By the way anyone know what aria she was singing ? She was singing in English and it sounds like the words were "one hastened to my side". Maybe it was from the Samuel Barber Cleopatra in which she opened the new Met in the mid 60's ?
Houston and Price - are you out of your mind - they should not be in the same sentence! Ms. Price is just awesome! What a voice that has not changed but for the better overtime. Now that is a trained voice - hitting all kinds of notes with ease. Just beautiful!
looker786 - I assume you are referring to Whitney Houston? Sorry, but she shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Price. She could never even hope to come close, but I'm sure she knows that
@looker768 Whitney??? I assume you mean Whitney Houston? Sorry, she shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Price. They are leagues apart.
Yes! She took a good care of her voice and play the roles that fit her personality, feelings and even secret cryes.We can consider her as a WHOLE person! She never said "bye" to the strongs works of Puccini and Verdi:It´s hard? Here I am to SING it! All the time Brava Dame Price!
@tCrOMez1990 Think you are getting confused with names. Maria Callas was known as La Divina and Dame Joan as La Stupenda. The term diva was more associated with the silent screen actresses like Gloria Swanson. Opera singers, including Maria Callas were sometimes called prima donnas, which she was also called. Diva in the singing sense is fairly recent.
I am SO glad I saw this. For the longest time now, I did not know if she could still sing due to her advanced age, but obviously she's still got it! Thanks for the upload!
No puede ser que aún conserve semejante voz a su edad, 81 años!!!!!!!!!!, es increible, un fenómeno de la naturaleza, Leontine Price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!INCREIBLE!!!!!!!!1
The little girl who grew up in a pre-civil-rights world in Laurel, Mississippi...all grown up and being feted in New York City y'all.... Who says there is no God?
Im tellin you, Ol' Girl shut if down!!!...I mean for the Love of Christ, she's a thousand years old and she can sing circles around your Beyonce's and Streisands.!!!...LOL...it must be nice, being her...lol
I am COMPLETELY convinced that Leontyne Price isnt human...I believe she's from another planet. She has kept her instrument in impeccable condition. And there are any number of singers out here today that should take a seat with her and take notes on how to REALLY sing.
This is perfection...understanding your gift...appreciating your gift...being a good steward over your gift...and living a good life...WHAT AN EXAMPLE!!!
trust me, shes met the presidnet or will based on their schedules. No way will a 81 yr old woman of color and struggle and gift not met Pres. Obama. yes, he would be in ahh and smiling respectfully but she would be smiling at him for his achievement, 2. If you dont understand...then its not for you to understand. Same respect she would have for mariah...progress in body of the blk community, big or small.
Serious music? That's an archaic term. If it takes time and effort to achieve, and isn't being played by a machine, it's all serious music especially if it speaks to the heart, right?
And, Please tell me what did Strauss, Bellini or any of the operatic composers intend? I would LOVE to hear it.
LOK. Sure Strauss and Bellini have written their music out in sheet music form. This very clearly expresses exactly the way they want their music performed. People like Carey make a total mockery of the composer's intentions, simply for cheap commercial gimmicry.
swanning- . I just put the sheet music of Debussy's Deux Arabesque to my ear and I couldn't hear A THING! Take a symphony played by two different orchestra's and I would bet my last money it will NOT sound the same. Sheet music is the tool used to 'memorize' the notes. THEN we learn how to 'express' it. Then there's the conductor's interpretation. Itzhak Perlman will you tell you the same thing. Truth is you don't know what the Composer intended or if they'd appreciate Carey's version or not.
szhooper. Leontyne is no Diva. This ios a term to describe pop celebrities like Mariah Carey, who people in the US call the greatest ever singer. Fellow singer Kiri Te Kanawa, who also sings in a similar way to Leontyne calls them "divers". Leontyne is no trashy pop queen. She is an operatic soprano who sings beautifully. She may not have the vaunted range of the pop celebs, like Mariah Carey, who according to her fans in the US sings higher than anyone. However, she does sound a lot nicer.
OOPS! Someone must have flunked english class. You have got the term right but not the meaning. Divas are NOT popular singers only Opera singers! The term has been watered down to include those who dont sing opera nor have the talent to sing (ie Mariah Carey and the like) due to the exposure this planet has from the internet and hip-hop culture.
RRydnew. Interesting. I agree that the word has different means in different countries. In the United States, it means singers like Beyonce. In Germany, it can apply to actresses like Sophia Loren. In France, it does apply to opera singers such as Rosa Ponselle. In Australia, it is a woman who is self centered.
You must be young or just misinformed. Divas are Opera singers! the Pop World stole the phrase. Divas have always applied to opera singers and diva ballerinas. NOT the pop world!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
fierce. Diva is a term reserved mainly for black celebrities like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Maria Callas was called La Divina. That is where you are getting confused I think. Kiri Te Kanawa, an operatic singer, has often derided the term calling the "divers" and associating it with American Idol, which she despises. Top Ballerinas are called Etoiles, Assolutas, Primas, Principals, never dvas.
