Patti was a Famous bel canto singer known for her wonderfully pure voice that kept its freshness even in her later years, an Amazing evenness throughout a wide vocal range, and technical skill.
When comparing such great singer Patti with someone, please take into consideration not what you hear from this old recording that has no quality, just listen to her line, the equality of the line and you will understand that comparing DDD records today with that record is silly. I wonder how would sound today's singers on such old record, "shockingly bad"!
I think this is the most fascinating vocal recording of all times. Of course in the 20th century we had lots of great artists and divas, but when we listen to this we are projected directly in the 19th century, an age and a world that have disappeared but whose essence can be perceived just clicking "play". Patti's voice is the shadow of what it used to be, anyway the ruins of a exceptional monument are exceptional ruins.
Great rendition! To think she's 63! (Sutherland didn't even sound like this when she was in her 30s! But she was still great). The best... Only Callas' and Sayâo's versions rank higher for me.
When was the last time you got the pathos from the voice and didn't have to rely solely on the melody? This is easily the most moving rendition of this aria, Callas not excepted.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Why do these early recordings sound so awful ... I think anyone travelling in the past to the late 19th century hoping to hear great coloraturas woyuld have been sorely disappointed ... judging by what I've heard on Youtube
@hayyu2008 1) primitive acoustic recording. 2) no splicing, rarely any redos. 3) modern taste in interpretation and singing. Today we value warmth and rich overtones and “psychological” interpretation. Back than it was clarity and brilliance with theatrical panache. Those old singers were a lot closer to the source than today’s are. This is not to say that there are not wonderful singers today.
Thank you for this info. Patt;s voice even at her age and the primitive recording style was so beautiful and clear and she was a musicians musician. Wish I had heard her 20-30- years befor. She is IMO a super all-time great.
In the issue of "Opera News" March 2009 edition, there is an article by Peter G. Davis, titled "Awake and Sing" on the new Met production of La Sonnambula with Nathalie Dessay. According to this article, Adelina Patti is still regarded as one of the best interpreter of this aria "Ah, Non Credea Mirarti" despite the fact that she was 62 when she recorded it. Also named among the best interpretations of this aria are Luiza Tetrazini, Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and now Nathalie Dessay.
I respect Peter Davis, but to put Dessay in the same category as Tetrazzini, Callas, and Sutherland with respect to this aria, I think is charitable to say the least. I would certainly include Galli-Curci's interpretation and Sayao's, but not Dessay's.
Adelina Patti war mit Sicherheit, man kann nicht sagen die Größte, denn diese Göttinen des Gesanges waren allesamt untrennbar die Größten. Man kann diese Superlative nicht untereinander einstufen, denn sie übersteigen jede Klassifizierung. Pattis Aufnahmen sind leider nur auf Wachswalzen und Patti war ja auch schon sehr alt bei dieser Aufnahme.
Leider kennt man nicht mehr die Malibran,
denn da hat es noch nicht einmal Wachswalzen gegeben.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I dont know... may Im wrong but this is my opinion, its like an old piano, theres people that think an old piano sounds better than a new one but... its not like that, a new one is defenitly better than old one, humans are getting always better through years, I think modern sopranos sound better than old sopranos because its logical they are always perfecting techniques. however.. patti is always gonna be patti.
the saga for the old piano vs new piano continues..Ask many piano rebuilders! As for the great voices, technique has not come along such a far way...Few singers, if any, are technically more proficient than the great Nellie Melba..
This is the perfect interpretation for me. Somewhere dottywang says not even Tetrazzini surpassed it. Sadness, hopelessness, bewilderment are all there in this amazing performance. We can hardly disagree with Shaw and Verdi when they held her the best of all. I haven't got Galli-Curci, but I doubt I'd change my mind.
Of course, Patti's voice here is past its prime, with the transposition and the lunges at the high notes, but in terms interpretation, I must say, she's possibly the best, possibly even beating out Callas.
Her vivid communicativeness is there w/out the intense mania callas . wow listen to that gorgeous quiet trill. not fake sounding.she had a type of artistry that is not possible since age of mass communication.there is a soul here we dont encounter cannot encounter in our mad , mad age.i must find this galli-curci all he books talk about.I thought Ponselle and pons were the last words. this site is a grt resource!.thanks for posting this remarkable material!
