Johan Botha - "Morgenlich leuchtend" - Meistersinger '08

[stevenchuehtaiwan]

03:00, der Mann lächle, weil Johan "des Parnass" falsch gesungen hat..^-^

[pointreyes6]

Not in Rene Kollo's class

[Nibelungenfrau]

Danke vielmals von Herzen für dieses schöne Video! Was für eine herrliche Stimme!!! Just beautiful.

[sartrific]

It's stopping and starting! What's wrong with Youtube?

[paulostroff99]

Superb.TY rexeterna for posting.

[Lampodoria]

Wunderbar, perfekt !

[XPRT10R]

Great singing. Especially of this aria! So damn hard

[bogorzelak]

Simply wonderful.

[neelyky]

Oh. Sorry, I was expecting a video of the South African right-arm offbreak bowler.

Oh well, nice music anyway.

Botha's a crap bowler anyway, a real chucker.

Not that this video has much to do with South African cricket.

[thegnomeidentity]

very nice. also, james king, heppner in his prime, and, of course, kollo. my sentimental favorite, for all his shortcomings, is windgassen.

[MrTaleron]

Eine wirklich sehr gute Interpretation

[shaun20483]

So proud of you, Johan!

[hedgechair]

Up to the best, I think, Urgent, impassioned and somehow innocent. Compare Peerce or Tucker. Not a pretty man I grant, but does not ghost or fillet his voice like Kaufmann, who thus seems to me to lose his authority and maleness. I have no status myself, bass- baritone; once reasonably bel canto, but now only "can belto"!

[nichtsleezy]

@hedgechair I really like your comment!!! I share the same sentiments about Kaufmann.

[Napoleontas]

I always get goosebumps when i hear this masterpiece

[unotenore]

Superb singing by Johan Botha!

Thank you!

[TsarBovov]

The conductor should be shot. 

[shaun20483]

This is wonderful! Matched only by an earlier recording of René Kollo. Bravo Johan! Makes me proud to be a South African. Wonderful acting by Ain Anger's Pogner, as well.

[shaun20483]

This is wonderful! Matched only by an earlier recording of René Kollo. Bravo Johan! Makes me proud to be a South African

[karifrid]

@shaun20483 I have a feeling that Kollo is a bit low in tone almost always.... I must listen if Kollo sings this in tune.... Botha has a beautiful voice......Great singer.....

[Chanteuredelopera]

Johan Botha is absolutely fantastic! A great singer and a great man, very humble and down to Earth. One of the best tenors today!

[ivelosthewilltolive]

Wait a minute -- this production actually has appealing sets & costumes. Shouldn't it have been set in a post-apocalyptic smoldering ruin, or something?

[johan52312]

Ich habe Bothas Werdegang beobachtet, er gehört zur den wenigen, die auch nach  Generationen zu den allerbesten gehören. Sensationell!

[karifrid]

I am putting a "video response" here with me singing this aria,(if rexeterna does not stop it). Some years ago,my teacher then,Stuart Kale,tenor said I should try some Wagner arias.Today they are easyer for me to sing so I wonder...Will I sing Wagner and Verdi 2013, the year they were born??? Kári Friðriksson ,karifrid on youtube. Che gelida manina,Di quella pira,O soave fanciulla,Chella mi creda,Esultate,Dies Bildniss,Dalla sua pace,La donna e mobile,O sole mio,Mamma quel vino,Mein Lieber Swan

[paulostroff99]

Excellent!  TY

[tenorismo]

He looks like he is wearing his Otello makeup. Put a blonde wig on him for craps sake.

[coryisawake]

By all outward appearances, Botha is not an intelligent or self-aware performer. His voice is well-suited to this role and many others, but he simply doesn't have the necessary heft to do justice to the majority of the roles he assumes (Otello, Radames, Don Carlo, Luigi, Canio, Siegmund).

By contrast, a singer of a similar voice type, Ben Heppner, is aware of his limitations and through judiciousness really shines in well-suited rep. Heppner dropped Otello and won't sing Siegmund, etc.

[dibladiblup]

@coryisawake Heppner will be singing Otello with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, WDR Radio Chorus under Daniel Harding this September in Baden-Baden, Luxemburg, Dortmund and Paris.

[tenore23]

@coryisawake That is a fallacy. Hepner has made his share of mistakes and has paid for it with a spotty high register.

[Chanteuredelopera]

@coryisawake Maybe you should let all the opera houses know! I think they may be unaware that someone of your expertise is lurking around somewhere unknown! Please phone La Scala etc ASAP. THEY NEED YOU! Ego is such a terrible thing...

[coryisawake]

@Chanteuredelopera My comment expresses an opinion that has evolved after years of objective observation; it was worded as such. It is something I stand by, believe and did not phrase in order to be hurtful. It did not call into question Botha's character, merely his artistic choices.

If you are to judge a singer's artistry by the engagements they garner alone, you might also be of the faction who vest opera's future in the hands of a certain Russian soprano or blind Tuscan tenor.

