Pavarotti masterclass 002

[theeoperaboy]

Pavarotti went on to have a relationship with this woman, so its probably not wrong to say he was flirting with her.

[theeoperaboy]

According to the book by his manager entitled "The King and I" I do not know from personal experience

[xpr1mnt]

Americans are too affraid of sex :)

[amadonna93]

How did you get the video recording of this? just wondering

[frunobulax88]

@rlane91 he is a sick bastard...

[howling2nite10]

@frunobulax88 how?

[mrawesome425]

Susan Mentzer should be tagged in this video. She's gone on to do such great things and I think it would be wonderful for people looking her up to find this video of her at such a young age singing so beautifully.

[Takken1256]

Of one thing I'm super convinced that Pavarotti knew very well who he was ... He knew that it was their Luciano Pavarotti. Translate with Google

[lenozzedifigarofan15]

she would go on to sing this at the met in 98 amazingly :)

[1AdrianR]

Sang this role perfectly at the Met in '98. Best Cherubino.

[Paciaecus]

@HaydnFan1732 you ownd yourself by saying the answer yourself.. by calling a piece for something, that's giving it a headline genius!.. xP

[BrainBonery]

Pavarotti was a great singer and one of my favorite opera singer, but he was able to teach. Poor Pavarotti, I'm sure he didn't like to teach but he had to do it.

[SuperKundry]

Susanne,

What a voice! I miss you, friend.

love, Rosemary

[bodiloto]

E per questo i giovani cantanti pagano?

Sono molto curioso quanto pagano,per cantare alla breve?

E ovvio che Pava e il suo pianista avevano fretta per andare al ristorante...

[EskimoAbby]

Oh my jeezum...  She's absolutely amazing! I'm working on this aria for school right now, this got me so excited to sing it!

She is the cutest Cherubino I've ever seen!

[31operafan]

:) She doesn't sound too bad. I mean, I am not too familiar with this piece, but she sounds good to me. That's just my opinion. Those who are better-acquainted with this aria may have a different opinion. 

[FreeSingingContest]

enter the free singing contest on our page.. prizes!

[HaydnFan1732]

He is stupid, im sorry. Non so piu is not a headline, it is just a tradition to call the aria by its first line.

[dvdtrr]

@HaydnFan1732 HOW DARE YOU! Y-O-U are stupid! Fucken moron, go sing in your shower!



[The22Opera]

the best

[sdertuipoil]

Luciano RULES!!!

[ryanlock2u]

The pianist killed the piece... she constantly was being drowned out. >:(

[SirGlennGould]

@ryanlock2u It's always we pianists isn' t it ? >:(

[thechinadesk]

@SirGlennGould

Accompanists, like screenwriters, "don't get no respect."

When a movie bombs, the reviewers all say "The actors did the best they could with a stinker of a script."

But when a movie is a blockbuster, the same reviewers never say "The writers enabled the stars to shine with a great script." They say "The actors brought the characters to life."

-- an erstwhile screenwriter

[AndyMajia]

@ryanlock2u yeah, right?!?

[ProRachStravinsKiev]

@ryanlock2u I believe it's the placement and quality of the recording device more than the pianist. Having accompanied many opera singers, I know it's difficult to drown them out, and the sound coming out of the piano doesn't seem more than forte (it just sounds amplified somehow through the recording process).

[kunfusinger]

Grande Maestro R.I.P. We miss you!!!

[Loejyrrab]

My God do I miss the big man's presence. Riposa in pace maestro!

[AndreaChenier1977]

grande maestro

[1AdrianR]

Mentzer was an incredible Cherubino in the Met 1998 production of Figaro with Bartoli, Terfel and Fleming

[ElSalvador50]

hahaha i like this class "you did so well, just sing me the name of the aria and get outta here" well deserved though, she did do a great job

[hkk321]

Wow, Mentzer! I've never seen a masterclass with a student who went on to become famous, other than some of Schwarzkopf's televised ones. Cool. Thanks for posting!