@swanningaround well actually Maria Callas was the first real "Diva" of any music genre, because she was almost a "goddess" in her magnetic fame in the 50's and 60's. Joan Sutherland was thought of as the next big Diva, the phrase originated in opera, but became more of a "popularity" thing within the pop world, and had almost nothing to do, initially, with their " outer-worldly ability"
Whatever she was just a "woman" with charisma that had a great voice, not a goddess. And everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Who are you to tell people who's 1st, 2nd, 3rd diva...ridiculous..there are so many people that stay undiscovered and people need to stop worshipping human beings....
@mimijo79First of all nobody is rating Diva's first second and third based on their talent, but solely on the time period in which they were relevant, and I do not worship Maria Callas, I was pointy out that Diva means "Goddess". I appreciated her art, but to worship another human would be hypocritical to my own religion. while I agree that there are very many people who stay undiscovered, these individuals have worked hard, and that is why I "Appreciate" their art, I do not worship it or them
diva was termed for opera singers like miss price...........who would blow mariah out the water even at her age. if you heard mariah say that she was so shocked and honored that miss price knew who she was at the legends ball.
Aikan74. I would be surprised at that. Mariah Carey's fans say that she is th greatest singer and composer ever. That puts her in a very exalted place, considering that Caruso and Mozart are below her. I think that is what a diva is - a real big showoff.
mariah's fans............usually a bunch of kids.............i grew up on and love mariah........but mariah can't hold a candle to whitney.............mariah has a great voice.......great songwriter................but she is no song stylist. mariah could not hold a stage with miss price, who happens to be a big fan of mariah.
@swanningaround um ... diva is a term to describe opera singers that was extended to singers like whitney houston and mariah carey and celine dion in the late eighties/early nineties and then to other past and present pop-singers, but it originally/still does refer to operatic prima donnas
@Randalina1 Strange. I never heard of this term in opera. As you say, "prima donna" is the term used to describe opera roles, such as the great Adelina Patti who was called "prima donna assoluta e sola". The first singer to be called a diva was Sarah Bernhardt, who was called "the Devine Sarah".
@swanningaround Have you noticed that Mariah has no middle range????LOL She yells through the lower range and then hits her so called "wistle register". My ears hurt listening to this woman - I think she is absolutely terrible!
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black tenor: also a first.
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
@szhooper I love Callas more than anything but I have to agree ... nobody can beat this woman... she is amazing... 81 and still able to make that quality of sound
How impressing and sad to observe that singers who HAVE a true vocal technique are 80 or are dead. It's not the comparison with Britney Spears, but with actually staging singers of our years that makes me worried.
OMG. Leontyne is well into her 80's and she still sounds like this? I still get goosebumps when this woman opens her mouth even at her age! Nothing but God and hard work in that instrument!
Le timbre gorgé de soleil, plein, rond, ambré est toujours là et les notes, toujours aussi aisées... Cette grande Dame est un phénomène de longévité, de santé et de jeunesse. Mme Price, vous êtes éternelle !!!!!!!!!
Quant à vous, mesdemoiselles, allez toutes vous rhabiller avec vos 20 ans !!!
Well Renee is not Leontyne Price! Even Renee in her biography "The Inner Voice" openly admitted that Leontyne was the superior singer and an inspiration for her as a young singer...Leontyne SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION.. I won't let it go...every major African American celebrity should have been there! It was a victory that even Martin Luther King himself didn' even dream of....
Have you all ever given thought to the fact that perhaps Miss Price may have been invited and decided not to attend? She's 80+ years old. Aretha Franklin spoke of how cold it was that morning and how it took away from her ability to perform freely. Remember that Miss Price wasn't a participant in Jimmy Levine's anniversary (or was it his birthday?) concert some years ago at the MET. Have you thought of why? Maybe she just decided to keep him in her prayers, and watch from her sofa.
Leontyne stayed home because if she would have been there she would have taken the spotlight away from Obama and she didn't want to upstage him on his big day.
She would not have outstaged him but it would have been nice for an African American opera icon like Leontyne to sing at least one song (especially a very moving/emotional song like a Gospel song etc) and it would have been nice to see Obama hug Leontyne!
folks seem to forget that miss price is a southern black woman whose musical roots is gospel. like jessye norman and kathleen battle. yes leontyne price IS gospel!
Aikan74. The difference is that Leontyne attempts to sing the music as it should be sung, in the correct language and not changing the composer's original intention. Carey tends to put a gospel and pop spin on serious music.
I am surpised that Leontyne is a fan of Mariah's. That upsets me quite a bit. I find Mariah and her fans to be quite boastful and act sometimes like - divas.
