Maria Stuarda Contest - Edita Gruberova - Agnes Baltsa

[LaBartoliLover]

Is this performance on DVD

[LaBartoliLover]

Is agnas baltsa a soprano or mezzo??

[rrgallo]

Who was the tenor?

[Donizettimaniac]

To me Baltsa is the definitive ERI, but Pendatchanska also makes an absolutely thrilling Elisabetta.

[Rospaint]

"Baltsa a bad actress"?!!

OMG!

"Gruberova better"?!!

Simply no words.

[gustopheles]

These two were truly on par - Gruberova being the better actor, I suppose, but both terrific singers. Do you have this performance in its entirety?

[simisimi9]

BALTSA IS ( WAS? ) SUCH A BAD ACTRESS !!!!

[OperaMystery80]

Magnificent singing by Baltsa & Gruberova...this live performance shows them at their best, passionately committed to the dramatic life of the characters as well. It's great drama. Nevertheless, as good as Baltsa & Gruberova are, you can hear the off-stage man who feeds them the lines! It's very annoying. He even feeds them the entire confrontation of insult exchanges (Figlia impura, vil bastarda) and surely such intelligent/experienced opera singers like Baltsa & Gruberova don't need help!!

[thorhild49]

Baltsa was such a great singer and performer.

[bpicaud1]

The big complicity between the two artists is a real bonus for the public. They appreciate themselves and working together; that give this incredible performance.

[vinc1774]

Je pourrais mourir pour UNE représentation aussi exceptionnelle. La version studio est si ennuyeuse à côté du live. Deux grandes prêtresses qui prennent des risques ici, qui s'offrent entièrement. Le 'vil bastarda' fait tellement vrai, Baltsa crie ('noo'). Le studio est lisse à côté, manque de terribilita!

[avalokiteshivara]

baltsa é stupenda, superou a gruberova!

[WotansSpeer]

Baltsa is incredible!!!

[erreno]

good performance. but listen to Gencer for the most exquisite maria.

[AggiedeLampedusa]

Bastarda indeed! Gruberova wins but I fear she may lose her head.

[ezayi]

Coloraturafan... thanks for posting. This is Wonderful!

Wow... both, Baltsa and Gruberova were fantastic!

[ubedajils]

FAN-TAS-TI-CO

[ferrykalos]

Baltsa is superb.

[bellinicallas]

en que acto es esta escena y el aria como se llama????

[georgerannie]

This is the excitement of opera--burn the stage lights you two!!

[tetrazzini]

What a wild Elizabeth ! I love, such presence, my favourite mezzo in this role with Verett. Gruberova is great too, very dramatic, even I prefer a deeper voice in Maria. I know that's not really original but I prefer Gencer in this role.

Thanks for sharing so many treasures dear Coloraturafan

[WotansSpeer]

Baltsa and Gruberova are the best!!

[ferrykalos]

Wonderfull Baltsa.

[rrgallo]

who was Leicester?

[MastersoftheOpera]

This is really well done. Gruberova & Baltsa are expert bel canto sopranos and they truly did make the Mary Stewart/Queen Elisabeth I Confrontation Scene really electrifying. This is pure drama and sensational theater, just as opera ought to be. Very great scene- well sung and acted. The costumes and sets are splendid

[izzyt63]

Gruberova is just fabulous! The last note, by the way, was D.

[ezayi]

This is fabulous... except the tenor. My God, he sounds terrible!

[eradesso]

Baltsa 500!

Stunning, perhaps the best Elisabetta.

As usual I don't like Gruberova though.

[mikl45]

E viva la Baltsa!!!

[Mr01031962]

agnes baltsa a living godness

[DottoreJojo]

Fantastic!!!

[baltsabrasil]

Amazing Baltsa!

[NewJersey5858]

FANTASTIC

[MisterSoprano]

Wonderful! Gruberova's "bastarda" is so very dramatic, great, and than Baltsa comes with "guardie..."! Superb singing!

[gattoarancio]

Agnes è semplicemente stupenda! Che presenza scenica, temperamento, fraseggio... una vera fuoriclasse.

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Le due cantanti sono semplicemente fantastiche!

[CandyHaleLinton]

Very dramatic and stirring, I'm sure.....but beautiful singing?

[pianomags]

@CandyHaleLinton It's full-blooded, live, 3hr live opera, not a studio recording with many, many re-takes. Don't expect it to be something it's not.

[MarquisDePosa53]

This is one of my all time favourite opera scenes. Baltsa is an extraordinary Elisabeta, for my money Gencer was the greatest Maria

[geigestimme82]

Usually I am not a fan of Baltsa, but here she is absolutely amazing!! And Gruberova's high notes are thrilling as always!! Great video!!

[StevenLivesay]

YUMMY. this is my favorite, Baltsa is incredible here!

[rrgallo]

Who was leicester?

[asisecanta]

I think it was Francisco Araiza.

[vully70]

I don't think it is. Araiza was Baltsa's and Gruberova's Leicester in the studio recording.

I don't know who this tenor is.

[Rattywotin]

I meant Plowright performance of course, and I must say the more I hear Gruberova and Baltsa, I'm afraid the continentals have it!!

[Rattywotin]

The costumes and sets are almost the same as the ENO Baker , Harwood recording, it's a tough call!!

[gomongio]

I love Italian but in the case of this opera I prefer listening to it sung in English.... great rendition! bravo Baltsa here!

[SiEtIn1]

most surprising comment ever... my eyes widened so much now they won't return to their original shape

[SiEtIn1]

refering to gomongio's comment

[whatever456]

Baltsa is miraculous. The proverbial seamless legato, supremely elegant phrasing, one instrument from top to bottom, singing welded inseparably to characterization and a characterization that is infused with realism even in the overblown nonsense of early romanticism; She disappears into the character. A total triumph.

