[bit391]

You know sometimes I just want to watch a video and enjoy the music. I want to go to the comments and see people who are just as inspired as I am. There is no room for negativity or arguing when it comes to music like this. It just ruins the experience. So please. Just please.

[davehshs]

What a BIZARRE stage setting for music by the baroque master Handel!

[davehshs]

@davehshs I should have watched the entire performance before commenting. It all fits together wonderfully in this marvelous, meaningful production.

[alkervick]

My friend Neil describes Lorraine Hunt Lieberson voice as rapturously glorious.. she died in 2006 from breast cancer.. was a viola player who discovered that she had a beautiful voice..

[iuoboe]

Unbelievable! I got the CD and listen to it on the way to work and back every day. It keeps me focused and positive all day ... "raise Thou the hope of endless light" ... and her other aria "Lord to thee, each night and day, strong in hope we sing and pray." Amazing voice, simply amazing.

[SENAFOREVER]

Thank you Lorraine!!!

[TheJamesalden]

What a voice; how sad to hear that she's no longer with us. God bless you, Lorraine, and thank you for posting this....

[Teofane]

Thank you for posting this beautiful video. She was an incredible singer. Her death was such a tragic loss.

[JosephCercy]

OMG! This is so moving.

[Handelfreak]

Thanks for posting this. It is my favorite gesamtkunstwerk on youtube.

[fenelpor]

Handel was always dificult for me...till this version of Theodora. It´s absolutily amaizing, and touching, of course..

[Baroquepassion]

I never tire of this. Could there be a more perfect embodiment of this aria?

[petitvaurien]

Unsurpassable in beauty, emotion, truth.

[arsamoris444]

If Lorraine Hunt had never sung any else but this one aria, she would still have to go down in history as one of the greatest singers ever. And if Handel had written only this one aria, well, what can you say. There's just nothing better ever. I am glad I lived to hear and see this performance, including this wonderful production and the use of movement in the performers.

[wmolliver]

@arsamoris444 you are a very fortunate person - I'm 58 and just heard it for the first time (both the aria and Ms. Hunt) in this video. I think your sentiment perfectly stated. My o my o my o my....

[Audiophilius]

@ arsamoris444 & Baroquepassion : I couldn't agree more...

This is such a pure glimpse of heaven!

[bleetenor]

@arsamoris444 Yes, I am not always a Sellars fan, but the scenes I have seen from this production work for me. It doesn't hurt that the singing and orchestra are near perfect. Wow.

[JRZGRL55]

I have walked many times in the morning listening to this aria on my iPod. It is really wonderful to see her perform it. I'm very sad that I did not get to see her perform in person. She was a fabulous artist who strove for excellence in everything she did. We miss you Lorraine!! If you have not heard "Recital at Ravinia" please buy it!! There is a song at the end of the album from "Baghdad Cafe" that will tear your heart out.

[XPRT10R]

I was there on stage with her in this right behind her. Everytime it was like the first. Made your heart ache

[JRZGRL55]

What a great experience for you to have been so close to this amazing artist - thanks for sharing. I am grateful that so much of her brilliance is available on CD and on video.There is so much to learn from Lorraine.

[Enebanrot]

@XPRT10R She was a magnificent actress, as well as a singer.

[loui0008]

Utterly sublime! It is good to be taken so high and be reminded.

[CEOOMKENS1947]

Lorraine lets us feel heaven and soul. Thank you dear dear Lorraine !

[smrr5624]

I can't overstate the impact that this aria had on my life when this came out on DVD. Thanks for sharing this.

[MARGOTRAYBOULD]

Lorraine reduces me to tears every time I hear this sublime aria. What a tragedy she is no longer with us. A loss to the world. Margot. R.

[christineannemarsden]

Yes, each time I hear this from her, the same feelings.

XX

[tlrox]

Ah! whither should we fly, or fly from whom? The Lord is still the same today, for ever And his protection here, and everywhere Still shall thy servants wait on thee, O Lord, And in thy saving mercy put their trust. [Air - Irene] As with rosy steps the dawn, Advancing, drives the shades of night So from virtuous toil well-borne, Raise Thou our hopes of endless light Triumphant Saviour, Lord of day Thou art the life, the light, the way! As with ... [da capo]

[lindsaydenman]

This is just utterly sublime—Handel's genius has never seemed more soulful and approachable, conveyed with such passion by this rarest of talents, sadly no longer with us. It is so haunting and lovely, so rich, so sad.

[bohobo]

Absolutely heart wrenching, and in the very best and most soul soothing way. The end is so delicate and ridiculously difficult yet she never shows it for a moment. I could watch this a thousand times and it would never fail to move me... thanks for posting

[operade]

Lorraine Hunt hat eine wundervolle,göttliche Stimme.Ich bin richtig süchtig!Gerne hätte ich Lorraine Hunt auf der Bühne erlebt und bravo geruft!!

[Orfeo68]

this is so beautiful, I am crying like a baby...