I agree. What do I remember about Clinton's first inauguration? Marilyn Horne singing. Clinton's second? Jessye Norman singing. I was so excited that my candidiate won....but in the end it was about the DIVAS.
More like it was that she would have been "slumming" being seen with Obama. He would have used her shamelessly for photo ops and sound bytes. It would have been demeaning for the Diva
Yes, that's very true...she's still alive and well and in recent years after 2000 so many singers of great status have died - Anna Moffo, Birgit Nilsson, Beverly Sills, Luciano Pavarotti...singers that Leontyne had known in person...how tragic it must have been for her to see so many colleagues die!
People...she sang a high A-natural and did a beautiful diminuendo on the final D-natural...the voice is fresher, more beautiful and steadier than most sopranos a third of her age singing today. Bravissima diva!
Recordings don't tell everything. Quality, size of voice, character, integrity, movement & the effect on an audience need describing too. Have you heard a great performance by this singer live, without a mic? If so please post an objective description to add the wonderful YouTube archive before the memory is lost for ever.
How I wish I could have been there to hear Farinelli entrance an audience with the power of a single note, but we do at least have Charles Burney's marvellous account.
this is not true beyonce is a very hard worker and has incredible talent . Yes La Price is truly Priceless but don't diminish the talents of this time especially in a totally different genre of music
Leontyne did NOT sing at Obama's Inauguration or even made it to D.C. right ? I'm very upset about that..instead they had Beyonce and other stupid young artists singing...
Wow she still has it!!! She is one of the greatest opera singers ever!!! I can barely listen to other sopranos anymore after being spoiled by Leontyne.
This is one of the original living legends of oprah no matter what age she is she will allways be one of the few black oprah singers who have paved the way for many more to come FLAWLESS AS USUAL EVEN FOR 80 GET INTO IT
What do you mean too late ((((? She is a great singer, it was slightly out of tune in beginning of the phrase and Im sure nobody care about what we are talking about(((.
the fact that she's dodged vocal-deterioration should be praised not criticized... especially when you seem to be the only one to find flaws in that performance...
tears. OMG every singer of color owes her so uch, but just to hear her sing again..to hear her pull the note back and raise the eyebrow (i steal from her) Words cannot express! Thanks you for sharing with us!
I said this before on another video, but her voice is the only sound I want to hear during the last few moments of my life if at all possible.
Thank you Onegin65 and everyone else who who uploaded the Leontyne Price videos here on YouTube! Besides a few CDs, I would have known how great she really is. At my young age of 30, I am very thankful to be able to experience not only recordings from 40+ years ago, but hear her NOW.
The Only thing wrong with this is it's to short
fpngan 1 month ago
Amazing
Thorneycroft1937 1 month ago
Holy shit. There's just nothing like her out there at all. Nothing.
amarantaviera 1 month ago
Diva is as a Diva sings. At that age and still sings well. She can put the young girls to shame, Long live the one and only Leontyne.
aretha8196 3 months ago 4
OMG...speechless!!!! She was 81 and singing like that!?! DIVA...AN angel from GOD
citygurl81 3 months ago 3
For cryin' out loud, that woman will never cease to amaze me. She has taken flawless care of her pipes....
MisterCrazyLegs 4 months ago
Just incredible... she's gorgeous
AleksandraPlamenac 4 months ago
By the way anyone know what aria she was singing ? She was singing in English and it sounds like the words were "one hastened to my side". Maybe it was from the Samuel Barber Cleopatra in which she opened the new Met in the mid 60's ?
OperaMystery80 4 months ago
This is proof that if your take care of your vocal instrument - it will last well into your eighties. Divas of today please take note.
DestinyDreamVision 5 months ago 4
Saaaang!!!!
esquire2K11 5 months ago
She is just.... awe inspiring.
HelenaParthenos 5 months ago
amaaayzing.
ShawDAMAN 6 months ago
Unbelievable - this lady is something else and probably the greatest opera singer who ever lived. Well she is in my eyes. Love her to bits.
SongsforRex 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
She looks good for her age.
luciano9009 7 months ago
Amazing!
NapturallyBee 10 months ago
Houston and Price - are you out of your mind - they should not be in the same sentence! Ms. Price is just awesome! What a voice that has not changed but for the better overtime. Now that is a trained voice - hitting all kinds of notes with ease. Just beautiful!
gene1536 11 months ago 3
I simply don't get it. Her voice aged NOTHING.
flicfan416 1 year ago 8
very, very impressive!!
ShawDAMAN 1 year ago
God bless her!...Im in tears!...BRAVA BRAVA ENCORE ENCORE!!!!!!!
