Kathleen Battle - Una Voce Poco Fa - Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Rossini - Metropolitan Opera 1989

[skitzo429]

I dont ususally like sopranos in this role, but who could deny her, and her ornamentation is very original. She was insane though, and still is, I saw her in recital in 2011 and it was wild.

[pedrofribeiro]

@skitzo429 What's your problem?Did she insulted your mom? In her videos, you come only to insult her and disgust everybody else. Get a life, bastard! She's a spectacular artist, with perfect technique, highly acclaimed in everything she sings, stated by Time Magazine as "the best Lyric Coloratura in the world", sang for 2 popes, is the best performer of all time to many roles(Sophie, Pamina, Blondchen, Zerbinetta, Susanna, Semele, Zdenka, Cleopatra, Marie, Rosina...),while you're just an idiot.

[skitzo429]

@pedrofribeiro what the hell are you talking about? I havent said anything detracting from her singing, I told a TRUE story about when I (not you) saw her live LAST YEAR (at 63). You dont know anything about me, I have a music masters degree, watch yourself fool. You clearly have a wikipedia music education, since everything you just wrote came from her wikipedia article, and you clearly have no idea what youre talking about, your the one who needs a life.

[pedrofribeiro]

@skitzo429 I saw her in 2008 at Rio, and she was spectacular. Wikipedia music education? Please. I've read all the great literature regarding coloratura technique(Concone, Panofka, Vaccai, Lehmann, García, Tosi, Mancini, Viardot, Lamperti) and I'm also friends with some operatic scholars, from whom I've learned a little bit. What I wrote you is public knowledge, wich I assumed that you didn't have. I do know(quite a lot) of what I'm talking about, so if you want to argue, please, be my guest. =)

[skitzo429]

@pedrofribeiro theres nothing to argue about, I dont know what your problem is, I didnt say anything negative about her singing. Im not going to continue wasting my time talking to an internet troll like you that wants to start arguements over nothing.

[Poet2916]

Now, as a lyric mezzo-soprano, could I sing this? I was told this was a mezzo piece, but it seems like there are a few coloratura notes here and there.

[skitzo429]

@Poet2916 All Rossini roles for every voice type are coloratura roles.

[RonaldBarone]

is she the opera diva everybody calls bitch? just curious

[drewqq]

@RonaldBarone I have a friend who became a rather big opera singer and sang with Battle a few times. He said she wasnt so much a bitch as she was batshit crazy. She had issues. But what a talent.

[RonaldBarone]

@drewqq they all have issues lol

[spenzur]

@RonaldBarone HAHAHAHA xD lol

[skitzo429]

@RonaldBarone Yes, I saw her live last year and she threw a tantrum and refused to sing until a photographer was escorted out of the hall, shes still crazy.

[RonaldBarone]

@skitzo429 Maybe she forgot to take her pills. Bipolar is really a serious thing lol

[RonaldBarone]

@skitzo429 she could change to Una BITCH molto Fa lol

[skitzo429]

@RonaldBarone Im not convinced shes a bitch so much as shes just mentally unstable, when I saw her she went on 25 minutes late because first she demanded that no one be in the balcony of the hall because she wanted to keep an eye on them, then she demanded that they leave the house lights on, for the same reason, which was fine because I had bought the cheapest noseblead seats I could and then they moved me down into like the 3rd row, then she saw the photographer and had a tantrum.

[RonaldBarone]

@skitzo429 Ok Ok Ok... lets call it Una Loca molto Fa lol

[Poet2916]

I love opera and I've studied a lot about it (not showing off, I swear =D) about notes and staccato and vibrato etc etc and I swear she has the most colorful, free and beautiful vibrato and rolling R's I've ever heard..I love her timbre, it's very childish and light without being overbearing

one thing does bother me non-music wise, is her tan, is that just her skin or the makeup or what? she seems too dark to me...

[tinamarie1211]

@Poet2916 That's not a tan. Haha. Kathleen Battle is a black woman. Didn't you know?

[yesblanche]

@Poet2916 Kathleen Battle is African-American dear.....it isn't a "tan".

[Poet2916]

@yesblanche Boy, do I feel silly. I didn't know, since I haven't studied Kathleen Battle and I just happened to come upon this version after watching Maria Callas version

[yesblanche]

@Poet2916 her complexion does look lighter than usual in this particular video..but yes she is a fair skinned African-American singer and one of my favorites! I hope you have the opportunity to explore her work further...as you will read in the comments of any Battle video (to an obnoxious degree I might add) she had a number of professional issues and alleged nasty run-ins with management and colleagues...but all that aside her artistry speaks for itself.

[numetutelare]

Peccato che dal vivo la sua voce non arrivi alla terza fila... priva di chiaroscuri opaca al centro, per il resto buona vocalista.

[gabrivenere2008]

Sono senza parole x la sua bravura!!

[1969SL]

Cute as button and she sings like a dream,almost too much,wonderful performance,had to see it twice in a row

[hypatiafaerie]

I will never get tired of her voice. Absolutely stunning.

[red16327]

Brava!!! I love it!!

[PCSerialMom]

amazing indeed!

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

Phenomenal performance!

Where does the Met store such MASSIVE sets?

[Babs22h]

i love her cute entrance... she looks as if she almost trips coming in

[howluckyiam23]

I watch this video at least three times a week. loooove.

[Urcheon]

Yay! Amazing. Thank you for posting, it's useful!

[JasRichlovesLA]

Brava is right!

Well done!

I can't wait to get this on DVD!

[AbeokutaCity1]

Brava!!!!!!!!