No wonder Sembrich, Melba, Tetrazzini, and Gall-Curci (to a lesser extent) all worshipped Patti. Even Galli-Curci stated that she was fortunate her name had the same number of letters as Patti's! (It was originally Amelita Galli before her marriage to her first husband Luigi(?) Curci.)
What is so moving in this performance is the feeling Patti expresses in a pure, crystalline voice and bel canto style.
I've stated elsewhere that my favorite recording of this aria is Galli-Curci's; but, of course, Patti is well past her prime. One can only imagine what she sounded like in better days.
L'âge n'excuse pas tout...(2:50 et le reste...)
Quelques touches émotionnelles néanmoins...
abracadabranque 2 months ago
ha-ha, that's a joke, 3 people with no ears don't like Patti! An artist that was dear to Verdi's ear, can you imagine, PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
They dare to judge Patti! Good luck with your ear surgery!
rubyedelman 3 months ago
Adelina Patti(1843-1919)
was an Italian Opera soprano.
Patti was a Famous bel canto singer known for her wonderfully pure voice that kept its freshness even in her later years, an Amazing evenness throughout a wide vocal range, and technical skill.
Stupefacente!!! Thank you Operalal for posting.
MrGer2295 5 months ago
When comparing such great singer Patti with someone, please take into consideration not what you hear from this old recording that has no quality, just listen to her line, the equality of the line and you will understand that comparing DDD records today with that record is silly. I wonder how would sound today's singers on such old record, "shockingly bad"!
rubyedelman 8 months ago
I think this is the most fascinating vocal recording of all times. Of course in the 20th century we had lots of great artists and divas, but when we listen to this we are projected directly in the 19th century, an age and a world that have disappeared but whose essence can be perceived just clicking "play". Patti's voice is the shadow of what it used to be, anyway the ruins of a exceptional monument are exceptional ruins.
schaunard1 1 year ago
She was one of the greatest singers of all time, by far my favorite rendition of this piece.
rswalz 1 year ago
Great rendition! To think she's 63! (Sutherland didn't even sound like this when she was in her 30s! But she was still great). The best... Only Callas' and Sayâo's versions rank higher for me.
AOG93 1 year ago
When was the last time you got the pathos from the voice and didn't have to rely solely on the melody? This is easily the most moving rendition of this aria, Callas not excepted.
ChristophePhilippe 1 year ago
She is simply amazing.
If she could do that with a piano at the age of 63,one can imagine her with an orchestra at the age of 30..
gspichuni 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why do these early recordings sound so awful ... I think anyone travelling in the past to the late 19th century hoping to hear great coloraturas woyuld have been sorely disappointed ... judging by what I've heard on Youtube
hayyu2008 2 years ago
@hayyu2008 1) primitive acoustic recording. 2) no splicing, rarely any redos. 3) modern taste in interpretation and singing. Today we value warmth and rich overtones and “psychological” interpretation. Back than it was clarity and brilliance with theatrical panache. Those old singers were a lot closer to the source than today’s are. This is not to say that there are not wonderful singers today.
vdarte 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
horrible horrible horrible
thomastmwc 2 years ago
care to elaborate ??
Operalala 2 years ago
@thomastmwc Je dirais même plus: Abominaffreux!!!
Une énigme de l'histoire lyrique...
abracadabranque 1 year ago
@thomastmwc Just reckon that this was on a gramophone which means the worst quality ever. 1906. She was the best out of many.
MyArtIsLoved731 1 year ago
the singing is often praised, justly, but listen to how nicely the piano supports her
ciroalb3 2 years ago 4
Great, noble
bobon47 2 years ago 2
Verdi adored Patt when he heard her sing "Gilda" and thought she also had tremendous dramatic instincts. The voice is sooooooooooo warm and clear.
65attila 2 years ago 4
@65attila And He also said that Patti was the greatest Violetta.
AuthenticFeirce 2 years ago 2
@AuthenticFeirce
Thank you for this info. Patt;s voice even at her age and the primitive recording style was so beautiful and clear and she was a musicians musician. Wish I had heard her 20-30- years befor. She is IMO a super all-time great.