SusanSusaw 1 year ago
looker786 - I assume you are referring to Whitney Houston? Sorry, but she shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Price. She could never even hope to come close, but I'm sure she knows that
queenslanddiva 1 year ago 5
@queenslanddiva No punt intended towards Ms Houston but to compare her with the Genius that are Mrs Price would be an insult to both.
Sadiesexy 1 year ago 5
great))))))
pikovez 1 year ago
2008!?!?!?! at 81!?!?! omg! Whitney get your act together!
looker768 1 year ago
@looker768 Whitney??? I assume you mean Whitney Houston? Sorry, she shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Price. They are leagues apart.
queenslanddiva 1 year ago
Wow.
daamqc 1 year ago
That's Amazing!
She's 81 Years Old & Her Voice Is Still There, Most Ppl As They Get Older Lose Alot Of Their Range. Especially Women, She's Phenomenal!
SoFulStar 1 year ago
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh oh OMG, She still got it!
God has truly blessed her.
MartialVidz 1 year ago
Yes! She took a good care of her voice and play the roles that fit her personality, feelings and even secret cryes.We can consider her as a WHOLE person! She never said "bye" to the strongs works of Puccini and Verdi:It´s hard? Here I am to SING it! All the time Brava Dame Price!
liriango 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@tCrOMez1990 Think you are getting confused with names. Maria Callas was known as La Divina and Dame Joan as La Stupenda. The term diva was more associated with the silent screen actresses like Gloria Swanson. Opera singers, including Maria Callas were sometimes called prima donnas, which she was also called. Diva in the singing sense is fairly recent.
obit (no diva):
nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1202.html
swanningaround 1 year ago
Beautiful Lady. Period.
sparklingMedea 1 year ago
i totally love her "thank you" at the very end =)
amermenno 1 year ago
I am SO glad I saw this. For the longest time now, I did not know if she could still sing due to her advanced age, but obviously she's still got it! Thanks for the upload!
joshuathemusician 1 year ago
No puede ser que aún conserve semejante voz a su edad, 81 años!!!!!!!!!!, es increible, un fenómeno de la naturaleza, Leontine Price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!INCREIBLE!!!!!!!!1
tenorspinto 1 year ago 4
The little girl who grew up in a pre-civil-rights world in Laurel, Mississippi...all grown up and being feted in New York City y'all.... Who says there is no God?
soarway99 1 year ago 4
A LEGEND!
infiniteblaq08 1 year ago 2
T_T T'AMO LEONTYNE PRICE!
bellinicallas 1 year ago 2
Makes no damn sense. I love you, Ms. Price!!
leadingbyxample 1 year ago
DAMN! she can blow!
breakaliciouskid786 1 year ago
my god
AdrianPardo06 1 year ago
GOOOSEBUMPS her voice is SOO glorious I cry everytime I hear a performance from her :) Love you Price!!!!
classicalgal14 1 year ago 2
THEE Ol'girl still got it! Praise GOD from whom ALL! blessings flow.
Marcburn2288 1 year ago
Im tellin you, Ol' Girl shut if down!!!...I mean for the Love of Christ, she's a thousand years old and she can sing circles around your Beyonce's and Streisands.!!!...LOL...it must be nice, being her...lol
MisterCrazyLegs 1 year ago 2
I LOVE Leontyne...she sounds like she did in the 70's and 80's! You can never loose a talent like that
canadianclarke 1 year ago
she is simply...PRICEless !!!
netchaeva 1 year ago 4
@netchaeva I HAD to thumbs up that unabashed pun. :)
eeli1 1 year ago
@eeli1 hahaha! Thanks eeli1! :D
netchaeva 1 year ago
At 81? Unreal, indeed. I saw her in concert in Nashville over 20 years ago...a highlight of my life, for sure.
VocalEdgeTV 1 year ago 3
Uma soprano, quando possue o dom verdadeiro, sempre, eternamente será uma soprano. Leontyne é eterna.
toddydelahov 1 year ago 2
her sweet "thank you' was classic!!!! lol man she killed that even after 80!!!
kenndogg 1 year ago
I am COMPLETELY convinced that Leontyne Price isnt human...I believe she's from another planet. She has kept her instrument in impeccable condition. And there are any number of singers out here today that should take a seat with her and take notes on how to REALLY sing.
MisterCrazyLegs 1 year ago 3
seriously, can they bottle and sell her DNA!!! :)
kylegreerrocks 1 year ago
This is perfection...understanding your gift...appreciating your gift...being a good steward over your gift...and living a good life...WHAT AN EXAMPLE!!!
TheSanctifiedSoldier 1 year ago
Living legend
iscascan 1 year ago 2
Jewel is still a Jewel.
arissss1962 1 year ago 14
@arissss1962 Diamonds are forever
looker768 2 weeks ago
trust me, shes met the presidnet or will based on their schedules. No way will a 81 yr old woman of color and struggle and gift not met Pres. Obama. yes, he would be in ahh and smiling respectfully but she would be smiling at him for his achievement, 2. If you dont understand...then its not for you to understand. Same respect she would have for mariah...progress in body of the blk community, big or small.
ballershanelle 1 year ago
Ms.Price STILL sounds amazing!!!