[brassmonkeyjew]

What song is this?

[Tangetastic]

You know shit's about to go down when Pavarotti starts conducting along with his pen ;)

But dear God. If he'd have complimented my voice like that I'd have just about died :D She really deserved it though, outstanding performance. It must be terrifying to be stood singing with Pavarotti watching you!

[31operafan]

@Tangetastic O_O You're right about that. I would try so hard not to shake while standing in front of him. That soprano was so brave.

[mrskinoti]

She's wonderful! Beautiful voice! Beautiful face! Brava! How lucky she was to have sung in front of Pavarotti and received advice!

[dawgluva15]

"you have a beautiful voice, sparkling, everything"

If Pavarotti said that to me, I would probably faint O.O

[sopranosd]

Is this the normal tempo for this aria? It seems frenetic. The music feels as if it doesn't settle, and then the slow part comes out of nowhere, and the whole piece does not cohere.

[saxonfield]

For sakes woman keep bloody still!!!

[thebananamonkey]

I'd fire a Cherubino that sung this standing still...

[aroncooker]

@thebananamonkey its a masterclass, not a production. Obviously she wouldnt stand there during the opera....

[GonzaloDeLaCruz14]

se ase el copado el gordp jajaj.. un groso en serio

[llamero]

jajaja, boludo, no sabes quien ha sido Pavarotti?

[deuc586]

that was...short...

[SweetFiness]

who said about flirting?  When did it happen?

[tissetatten]

where was the flirting? (i as a european as one of you comented) cannot se the flirting it just looks like a normal pleasent conversation.

[redgloria]

He introduced her as 'very beautiful' one of my teachers would never do that. Because its flirting.

[xilpix]

Lol, in Italy "la bella Susanna" (the beautiful Susanne) it is a way of saying, all the Susannes are beautiful for definition.

[Webarton]

thats definitely a soprano voice

[anonymusum]

There would have been a lot of work in the interpretation - but he does not want to do it or he does not hear it? Besides that Mozart wasn´t his real strenght and favourite composer.

[GREATWHITEish]

...like Pavarotti would need to flirt with dorks like this.....at the height of his career,,,,,cut me a break,.

[binglemarie42]

She's supposed to be a dork...it's a pants role!

[155altair]

wwoowoowow hermano q bien canta, me sorprendio la flaquita, pero parece q al pavarotti no le cenvence njejje pero si se le nota un poquito q le falta alma a la interpretacion y tecnica, debe ser q la mato no entendi nada pero parece q la mato pavarotti al final jajajja

[D9l3tt]

What does he say after "You have a beautiful voice" -- at 3:12 - "parting everything" ? what does this mean?

[binglemarie42]

I think it's "sparkling, everything."

[D9l3tt]

thanks. i was wondering, not being a singer, if 'parting' was a vocal technique

[raigekimaru]

to americans this might be flirting, but europeans would just consider it pleasant conversation.

PS: her voice is wonderful, a powerful lyric voice with unusual size.

[bookguy12000]

Never flirted before? What' s the big deal. lol.

[Minervas1968]

Bueno, todo el mundo se olvida...¿la gran Sussane Mentzer aquí?¡Fabulosa!Brava cantante!!Y bravo Pavarotti, desde luego!!

[fellinian]

Sorry, but in Italy every kid learn to be gentle with women and this is not to flirt.

However Pav was surprised to hear her, she had talent and is now a great singer. He told her to sing like e mezzo soprano, cos this is her registry and she made it.

[BradipoNinja]

He compliments with her because she understood his hints... that is NOT a flirting!

[ingoditrust2010]

Stupid fu....ing people misserables critisices everything and everyone , MJackson because of joung kids and now Pav flirting with a woman who is young but is an adult ..... Fu....ck offfff , wich one of you is perfect , idiots , ignorants .......Lo digo en ingles y espanol , no critiquen mas y miren en sus propios assholes miserables , siempre criticando al pobre MJ , ahora que si Pav complementando una joven bella dama , pobre mundo full of ratsssss

[mariachibuster]

vas pedo o que onda guei???? if you call that flirting you must be single hahaha

she's extremely good and for someone who understands music to see a young talent is a big satisfaction.

and what he said to her is spot on.