Regards-John
65attila 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
02:51 horrible!!!!!! No, it isn't perfect, not lyrical at all!!!!
thomastmwc 2 years ago
@thomastmwc You have no taste in music. Stupid!
AuthenticFeirce 2 years ago
:) thanks, Patti was awesome
thomastmwc 2 years ago 2
La grande Patti !
mariasarda 2 years ago 6
My favorite version.
operagodess78 2 years ago 4
In the issue of "Opera News" March 2009 edition, there is an article by Peter G. Davis, titled "Awake and Sing" on the new Met production of La Sonnambula with Nathalie Dessay. According to this article, Adelina Patti is still regarded as one of the best interpreter of this aria "Ah, Non Credea Mirarti" despite the fact that she was 62 when she recorded it. Also named among the best interpretations of this aria are Luiza Tetrazini, Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and now Nathalie Dessay.
markbargen 3 years ago 2
I respect Peter Davis, but to put Dessay in the same category as Tetrazzini, Callas, and Sutherland with respect to this aria, I think is charitable to say the least. I would certainly include Galli-Curci's interpretation and Sayao's, but not Dessay's.
meltzerboy 2 years ago 6
Adelina Patti war mit Sicherheit, man kann nicht sagen die Größte, denn diese Göttinen des Gesanges waren allesamt untrennbar die Größten. Man kann diese Superlative nicht untereinander einstufen, denn sie übersteigen jede Klassifizierung. Pattis Aufnahmen sind leider nur auf Wachswalzen und Patti war ja auch schon sehr alt bei dieser Aufnahme.
Leider kennt man nicht mehr die Malibran,
denn da hat es noch nicht einmal Wachswalzen gegeben.
WQ673 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I dont know... may Im wrong but this is my opinion, its like an old piano, theres people that think an old piano sounds better than a new one but... its not like that, a new one is defenitly better than old one, humans are getting always better through years, I think modern sopranos sound better than old sopranos because its logical they are always perfecting techniques. however.. patti is always gonna be patti.
lalikarl 3 years ago
the saga for the old piano vs new piano continues..Ask many piano rebuilders! As for the great voices, technique has not come along such a far way...Few singers, if any, are technically more proficient than the great Nellie Melba..
1citycouncil 3 years ago 3
Joan, possibly?
ChrisStockslager 2 years ago
This is the perfect interpretation for me. Somewhere dottywang says not even Tetrazzini surpassed it. Sadness, hopelessness, bewilderment are all there in this amazing performance. We can hardly disagree with Shaw and Verdi when they held her the best of all. I haven't got Galli-Curci, but I doubt I'd change my mind.
johnorford1931 3 years ago 4
Of course, Patti's voice here is past its prime, with the transposition and the lunges at the high notes, but in terms interpretation, I must say, she's possibly the best, possibly even beating out Callas.
VivaMariaCallas 3 years ago
Very well said!!
sjpflute 3 years ago
Her vivid communicativeness is there w/out the intense mania callas . wow listen to that gorgeous quiet trill. not fake sounding.she had a type of artistry that is not possible since age of mass communication.there is a soul here we dont encounter cannot encounter in our mad , mad age.i must find this galli-curci all he books talk about.I thought Ponselle and pons were the last words. this site is a grt resource!.thanks for posting this remarkable material!
lovesGenet 4 years ago 3
This is the best she ever recorded, so moving and different from the Mozart we listen to the last 60 years
jozefsterkens 4 years ago 2
I mean Bellini and her Batti, batti from Mozart
jozefsterkens 4 years ago
I very much agree!!
sjpflute 3 years ago
No wonder Sembrich, Melba, Tetrazzini, and Gall-Curci (to a lesser extent) all worshipped Patti. Even Galli-Curci stated that she was fortunate her name had the same number of letters as Patti's! (It was originally Amelita Galli before her marriage to her first husband Luigi(?) Curci.)
meltzerboy 4 years ago
What is so moving in this performance is the feeling Patti expresses in a pure, crystalline voice and bel canto style.
I've stated elsewhere that my favorite recording of this aria is Galli-Curci's; but, of course, Patti is well past her prime. One can only imagine what she sounded like in better days.
meltzerboy 4 years ago 3
There is somthing so moving about this recording of ths aria.
mrrk 4 years ago 5