Thank you for posting this Onegin!
swanning-
Serious music? That's an archaic term. If it takes time and effort to achieve, and isn't being played by a machine, it's all serious music especially if it speaks to the heart, right?
And, Please tell me what did Strauss, Bellini or any of the operatic composers intend? I would LOVE to hear it.
LOKJazz 2 years ago 2
LOK. Sure Strauss and Bellini have written their music out in sheet music form. This very clearly expresses exactly the way they want their music performed. People like Carey make a total mockery of the composer's intentions, simply for cheap commercial gimmicry.
swanningaround 1 year ago
swanning- . I just put the sheet music of Debussy's Deux Arabesque to my ear and I couldn't hear A THING! Take a symphony played by two different orchestra's and I would bet my last money it will NOT sound the same. Sheet music is the tool used to 'memorize' the notes. THEN we learn how to 'express' it. Then there's the conductor's interpretation. Itzhak Perlman will you tell you the same thing. Truth is you don't know what the Composer intended or if they'd appreciate Carey's version or not.
LOKJazz 1 year ago
that was amaaazing
patherpanchu 2 years ago
Does anybody know which aria she sang in that clip?
RaymondHng 2 years ago
The end of a song called "Homing" by T. del Riego--something she had sung as a kid at funerals!
liedersanger1 2 years ago
She reigns forever.
UNEEKMONIQ 2 years ago 3
Great God Almighty!! Leontyne, Leontyne, Leontyne!!!!
JazzMaestra 2 years ago 2
She was 81 years old and sang like that.... unreal! THAT is what a true Diva is... there is no one else like her!
szhooper 2 years ago 48
szhooper. Leontyne is no Diva. This ios a term to describe pop celebrities like Mariah Carey, who people in the US call the greatest ever singer. Fellow singer Kiri Te Kanawa, who also sings in a similar way to Leontyne calls them "divers". Leontyne is no trashy pop queen. She is an operatic soprano who sings beautifully. She may not have the vaunted range of the pop celebs, like Mariah Carey, who according to her fans in the US sings higher than anyone. However, she does sound a lot nicer.
swanningaround 2 years ago
OOPS! Someone must have flunked english class. You have got the term right but not the meaning. Divas are NOT popular singers only Opera singers! The term has been watered down to include those who dont sing opera nor have the talent to sing (ie Mariah Carey and the like) due to the exposure this planet has from the internet and hip-hop culture.
RRydnew 2 years ago 3
RRydnew. Interesting. I agree that the word has different means in different countries. In the United States, it means singers like Beyonce. In Germany, it can apply to actresses like Sophia Loren. In France, it does apply to opera singers such as Rosa Ponselle. In Australia, it is a woman who is self centered.
swanningaround 2 years ago
You must be young or just misinformed. Divas are Opera singers! the Pop World stole the phrase. Divas have always applied to opera singers and diva ballerinas. NOT the pop world!
fiercejarret 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
fierce. Diva is a term reserved mainly for black celebrities like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Maria Callas was called La Divina. That is where you are getting confused I think. Kiri Te Kanawa, an operatic singer, has often derided the term calling the "divers" and associating it with American Idol, which she despises. Top Ballerinas are called Etoiles, Assolutas, Primas, Principals, never dvas.
swanningaround 2 years ago
Kira Te Kanawa isn't just a operatic singer, she's a goddess
ryutemoc 2 years ago 3
You're wrong. Diva was first associated with female opera singers.
Mooorhe 1 year ago 3
@swanningaround well actually Maria Callas was the first real "Diva" of any music genre, because she was almost a "goddess" in her magnetic fame in the 50's and 60's. Joan Sutherland was thought of as the next big Diva, the phrase originated in opera, but became more of a "popularity" thing within the pop world, and had almost nothing to do, initially, with their " outer-worldly ability"
tCrOMez1990 1 year ago
Comment removed
swanningaround 1 year ago
@tCrOMez1990
Whatever she was just a "woman" with charisma that had a great voice, not a goddess. And everybody is entitled to their own opinion. Who are you to tell people who's 1st, 2nd, 3rd diva...ridiculous..there are so many people that stay undiscovered and people need to stop worshipping human beings....
mimijo79 1 year ago
Comment removed
tCrOMez1990 1 year ago
@mimijo79First of all nobody is rating Diva's first second and third based on their talent, but solely on the time period in which they were relevant, and I do not worship Maria Callas, I was pointy out that Diva means "Goddess". I appreciated her art, but to worship another human would be hypocritical to my own religion. while I agree that there are very many people who stay undiscovered, these individuals have worked hard, and that is why I "Appreciate" their art, I do not worship it or them
tCrOMez1990 1 year ago
diva was termed for opera singers like miss price...........who would blow mariah out the water even at her age. if you heard mariah say that she was so shocked and honored that miss price knew who she was at the legends ball.