[CountryBoyJoina]

stop,rewind,playback,again and again, WHAT? WHAT DID SHE SAY

[RandomCoked]

how was that flirting...

[GosfordAbercrombie]

omg this is fast as hell!!!!

[CHOCSAVEPROB]

Amazing!

[bhoogren]

I think Mr Pavarotti was impressed with the maturity and quality of talent at her young age. Hitting on her? Why would it HAVE to be that?

[jenni4claire]

Probably because he has a reputation for being flirtatious to an Olympic standard. If they made it a sport, he could've charmed for Italy.

[opidacul]

really man if you had his status, you would not flirt with girls???? I know my thoughts in this situations would not have been so pure!!!!

[jenni4claire]

I think you are right- he seems to have missed nothing in this life he could possibly enjoy. But I disagree with you very slightly: I doubt it was his status that attracted women to him so much as just being irresistably funny, smart and terribly passionate about his art.

These must be among the most attractive qualities a man can have.

[opidacul]

I understand he was a charming man and THAT was the thing that attracted lady s. and I can see in the way he talks in the masterclasses he was an honest human being. I do not doubt he was funny smart and terribly passionate about his art. the thing is many here are "questioning" his flirts. I say .... hey basically he was a man!!! and I know what this mean... I don't think he was rude at all.... he just was a man admiring the beautiful in women.... my point is give the guy a break, he was a man!

[jenni4claire]

I don't think any sensible person would criticise him for a bit of harmless flirting- its not as if he is harassing any one.

[leadoffeohippus]

She's skating a little haha, but very nice voice.

[personwithaname123]

Mozarella!

[Agnetich]

She is so...sparkling:)))

Brava, bella Susanna!:)))

[chepurociel620]

She fits to Cherubino's role perfectly! She can play it without characterization :)

[crazycoffeeoperaguy]

Great early recording of Susan Mentzer! I saw her at the Met in 2000 singing Cherubino. she was stellar!

[Fluzza89]

L'italiano è l'italiano.... italia rules in the world

[Silvio823]

L'italiano è l'italiano... Mafioso, Rubatore, ultimo !

[benanescas]

anche l'ignorante è ignorante.

[bookkeeper57]

He did not hit on her at all: very nice professional distance. He told her to punch up the title line, complimented her on the rest of it, gave her a useful comment about her soprano range and told her she and her delivery were well suited to the song and its mood. Listen carefully. BTW: Luciano was married twice. Able to appreciate a pretty woman, but always refined.

[jenni4claire]

I didn't think he was hitting on her either, he just seems to be laughing at himself for not being 22 any more.

[Arsace83]

"non so più cosa son cosa faccio" aria di Cherubino from Le Nozze di Figaro di Mozart

[tittaslan]

What aria is this?

[kunfusinger]

She was so cute!!!! mamacita rica!!!

[krausista1]

It´s so clear,please, he laugh like thinking...wow !!! She is pretty lucky..I wished to be 22 years old too....

[loveluciano1]

the debate about the real reason of pavarotti's laugh can continue forever, because we don't know really the reason. i still not convinced about what you told me, but let keep that as it is, a mystery.

[avth76]

don't know....the first thing that came to my mind when i watched this was....well, Luciano liked the ladies.

C'mon folks put 2 and 2 together here....or 6 and 9....whatever... :)

[loveluciano1]

I don't think so, although i believe too that he liked this lady and why not? she beautiful and sung very good.

[avth76]

yes, and i don't mean it in a disrespectful way. She's pretty and young....he may be giggling like a boy who sees a cute girl....that's all.

i mean, he was italian for god's sake...*LOL*

[violaplayer1995]

lol!