[lightuptheroof]

I first heard Ms. Hunt Liberson during a music history class. It was Dido's Lament.  We heard several other pieces that were not sung by here, and they were beautiful - but just not the same. Her voice is sublime, beautiful, and the emotion I hear in her voice resonates with me so strongly.

[svkorban]

божественно!

[lmspr]

The problem with listening to Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Theodora is that it is so beautifully sung that all other singers in this role, no matter how good they are, seem to fall short. This is some of the most sublime Handel I've ever heard.

[lmspr]

Ooops! To correct myself here, Lorraine sings Irene, not Theodora, whom is sung by Dawn Upshaw. So my comment is in reference to Lorraine's Irene, not Theodora. Bottom line: Lorraine es lo maximo.

[viverito]

I listen to Lorraine Hunt Lieberson all the time. I play her CD's at home, I listen to her in my car. One of my biggest regrets is that I missed seeing her at the MET when she last performed there.

[rumpaska]

I met Lorraine in the summer of 2000 when she was undergoing treatment for cancer at a clinic in Switzerland. She and her quiet, handsome husband Peter lived in Santa Fe and hey, whattaya know, my wife and I lived in Albuquerque! I didn't know she was a professional singer, let alone the world's greatest mezzo-soprano. She was just a lovely, gracious and funny lady. Only gradually did the other patients learn that, besides spreading kindness and joy all around her, she did happen to sing.

[nadiapatton]

She is absolutely wonderful in every way... I miss her, but sometimes, just like Arleen Auger and Lucia Popp, it's as if they somehow knew that their time on earth would be short and gave us just sublime music every time.

[juliaan88]

She touched my heart!

[proxyindian2]

I love this song and Lorraine too but on repeated viewings, I just don't like her excessive loudness at the end of "Thou are the life, the li-yayyayayayaya-ight, the way." Other than that I think she's very good.

[buboy1685]

What do you expect from an embellished cadence?

[sfkcbf]

Astonishing vocal sensitivity.

[FloriaTosca85]

Wonderful performance!A true baroque voice with beautifully mastered vibrato!Brava,Lorraine Hunt Lieberson!

[fimetic]

I thought I knew how marvellous Handel could be. I thought I heard perfection ....I was wrong!! This is just the most beautiful, transcendent Handel I've ever heard. Thank you Lorraine, perfection. Thank you gslanfranchi, I who you 

[jijimaomao]

Ich bin sprachlos!

[la200o]

Gosh, how could ya beat this?

[XPRT10R]

Thank you gslanfranchi for these postings. You bring back wonderful memories and emotions. Doing those performances was magic everytime!

[MehdiCaps]

It doesn't get any better than that... This is such a magical moment. Pure perfection, and deep emotion at the same time. She would have made Händel cry.

Three great ladies have the power to move me in everything they sang: Janet Baker, Arleen Augér and Lorraine Hunt. I wish I had seen them in person.

[MehdiCaps]

I've seen this at least 20 times, and it's each time more moving. Wow, just wow... This woman... I believe Dawn Upshaw is crying for real at the end (if she's not, she deserves an Oscar). How I understand her. Being on stage with Lorraine when a miracle like this happens.

[solasband]

misericordia

love

faith

passion

eternity

music

forever

[Graviak]

a stunning performance, very well sung with nice and subtle ornamentations. A great piece of Handel it is. I advice everybody to listen to the Harnoncourt Recording.

[bachounet2]

Très grande et merveilleuse dame!

[foomsbah]

JESUS CHRIST that was BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU!

[MmeFigaro]

Thank you Lorraine! wherever you are now... thank you.

[bscliff1]

Tant de plenitude

dans cette lumineuse voix.

Nul se saurait

desormais ignorer

que le Bonheur

existe.

L'Oeuvre d'une Vie,

le testament d'une grande artiste!

[christineannemarsden]

This is so beautiful it made me cry

How sad I could not see her singing live

[drbarbarabaker]

She seeps into your soul. You cannot keep it out.

[Homoclassicus]

This is one of my favourite video moments in all of Opera videography. Hunt Lieberson turns the choreography into a very credible and not artificial at all means of expression. Her singing is so suave, steady and varied, just ideal to Händel's music. Her artistic persona has a charisma and spiritual quality that, allied to her naturally beautiful voice and near perfect technique, definitely allow us to consider her one of the best mezzos of all time. Brava!

[Sadiesexy]

Great voice!

[chlagaguel]

Captivante, émouvante, cette grande dame nous touche au plus profond de notre être pour l'éternité .

[mattlennoxcounter]

Such a moving performance, by one of the finest opera singers of her generation.

[piustwelfth]

I saw Miss Hunt in recital several times, and this piece from 'Theodora' was usually one of her encores. The feeling & depth of emotion with which she sang this aria was stunning. The response from the audience was ecstatic. As shown in this video, she was an amazingly gifted live performer. Her passing at such a young age is a huge loss for lovers of classical music.

[udjerlah]

Out of this world

Something in this reminds me of Kathleen Ferrier, the same quality of soul

And the same sad fate

[Sadiesexy]

What happend to her?