AIKAN74 2 years ago
Aikan74. I would be surprised at that. Mariah Carey's fans say that she is th greatest singer and composer ever. That puts her in a very exalted place, considering that Caruso and Mozart are below her. I think that is what a diva is - a real big showoff.
swanningaround 2 years ago
mariah's fans............usually a bunch of kids.............i grew up on and love mariah........but mariah can't hold a candle to whitney.............mariah has a great voice.......great songwriter................but she is no song stylist. mariah could not hold a stage with miss price, who happens to be a big fan of mariah.
AIKAN74 2 years ago 2
@swanningaround um ... diva is a term to describe opera singers that was extended to singers like whitney houston and mariah carey and celine dion in the late eighties/early nineties and then to other past and present pop-singers, but it originally/still does refer to operatic prima donnas
Randalina1 1 year ago
@Randalina1 Strange. I never heard of this term in opera. As you say, "prima donna" is the term used to describe opera roles, such as the great Adelina Patti who was called "prima donna assoluta e sola". The first singer to be called a diva was Sarah Bernhardt, who was called "the Devine Sarah".
swanningaround 1 year ago
@swanningaround Have you noticed that Mariah has no middle range????LOL She yells through the lower range and then hits her so called "wistle register". My ears hurt listening to this woman - I think she is absolutely terrible!
gene1536 11 months ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
@gene1536 Yes. She is awful - a product of the celebrity culture, which was started by that Oprah person.
swanningaround 11 months ago
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black tenor: also a first.
deutschefach 11 months ago
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
deutschefach 11 months ago
@swanningaround Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
deutschefach 11 months ago
Leontyne Price was the first black soprano to become a leading soprano. The first black to singer there was I believe Marion Anderson. Here rise was before the "celebrity" culture. Here husband for a short time was William Warfield. If you go back to the film Showboat you can here him sing "Joe". They came out of the 50s culture not the 70s. She is considered by most to be the person who broke the color line in opera. Geroge Shirley was the first black leading tenor.
deutschefach 11 months ago
@szhooper I love Callas more than anything but I have to agree ... nobody can beat this woman... she is amazing... 81 and still able to make that quality of sound
UNBELIEVABLE
RonaldBarone 1 year ago 4
UNBELIEVABLE! I'm in love with LEONTYNE PRICE all over again. AWESOME!
ReddzVoice 2 years ago
i am like in tears whenever i watch this clip. its such a reminder of the greats of yesteryear.
bcom11 2 years ago 3
Ms Behrens passing today makes me think of Leontyne, she is one of the few greats we have left.
FoggyRoad81 2 years ago 2
How impressing and sad to observe that singers who HAVE a true vocal technique are 80 or are dead. It's not the comparison with Britney Spears, but with actually staging singers of our years that makes me worried.
lojundolo 2 years ago
WOW this lady was 81 in this video and she has 10 times more voice than Britney Spears!
Real talent...
yodavidnavarro 2 years ago 2
I would have to say 200 times the voice Britney!!!
Marktheho 2 years ago
Amen, Amen, and Amen...on that!!!
kronk99 2 years ago
She was born with a gift for all to hear. She has not abuse the gift. She continues to present the gift with perfection. She is bless!
Ghtthomps 2 years ago 2
Brava Ms. Price! Brava!
dadevi 2 years ago
Her make up is so fierce!!!
dynamicstuff73 2 years ago
Wow!! The woman is 81 one and gold is still puring out of her mouth. This puts young singers today to shame! As it should.
AOG93 2 years ago 27
UNBELEIVABLE!!! WOW!!!!!!!..lolol
righteousness16 2 years ago 2
Miss Price is 81 here, still singing freely and beautifully:) --
stevevandien 2 years ago 3
OMG. Leontyne is well into her 80's and she still sounds like this? I still get goosebumps when this woman opens her mouth even at her age! Nothing but God and hard work in that instrument!
musikenergy 2 years ago 3
Appreciate your wonderful, accurate comments. Also, as a side point, I like the fact that Leontyne loves pearls. I'm a pearl gal, too.
priscillaofmanila 2 years ago
I'm with mariasarda. THAT is a great singer, with a REAL voice
quequitoAR 2 years ago
My,she's still doing !And well.
ssballs 2 years ago
Le timbre gorgé de soleil, plein, rond, ambré est toujours là et les notes, toujours aussi aisées... Cette grande Dame est un phénomène de longévité, de santé et de jeunesse. Mme Price, vous êtes éternelle !!!!!!!!!