I try to like Gruberova. Maybe if I had heard her in the house, I'd be a fan. She is good here, but something about the way she comes in just under the tone is maddening.

[Iareto]

This is amazing!  Dramatically too! Agnes Baltsa has such a focus as an actress! It's amazing! And then the music. Wow. Absolutely incredibly music.

[boris1281]

No, there are certain parts in which Gruberova excells and Maria Stuarda is definitely one of these. I am not a great fan of hers, but this scene os fantastic and the pairing with Baltsa is nothing short of a mythical moment in opera. 5/5

[micioamilano]

I totally agree, I started to appreciate Gruberova's singing because of this role!!

[watchstone]

It is interesting to see these two together - both about the same age (Gruberova 2 years younger), both debuted the same year (1968). I actually think that Baltsa has the edge here (no pun intended); brilliant high notes (she outclasses most mezzos here), dramatic low notes. Brava!

[spsp2sp3sp3dsp3d2]

There is someone reciting the lines off stage in this video.

[operamusicfan]

Yes, the prompter is very loud.

[operamusicfan]

Can anyone tell me what the last note is? Is it an E?

[coloraturafan]

I think it is usually a D at the end of this scene (not written of course.)

[ezayi]

@operamusicfan It is a D. I guess you most know by now, :)

[birgitnilsson]

Ridiculous " the owl"....she never grasped what italian opera is about till these last years, wwhen her approach is better.ANd she is non existent as soon as Baltsa opens her mouth.

[oomidooo]

are you talking about edita gruberova?

[birgitnilsson]

Welll.....no, about Madonna.

[oomidooo]

aha, everything is clear now, but the fact you said, that she never grasped what italian opera is, is so subjective. and of course you know better than her what italian opera is all about, huh?

[birgitnilsson]

Of course I do, and better than you too

[oomidooo]

well well well, then I have nothing more to say:D:D a lil' bit of modesty would suit you better I think.

[rigole1982]

Who are you to judge an artist like Gruberova? such a pity!!

[33blueberries]

..no, you can definitely still hear her.

[operamusicfan]

I think Baltsa is the best Elisabetta. The voice just seems to flow out with no effort.

[baltsabaltsa]

Baltsa is a wondefull steric woman...passionate as a greek is....blood in vains always ready to explode....and in this role, what a wonderful part for her voice! She is the best Mezzo for me, till now! Love her and thanks for this piece of heaven you post here!

[tetrazzini]

What a passionnate siging, Balsta is so good acting, a bit hysteric but that's so perfect here !

[msasta]

We meet again; at such a fitting occasion. Baltsa - the best!

W.Burton

[robesz09]

It kills me!!!!:) BRAVI!!!

[Otellogv]

This is one of my favourite performance's of this opera ... thanks to Agnes Baltsa. Yes, she can be 'dramatic' but I think it's very theatrical. Every phrase is loaded with meaning. Gruberova is good although not a personal favourite. This is actually from Vienna in 1985 (not '89). Scoring 5/5

[a440nick]

God...Baltsa's voice makes me feel a little funny in my pants....amazing.

[cesare1906]

5/5very good ,both of them

[rawdonqueen]

This clip reminds me just how wonderful Baltsa was. 5/5

[ernestlow]

Thanks so much coloratura fan! So wonderful to have Baltsa at her exciting best! She is simply irreplaceable. Do you have clips of her Isabella and Charlotte from Vienna please?

[coloraturafan]

hmmm... actually, I think I do have her Vienna Werther somewhere.... give me some time to look. Something tells me on some old tape, or some old dvd it is sitting there.

[ernestlow]

How exciting! Thank you so much coloraturafan. I am very fond of Agnes and it is a pity that so little of her has been released on DVD. Thanks to you, we can relive her artistry again. Best wishes and good nite from Singapore.

[lumosmaxima]

Woah! a singaporean! how great to see singaporeans adore opera! anw, thanks for the stuarda contest, coloraturafan!

[Rootz62]

This is such a wonderful performance! There's also a CD recording featuring both Baltsa and Gruberova highly worth listening to. Simply fabulous! 5 out of 5!

[albertogrilo]

5/5 Brave

[lumosmaxima]

this would be great if not for the prompter... if you hear properly...

[ilovechocolatechip]

agreed - at first I thought there were just a lot of dramatic pauses, but then I listened more carefully. It really spoils the performance for me.

[tinyvoicedgheorghiu]

Not a fan of both ladies, but utterly convinced and excited. Thus 5/5.

[midlochblidloch]

balsta is fantastic (who is cecilia bartoli:P just kidding), so is gruberova. 5/5

[WoDeGe]

4/4.5

[BeauTenor]

Oh Baltsa is SO over the top. This is FABULOUS just because of her. Grubi sounds god too, although she's never been one of my absolute favorites. 5/5

[hotazzoperastud]

Damn this is some freakin singing! They are both wonderful here. Baltsa is just an animal. Awsome is the word. 5/5

[angelus2002]

Great scenery chewing from Baltsa.Brava.

I'd put her up there with my favourite Elisabeth- Rosalind plowright.

[ioSonoCallas]

La grande Agnes Baltsa, magistrale! On se croirait devant la véritable Elisabeth 1ère et on ne peux que s'agenouiller devant elle! Quant à Miss Gruby elle n'est pas en reste, loin de là, elle est toute aussi magistrale!

[liecrona]

Due Regine!!! due mostri sacri!!! due superbe ed agguerrite DEE del Belcanto!!!