[gslanfranchi]

She died of breast cancer at 52, at the peak of her career, in 2006. Her sister had died from the same illness some years earlier.

[nolonium]

Always in my heart, nobody will sing this aria into the same way like you, It sounds special, different, I don´t have words to discribe what I feel when I listen to her, life´s so hard, Opera´s world will miss you forever.

[jppooch]

Yes, life is so hard and she took us there and to its most precious moments without reservation or fear. When I steal myself to listening to her singing it is always accompanied my by tears and smiles.

[pawdaw]

Yes, Theodora was one of the biggest flops of Handel's career- in its first run it only managed three performances. But the music in it is sublime, not least of which is this gorgeous aria. And I can't imagine anyone singing it better than LHL.

[grig035]

At one point, the elderly Handel was accosted by a Messiah enthusiast, who went on at such length and in such detail about the Messiah that Handel finally remarked (rather wistfully, one might guess) [paraphrase] "There are some nice things in Theodora"............

IMO, Theodora is more than just nice, and in fact it has now become my Desert Island Handel choice. It was composed a decade later than Messiah, less than a decade before Handel's death, and it shows H.'s mastery at its zenith.

[Lubbercus]

Theodora was that time a flop (and today still largely unknown) because it did not cajoled the English nationalism (like the Messiah did, somehow in the vein of Blake's "And did those feet in ancient times/ walked upon England's pleasant green").

[milretdisvet]

You have no idea what your talking about. This is one of the greatest singers ever.

[rlee1976]

I second that!

[delnah]

This is one of those experiences that changes ones life. Not only the performance but the music. It is a pity that Handel is know by the smallest percent of his output than any other major composer. There are hundreds of other great "undiscovered" moments out there are to be heard. I know, I have done the research. By the way, Theodora is an oratorio not an opera.

[shazzer1976]

This is beautiful. Why couldn't they just have let the music speak for itself?

[jppooch]

I don't understand the last statement. The music always speaks for itself.

[shazzer1976]

I mean people thinking they can improve on what Mr handel or Mr Bach have already achieved in their great compositions or possibly assuming that the audience is too stupid to understand what the composer wanted to communicate through their music. (Of course, this cannot apply to opera!) It's just a question of taste, I suppose!

[jppooch]

Thank you for the fleshing out your statement. Lorraine loved to push boundries and always honored the composer.

It takes a great artist to take such bold steps...and she was that and more. Of all the singers Peter Sellers worked with Lorraine could go as far as he wanted and more. Their Ich habe genug was earth shatterig for me. I cannnot help but feel Bach approved.

I appreciate your point of view however.

[freespiritQC]

She died in july.....

Cancer is taking away great singers lke her and Elizabeth Parcells.

Lucky are we to have those videos

[jabberwock01]

Simply wonderful.

[Handelfreak]

This was lorraine's favorite Handel aria. I asked her the question in 2001 and after saying that she had quite a few she said that this was her favorite.

[tdmthomas]

This is absolutely one of the most moving arias I have ever heard, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson contributes a great deal toward that. Her performance is so quietly moving that the role of Irene seems almost written for her!

[keithmc]

I know I commented on this 3 months ago, but I still claim that this is the most exceptional singing I have ever heard. I just had to let you know.

[SieglindeMoos]

Can anyone upload "Defend her Heav'n"??? Please.

[tenormanjd]

Unbelieveably beautiful. I cry.

[hookana70]

Oh Lord, I should've spent my money better and heard her perform live (while she was with us).

[duratetube]

The entire performance from Gylnbourne Festival is available on DVD from Amazon and ArkiveMusic. Thank God.

[dschuetz11]

Gorgeous singing. Staging is goofy and stagnant. Something has to be done dramatically to match the beautiful music

[sibionic]

surely one of Handel's most stunning arias? Check also Paul McReesh's recording of Theodora, where this aria is also super beautiful. All hail the wigg'd one!

[planthi80]

An absolutely sublime interpretation with each golden note caressed and tenderly inflected with effortless phrasing unmatched by anyone else.

You are so missed....

[keithmc]

Despite the fact there is no God and all religion is a lie, LHL's quite transcendental performance belies that trusim. She was a force of nature and within a profession bedevelled by egos, consistently placed her art before her persona. A true Goddess.

[EmilyGreene1984]

Uh how do you know there is no God, where is your proof?

[EmilyGreene1984]

@keithmc How do you know? You can't prove God doesn't exist. But she shows that she indeed had a God-inspired voice.

[Mopsythebunny]

Does anyone have a video of her Proms performance of "The Music Makers"?

[nfahring]

There exists a full DVD of the Opera Theodora with LHL.........I don't have specifics, but it's obtainable.

[fzachary]

I've only heard small parts of Theodora, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorite works. Simply amazing music. Please post more!

[Mopsythebunny]

Exquisite, just exquisite.

[EmilyGreene1984]

Absolutely beautiful, such a gentle and floating rendition.