[Chanteuredelopera]

@coryisawake Are you a professional singer? Are you a performing artist in any way? Do you have any sort of musical education? If not then your assertions are a tad above your skill level. A singers artistry is not to be measured by the engagements they garner, by no means, however Mr Botha outclasses many of todays more published tenors by a mile and his artistry is of a very high quality, his acting skills may be lacking somewhat but vocally he is superb!

[opera10er]

this is one of the most gifted singers of the last 30 years. He can sing in a variety of styles, languages, and dynamics. My opinion is that his voice is best suited for German repertoire, but he sings the dramatic Italian roles very well. I dont care personally what he looks like, he tries to act and maintain a presence of the character onstage. Bravo Johan!

[thedridis]

Awesome- I really like this tenor.

[301250]

The best rendition of Walher preislied for all time....simply amazing

[karifrid]

I ,karifrid,put a video response to show operadirectors (in smaller operahouses)that I will (hopefully) grow to sing this soon. In meanwhile I can be useful as Riccardo,Cavaradossi,Il trovatore,Alfredo (Traviata) Edgardo (Lucia) ,The Duke ,Rodolfo ,Turiddo and even Radames. Also on youtube: Che gelida manina,O soave fanciulla,Di quella pira,La donna e mobile and many othher. Kári Friðriksson.(I KNOW THE TENORPARTS.)

[MusicismyheartXO]

name of soprano?

[diletantus]

Grandioso!

[dermotafan]

For me the voice and interpretation suffice. They are both beautifull.

[montallio]

Worldclass tenor. What do looks matter against such great skill and voice? Anyway, he looks fine to me, and he looks great when singing.

[justasondheimbaby]

with a voice like that he could be the size of a whale and I wouldn't love him any less. Botha is a god.

[jgdmol4l]

He was fantastic in the Aida performance at the Met...great tenor...and I dont think his acting was bad at all...overall it was a great performance from all of the singers.

[dunrob3]

I just saw Aida at the Met with Botha, Urmana and Zajik: great voices but so much fat on the stage is just plain disgusting. No credibility at all.

Why don't they follow D. Voigt's example?

[Agorante]

I'm going to hear two tenors in the next couple weeks - Florez and Botha - one slim, one fat. I wish Botha looked like Florez or perhaps Corelli (I'm sure he does too). But what are you going to do?

BTW this is a killer aria and Botha just tosses it off. Amazing.

[amonasro100]

dunrob 3

a evening at the opera is not a evening at the cat walk. Why are you not enjoying the music ?

[bcggx2]

they don't because D. Voigt is nothing but a shell of a once amazing voice...the heart is still there, but the is gone....as an obese opera singer myself...it is a battle that deserves patience...as I have lost 181lbs over the last two years..and still have about 60 to go...why is it so heard to revel in the joy and wonder of these singers artistry? Are they as healthy as we would ALL like them to be? No, but nevertheless...

[dunrob3]

It is said that opera is the ultimate artform because it brings together music, theatre and stage direction. The theatre part is as important as the other two. If an oversized actress were to play Juliet, the audience would laugh. Sorry but the same holds true of opera.

[pechorin1841]

i have to agree with you. For this reason i have to LISTEN to Pavarotti sing La Boheme because he is just not believable on stage playing a starving poet . Would any theater in the world cast an overweight woman as Carmen? No, looks do matter in opera. Female singers are held to a higher physical standard than the men but it should be the same across the board. If a person does not present a believable image of a character ON STAGE they should not be cast for the part.

[bcggx2]

I am sure they all have a yearning to lose the weight, but self-admittedly, it is a very long battle to conquer obesity. I'm not trying to attack you dunrob, I agree with you...just maybe a little perspective...would you rather you never heard this man's soul on stage just because he is fat?! Is art only in the aesthetic?

[Dondinin]

I guess you are joking, or never heard him live....

[rexeterna]

wow, signore tamagno you're back from the dead!

[AfroPoli]

Fat singer, thin and ugly voice. Drowsy conducting by Adolf Thielemann.

[loydwho]

wait you read that somewhere...:)

[Imogenn]

I don't know - for my taste too light for this role. Kein Held.

Lorenz had more heft.

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

Perfecto. conmovedor hasta las lagrimas. confieso que del "Meistersinger"solo conocia la obertura.... y ahora me encuentro con esas melodias amadas como una maravillosa cancion, la orquesta ,perfecta tambien.

[StuporMundi86]

Great! Please, post the finale of the opera!

[tnecklover]

This is music!

[aleesa6]

give credit to Thieleman for his restrained, dreamy, and mesmerizing influence on the orchestra

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

absolutely right, i agree.

[gratecourt]

Wonderful, stupendous, delightful.  Sounds like a god (after three acts) and looks like he's genuinely transported. No wonder the chorus looks so involved. Thanks so so much.