Quant à vous, mesdemoiselles, allez toutes vous rhabiller avec vos 20 ans !!!
mariasarda 2 years ago
WONDERFUL AND APT COMMENT! (Luckily I can read French. :-)
liedersanger1 2 years ago
Wow she amazing :)
classicalgal14 2 years ago 3
Well Renee is not Leontyne Price! Even Renee in her biography "The Inner Voice" openly admitted that Leontyne was the superior singer and an inspiration for her as a young singer...Leontyne SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT OBAMA'S INAUGURATION.. I won't let it go...every major African American celebrity should have been there! It was a victory that even Martin Luther King himself didn' even dream of....
AmericanEvita 2 years ago 5
oh right sorry I forgot for a moment that Obama was African American - -
Drelnis 2 years ago 2
Have you all ever given thought to the fact that perhaps Miss Price may have been invited and decided not to attend? She's 80+ years old. Aretha Franklin spoke of how cold it was that morning and how it took away from her ability to perform freely. Remember that Miss Price wasn't a participant in Jimmy Levine's anniversary (or was it his birthday?) concert some years ago at the MET. Have you thought of why? Maybe she just decided to keep him in her prayers, and watch from her sofa.
UrsulanChild 2 years ago 4
Leontyne stayed home because if she would have been there she would have taken the spotlight away from Obama and she didn't want to upstage him on his big day.
baritonebynight 2 years ago
She would not have outstaged him but it would have been nice for an African American opera icon like Leontyne to sing at least one song (especially a very moving/emotional song like a Gospel song etc) and it would have been nice to see Obama hug Leontyne!
AmericanEvita 2 years ago
she would have outstaged him! gospel song? shes not gospel..
shelly121089 2 years ago
folks seem to forget that miss price is a southern black woman whose musical roots is gospel. like jessye norman and kathleen battle. yes leontyne price IS gospel!
AIKAN74 2 years ago
Aikan74. The difference is that Leontyne attempts to sing the music as it should be sung, in the correct language and not changing the composer's original intention. Carey tends to put a gospel and pop spin on serious music.
I am surpised that Leontyne is a fan of Mariah's. That upsets me quite a bit. I find Mariah and her fans to be quite boastful and act sometimes like - divas.
swanningaround 2 years ago
She didnt appear because she WOULD have outstaged him. A President, any President, couldnt outshine a Diva.
RRydnew 2 years ago 3
I agree. What do I remember about Clinton's first inauguration? Marilyn Horne singing. Clinton's second? Jessye Norman singing. I was so excited that my candidiate won....but in the end it was about the DIVAS.
baritonebynight 2 years ago
More like it was that she would have been "slumming" being seen with Obama. He would have used her shamelessly for photo ops and sound bytes. It would have been demeaning for the Diva
RRydnew 2 years ago
Gee just to imagine Price has sang alongside all the good post-war people, and after many had quit and most had died, she's still singing!
Drelnis 2 years ago 2
Yes, that's very true...she's still alive and well and in recent years after 2000 so many singers of great status have died - Anna Moffo, Birgit Nilsson, Beverly Sills, Luciano Pavarotti...singers that Leontyne had known in person...how tragic it must have been for her to see so many colleagues die!
AmericanEvita 2 years ago
you bettah work.
jtdendy 2 years ago 4
People...she sang a high A-natural and did a beautiful diminuendo on the final D-natural...the voice is fresher, more beautiful and steadier than most sopranos a third of her age singing today. Bravissima diva!
njmezzo 2 years ago 4
How much we all miss her smoky voice.
Altonahh10 2 years ago
I wish there is more of this.
nibelungensohn 2 years ago 2
D
I
V
A
BRAVA LEONTYNE!!!
gerardolec 2 years ago
Leontyne sounds even better now!
123gypsylady321 2 years ago
i know...right....
JRAJ5XXA 2 years ago
Recordings don't tell everything. Quality, size of voice, character, integrity, movement & the effect on an audience need describing too. Have you heard a great performance by this singer live, without a mic? If so please post an objective description to add the wonderful YouTube archive before the memory is lost for ever.
How I wish I could have been there to hear Farinelli entrance an audience with the power of a single note, but we do at least have Charles Burney's marvellous account.
CharlotteinWeimar 2 years ago
81 years old?
I think nobody has sung so much in History!!!
zehtesko 2 years ago 3
OH... MY... GOD!
A true living legend.
JoshuaSethComposer 3 years ago 3
this is a true diva! Other artist like Beyonce are garbage. Let's see what they sound like at 70!
scbella42 3 years ago 3
this is not true beyonce is a very hard worker and has incredible talent . Yes La Price is truly Priceless but don't diminish the talents of this time especially in a totally different genre of music
johngarner3 2 years ago
Get it!!!!!