[gigies007]

6 and 9 jajajaja

[jenni4claire]

Probably! I had not thought of that: he could be laughing at himself, as he keeps stumbling over the American names.

There is something utterly charming about it, whatever the reason for it.

[loveluciano1]

yes you are right, there is something charming about luciano's laughing. but is doesn't matter what is the really reason why he laughing. he himself, all of him is charm.

[Cirifischio88]

Well, Schtehschneider is really very hard to spell for an italian, but not Mentzer.

He laught cos she is so young, while his prime is going away.She is so young and fresh, "la bella Susanna".

[Cirifischio88]

He says: "23 years old" an then he laughts.

The tz combination isn't in italian, but it is easy to spell the name like Menzer, simply.

[edraith]

Ehm, in italian WE DO HAVE the "tz" combination....

[Shadia851]

who´s that girl?

[sedahedonja]

Susanne Mentzer, she really "became" a soprano after and u can find her on several cds and dvds...

[Cirifischio88]

Mezzo soprano, as Pavarotti say to her in the clip.

[boomsloot]

I hate soprano's singing this aria. Cherobino is a teenager. This girl UNDERSTANDS perfect what the aria is all about. BUT....EASY please! it is not an intercity train. She should listen to Von Stade and learn from her!

[Shadia851]

do you know,who she is?

[Shadia851]

oh sure suzanne mentzer

[fakespotter]

hmm not sure but my fakemeter detects some fake in this vid

[jenni4claire]

I thinks its his toupee setting off your alarm. Everything else seems pretty legit to me. You don't suppose that she's lip-synching, and its really Pav singing that for her?

[jenni4claire]

Why does he laugh when he says 'she is 22 years old'? Is 22 much too young?

[Mortimer123]

It's reflection on the passage of time and his own advancing age.

[jenni4claire]

Ah. Thought as much but then I wondered. What would be the usual age for a soprano to make her debut?

[Jussijoosua]

It all depends. Karita Mattila was 21 when she won a major national competition in Finland and 23 when she won the first BBC Singer of the World-competition which launched her international career. But there are also sopranos who have made their debuts much older. Another Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski was close to 30 when she won the same national competition Mattila won few years before.

[kungura]

And yes, 22 is far to young for the voice to endure heavy opera (for both men and women, the voice is still maturing till mid-late 20's)

[Yoni89]

men's voices mid to late 30's.

[boomsloot]

Cause He wants to be 22 again, or he is just making a sexual remark to her.

[jenni4claire]

As a chat up line, it needs work.

I prefer the idea that he is thinking of himself at 22 and how long ago it seems. Not sure why it struck me so.

[asisecanta]

Is she still singing nowdays?

[LilliVanessi]

Yes, she has fx sung in Salzburg and at the MET. My favorite mezzo. :)

[jonburns82]

the pianist plays very loud

[GenerVista]

at the time of this recording, her breathing is not long enough to cover the words, kind of just glide over some words. But such a beautiful voice and showmanship, by now, I'm sure she had perfected this song.

[FrootLoopKicker]

It is wonderful now! There is a great recording of her signing Cherubino in Figaro with Carol Vaness.

[drewski67]

I don't know if this was mentioned, but in Herbert Breslin's book 'The King and I' (a MUST read, btw) he mentions that Pav had NO idea what to tell her because in addition to her singing it wonderfully, he didn't know the aria nor the opera LOL. So he just commented on her diction.

[javiermsch]

Evidently, Pavarotti knows the aria. Just listen to him singing it, when he makes the correction, and when he directs with his pencil as a baton. In any case, Susanne Mentzer sings wonderfully Non so piu...

[bw2082]

no way he was not know the opera or the aria. The Marriage of Figaro is one of the cornerstones of classical opera.

[viviananderson]

Watch his direction at 2:43. He definitely knows the aria. Plus, it's from the Marriage of Figaro-one of the most famous operas of all time!

[xilpix]

Pavarotti knew the aria, only she was almost perfect.

Brava Susan.