[BrianAbsolutely]

What a wonderful artist. There seems to be a wealth of good Wagnerian singers coming up. We have, of course, Voigt and Heppner. Botha, if he develops properly, is going to be (already is) a major player. I also am very taken by Robert Dean Smith, who reminds me a great deal of James King. He absolutely refuses to distort his voice when singing Wagner. So he's a bit lighter (like Botha) but it is so beautiful. And for those who don't like their looks, you have the depth of tissue paper!!

[kh3205]

Botha is excellent here, but he sounds much better in an actual opera house. Anyway, I saw him as Walter in NY. At first, some people were giggling probably because of his size. However, once he started to sing, all noises stopped. I hope that Botha keeps himself healthy and will sing for at least 25 more years.

[hchoff]

I concur ! I also heard him in New York, and as I felt that he had to quit the knight business because no horse could any longer carry him I was totally won over by his singing. He is the equal (at least) of Kollo, Winbergh and Vogt and after Domingo quit the role probably is the finest Lohengin today.

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

... en esa epoca a la batalla no iban caballitos de hipodromo , sino caballos fuertes como el percheron, capaces de llevar a un tipo con armadura.

[Torquemada0]

who the hell cares about what he looks like! vocally this is an excellent rendition. One of today's best Stolzings! Bravo!

[countceprano]

"who the hell cares about what he looks like!"

Thank you! This is opera, NOT soap opera. Let some of these idiots stand up and sing this with orchestra not only once, but at the end of 6 hours and try and sound close to this good! Fools.

[1401JSC]

With those costumes, it looks like a parody of "Albert Herring". 

[paulostroff99]

@Torquemada0 Agreed.Up there with the best half dozen or so versions ever.

[aguacun]

BUt sounds like one...

[stevenchuehtaiwan]

Ich weiße es nicht, warum ich ein meinstersingeres Fieber habe.

[shaun20483]

Sounding so fresh after a long evening! Brava Johan. Ek is baie trots op jou en is is daardeur 'n spoggerige Suid Afrikaner! Jy is 'n ware kulturele ikoon- mag al jou lewensdrome bewaarheid word. Sterkte en . . . wys hulle!

[Vairguy09]

Does anyone have James King singing this aria?

[rezila]

who sings eva?

[rexeterna]

ricarda merbeth

[AulicExclusiva]

@rexeterna She's lousy. But Botha sure can sing.

[btsg]

right you are mosifchi----this is really wonderful--i am glad he is doing so well in German--sounds lyric with a deceptive live volume.

[mosifchi]

This is fantastic. He sounds incredible. Who cares if he's a little overweight. This performance has made my day.

[tinobln21]

he is def. SINGING well. but alas! i cannot watch someone that size beeing a "junker" running out in the world beeing a rebel and look for "freiheit" standing on this rediculous small platform bending his knees and touching the shaky bar with his fat lil fingers. sorry! where is the overall impression of wagners "musiktheater"... ?

[Curatica]

There is certainly some truth in this comment. Unfortunately, most opera singers--men or women--get sooner or later sick with this desease. And they also tend to suffer from another ailment: they don't stay young forever :-). The platform is ridiculous indeed, but probably it wasn't his idea to climb up there.

[jackylen57]

Très jolie vidéo et quel plaisir d'entendre le ténor

Botha. il a une très belle voix !

Merci

[301250]

No matter how many times one listens to this, one can never get tired of it, so beautiful is the singing and set. If only we can see the rest.

[giacominifan]

What a pleasure to hear such a talented heldontenor with such a lyic line and beautiful tone.

[raith17611]

I love this!!! Botha is so good

[bigjimjag]

I saw Botha at the Met a few seasons ago in this very role...

[forallyouknow]

Who's that playing Pogner?

The singing here is really good... Better than most interpretations I've heard!

[rexeterna]

Pogner is Ain Anger.

[Vielflieger01]

Bravo!! no need to add more!

[301250]

Who is this fantastic soprano playing Eva here and also, Hans Sachs? Can someone tell, danke. sd goh (malaysia)

[rexeterna]

sachs is falk struckmann, eva is ricarda merberth.

[301250]

Thank you very much, rexeterna, though Fischer-Diskau is my favourite Sachs on Jochum's Die Meistersinger, but Struckmann is also very good here. But Merbeth, she is the best Eva of the lot! Beautiful voice & singing.

[Liwah]

Goh, this really is rather splendid like you said!

[301250]

Pity, Mo, it's only a sampler as the costumes, set and of course, Walther, Sachs AND EVA (what a discovery!)and the rest of this heavenly music are simply stupendous!

[DiIva73]

Super!!!!!!!!

[dick0447]

I saw Thielemann conduct Meistersinger at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin on New Years Eve, 2000. Brings back wonderful memories.

[dorotheafayne]

Wonderful. This is how I love to hear Wagner's music sung and performed. Thank you. Christian Thielemann is an exquisite and sensitive conductor! Dorothea :)

[medmai]

whow