GosfordAbercrombie 3 years ago 2
how old is she? middle of her 70s?
and still such a voice?!
just fuckin´ amazing!!!
bicobotscho 3 years ago 3
Leontyne did NOT sing at Obama's Inauguration or even made it to D.C. right ? I'm very upset about that..instead they had Beyonce and other stupid young artists singing...
AmericanEvita 3 years ago 9
atleast Renee Fleming was there, she's truly an American treasure.
Drelnis 2 years ago
wow she still got it!
marvinjr1 3 years ago 4
Wow she still has it!!! She is one of the greatest opera singers ever!!! I can barely listen to other sopranos anymore after being spoiled by Leontyne.
trevjr 3 years ago 6
Good Lord, there's no reason this Goddess should have ever quit. I want MORE!!!!
Thank you, Ms. Price. I love you.
larespo1 3 years ago 4
She's about 81 now and still singing like that?
gray1963 3 years ago
WOW! It's been 10 minutes since I watched this, and I'm still geeking out! Leontyne Price is such a cool lady :)
musicsongbirdie 3 years ago 5
This is one of the original living legends of oprah no matter what age she is she will allways be one of the few black oprah singers who have paved the way for many more to come FLAWLESS AS USUAL EVEN FOR 80 GET INTO IT
Icofield1985 3 years ago 9
yes.. i do love me those oprah singers.
singurheartout4 3 years ago 7
hahaha
ereccay2k22 3 years ago 3
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You are a riot! That made my day! LMBO!
ReddzVoice 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What do you mean too late ((((? She is a great singer, it was slightly out of tune in beginning of the phrase and Im sure nobody care about what we are talking about(((.
Brmafuzfafailio 3 years ago
pretentious much...?
the fact that she's dodged vocal-deterioration should be praised not criticized... especially when you seem to be the only one to find flaws in that performance...
TheDaguerreotypist 3 years ago 7
She STILL got it!
alcoholharmony 3 years ago 3
shes definitely got it
jeremiaheliseo 3 years ago
tears. OMG every singer of color owes her so uch, but just to hear her sing again..to hear her pull the note back and raise the eyebrow (i steal from her) Words cannot express! Thanks you for sharing with us!
KarmenMichael 3 years ago 3
@KarmenMichael Amen!
ChuckNYC71 1 year ago
Of course she is a gorgeous singer, really talented musician. Black-beautiful powerful voice.
Brmafuzfafailio 3 years ago
Too late. Why even start by lashing out that negativity towards a woman who have given us so much joy?
ImpatraZ 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Slightly out of tune but beautiful legato
Brmafuzfafailio 3 years ago
You should check your pitch pipe. She isn´t at all out of tune.
basie8 3 years ago 4
She over 80 dude give it a break. I can't name another who at this age sounds like her. Hell some of the ladies in their 20's don't sound this good.
OldHollywood1 3 years ago 15
Well, can I just say none of the ladies in their 20s sound this good ? Price is a legend already !
kngiht84 3 years ago 3
What a woman!!!
maryjivinjane 3 years ago
I know young sopranos in top Young Artists programs who cannot sing like this. Half a voice? There's power there. Young sopranos, take note.
dan1132b 3 years ago 2
I love you Ms. Price
guappaione 3 years ago
My gosh! Leontyne should still be centerpiece at the Met as far as I'm concerned!
Junkay2 3 years ago 2
I agree!!! Ms. Leontyne Price IS and ALWAYS will be THE MET!!!
LeeVita19 3 years ago
And the vibrato is as tight as ever! I love how she simply says "Thank you" and gets off the podium. Humility and grace for days, this lady.
mihoshi1 3 years ago
that's what I noticed too! It is extremely common for the vibrato to become wider with age and this voice sounds about 25!
jhughessings 3 years ago
Woe! Is she in her 80s? This 100 times Rihanna's voice! Amazing woman!
yodavidnavarro 3 years ago 3
Yes that's ridiculous!
juankmilo1980curro 3 years ago
I'm pretty sure my cat sings better than rihanna
jhughessings 3 years ago 4
It may only be half the voice she had back then, but my god what a half.
moghedien13 3 years ago 5
You can say that again! What power, what resonance!...and she's over 80, bless her.
Her 'half is better than any other dozen's wholes.
Lillibet12 3 years ago 2
This woman is at least 80 by now: still has it.
bookkeeper57 3 years ago 3
Wow, she is still fabulous!!!!
singchef 3 years ago 2
I said this before on another video, but her voice is the only sound I want to hear during the last few moments of my life if at all possible.
Thank you Onegin65 and everyone else who who uploaded the Leontyne Price videos here on YouTube! Besides a few CDs, I would have known how great she really is. At my young age of 30, I am very thankful to be able to experience not only recordings from 40+ years ago, but hear her NOW.
barose1 3 years ago
wow...that's training...aged beautifully...and still has that great gift
AmorMuse 3 years ago