[Kafkandinsky]

You're giving too much credit to a "tabloid" book. I guess he wouldn't say good things about him after the way they terminated the contract.

[some1tookmynick]

Oh, Pavarotti, what a lovely person! He just seems so kind and sweet; I wish I'd met him!

And Mentzer is so young and thin here =)

This is great, thanks for posting!

RIP, Pavarotti!

[slobone]

Ow, way way way too fast. I don't know if the tempo was her idea or the accompanist's, but it didn't allow her to bring out the nuances of the song. P. was being kind because she has a lovely voice, but if I heard this in the theater I'd be leafing through my program I think.

[daffodilnyc]

I believe the "accompanist" is the great John Wustman. A fabulous artist in his own right.

[marjokin]

Yes, you are right.

[marjokin]

I believe the "accompanist" is the great John Wustman. A fabulous artist in his own right.

Yes, you are right. Sorry my earlier reply didn't make it clear what I was responding to. I remember well, watching these Master Classes when they were originally broadcast. I saw John Wustman in Carbondale, Illinois, in the 80's, but not with Luciano!

[caitlinette]

She's great!! She moves around quite a lot when she sings, though.

[greve]

Now looking at this makes one feel very sad - because of the loss.

[pulpo1972]

thanks for your generosity, Luciano. will miss you

[lamezzoenfrancais]

OMIGAD! It's Susanne Mentzer!

I saw her with Cecilia and Renee in this role!

[aleduffoo]

could you possibly tell me the date of this?

[Kafkandinsky]

A simple math solution can solve your problem. Mrs Mentzer is 22 years old. Check her date of birth and actual age and you'l get the year of this show :P

[aleduffoo]

yeah.. of course i had done it before.. but in her biographies don't appear his birthday, for this reason i asked the date of this to know her age..

[Kafkandinsky]

after a simple google search:

Date of Birth:

21 January 1957, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

so 50 years old

[Kafkandinsky]

forgot to include the source:

found it at imdb site

[aleduffoo]

oh so kind of you.. thanx!

[Logan25]

charming, fantastic :)

[flyskyairflair]

wow her voice sounds like a bird's

[LilliVanessi]

Susanne Mentzer is my favourite mezzo. I've seen her as Cherubino and as Octavian and she was just fabulous. Her voice is unique.

[sandrik100]

Oh Luciano Pavarotti is so lovely here:)!

[drsolus]

Pretty good for 22. Passable interpretation, but not yet good.

[mdcam89]

just curious...what would you have her do better in order to get "good"? I thought the voice overall was very resonant and sparkling...

[vickersman]

remember drsolus is an expert at 19, the age he offers in his YouTube profile-ah the wisdom of youth!

[ah332]

wow, shut up. its so obvious you are talking out of your ass.

[Jaaakob]

god what bullshit

[Jsizzle4life]

I went to school (Juilliard) with her. Looking back on this recording, she as well as others from her class range @ Juilliard (Hei Kyung Hong, Rene Fleming, etc)we clearly destined for greatness. It seems to me that these wonderfully talented people, whereas they had to mature further vocally and artistically, were born ready for greatness. Not all of us were. Some of us who were, never actually made it as it is a very tough business. God bless them all.

[andreatrusty]

I'm so glad she is teaching at Rice University now. What a great resource. Not only does she sound fabulous here in this video, but she still sings the pants off this aria.

[silveractress]

This is great!  I wish I could have done a Masterclass with him!

I love how he only had one thing he thought should be worked on. Lucky and talented her.

[1laboheme]

Wow she's going to be Despina this summer in Santa Fe, I'm gonna really try and see it now!!!

[jasmineblossom84]

she's coming to santa fe?? YAY!

[blakemooney]

Another great voice offering pearls of wisdom to the young student and sometimes to the professional...but all singers are students for life. Bravo Pavarotti! You are a generous man

[fernandoclassic]

Amazing to see Ms. Mentzer during her student years! Wonderful! THank you so much for sharing this! Fantastic