Sissel - Dido`s Lament

[jayseah32]

So what is this a funeral hymn??

[musicfordaggers]

What a weedy little voice she has!

[tasteism]

Wonderful, Simple is not the right word but - simple in a very positive sense.

[Pyrrha108]

Simple and nice.

[Johnhillbery1]

Quite unexpected and wonderful.

[susankface]

I don't understand how anyone could possibly dislike this! I've already listened to it at least 10times on replay and it gets me every time. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful voice!!

[sarpistanbul]

Dido and Aeneas is one of the finest operas with a great story and excellent music, and Sissel shows one of the best performances in Dido's Lament with her crystal celar voice. It's a pity that I can't find her albums here in istanbul.

[scoutzilke]

Sissel, my dear, your voice is haunting me!

[markiemarks45]

Hauntingly amazing,it reaches down into your soul and rips it apart,but I digress...

[kazimierz80]

Nie znam tekstu, ale klimat utworu i cudowny spiew zapiera oddech.

[emmiews]

This I think is the nicest song in Dido and Aeneas. It brings me to tears. Lovely to hear Sissel sing it. Thank you!!

[Emerson4Vet]

Beautiful!!! Simply glorious!!!

[bronxboy47]

Just following orders, did you say? Orders from a rampant penis like Jupiter? We all know how well he managed Olympian affairs--that is, when he could spare time from his earthly affairs. No, Aeneas was more than happy to escape from a woman whose domestic expectations would put an end to his burgeoning career as Jupiter's hit man.

[eniotnasnyw]

It sounds nice, it sounds modern, thanks to the sound technicians. I'd like to hear her sing without all the electronic gadgets and adjustments in a real operahause before admiring her singingcapacities.

It may well be that she falls through the floor when one takes away her microphone.

[blackbeasthamish]

@eniotnasnyw One my criticisms of opera, and I have seen quite a few performances in convent garden and other venues, is that without electronic aids opera singers have to try really hard to produce the power for the sound to carry. As a result much of the subtlety and quality is sacrificed. This is no more than a left-over from the days before amplification was invented. A bit like stubbornly continuing to use dolly tubs and mangles instead of automatic washing machines

[eniotnasnyw]

@blackbeasthamish You have a point. I am not against the use of modern technology, but soon it will lead, or it has has lead allready, that it is not needed anymore to have a voice. That it is not necessary anymore that a singer can fill a room, let alone to fill a theater. With modern technology it is not even necessary anymore to sing right. Anything can be modified similar as with photoshop or with plastic surgery, but then it becomes more and more fake and deception or even fraud.

[blackbeasthamish]

@eniotnasnyw I take your point but I do believe that if you amplify a poor voice it sounds worse rather than better, and no amount of modification can alter that. It might be the case that you can make a good voice sound even better, but can never make an inferior voice sound good. Even with all the technology in the world the flaws will still show. What technology can do however is to permit the more subtle features of a singers voice to be heard in a large auditorium.

[eniotnasnyw]

@blackbeasthamish Cecilia Bartoli is said not a loud enough voice to perform well in certain opera's, and i know of more such great singers. They, and we would benefit from the technological aid if the amplification remains reasonably little. Some singers with strong voices would experience less strain on their voice too,and and some of the more subtile notes would be better produced and able to reach our ears.I recall a performance of female singer that fell dead when the micro fell out.

[blackbeasthamish]

@eniotnasnyw I have to say that I entirely agree with the point you make. A good singer will still sound good even with the aid of amplification.

[eniotnasnyw]

@blackbeasthamish My two posts might have looked ambiguous or contradictory, but they are not.

Quality will allways surge like oil on water. I'm only afraid that too many medioker or bad artists will more and more fill the air with their produces.It is in fact allready the case and is so poluting that it will become more and more difficult to discover the really nice things midst the trash.Taking away the microphone and electronic aids helps in our search and evaluation of what we like to hea

[blackbeasthamish]

@eniotnasnyw I think the point here is that poor quality music has always been around and no doubt some people enjoy it. What you have to remember though is that it tends to be short lived. No amount of technical gadgetry in the world can make poor musicians sound any better or to endure any longer and most people do realise this Good music and good musicians will survive whether their voices are amplified or not. Lack of amplification can reveal a strong voice but not necessarily a good one

[eniotnasnyw]

@blackbeasthamish Well said, and i agree; though the amount of poor quality music is growing faster than the good one. Good things will survive for sure, but then the artist is old or dead (and probably so are we) even before he is discovered. by us. And rhe gadgetry is continually improving/increasing the possibilities. Lets see in 20 or 50 years if we're still around....

[bronxboy47]

A pox on Aeneas and his ilk!  Unfaithful bastard.

[chickenmansenshi]

@bronxboy47 Aeneas was pious and faithful! They weren't married, first of all, and he left AT THE COMMAND OF JUPITER. Pietas over love any day.

[gauss2005]

This is the best Dido's lament I have ever heard.

[chrizosthemis]

@gauss2005 I need more high and powerful sounds, but I think this is good point between pop and opera.

[hootersnooter]

Wonderful - clear tone, acurate pitch, no gliding, and most important of all - no stupid over done vibrato - bravo

[Hallasun]

Utterly fantastic

[AngelVoiceFromHeaven]

I love this version by Sissel. I have never heard any better version than this one. This is an outstanding song by Sissel.

[zgopify]

Of course it's "popera", but surprisingly non-nauseating. Compared to Flagstad, Sissel is of course less than nothing, but then, who isn't...

[blackbeasthamish]

@zgopify Flagstad was good for what she did. Like many of her generation of divas she aimed for technical proficiency thereby lacking depth and warmth. Music is about expression of feeling, and should not be reduced to some preordained standard of acceptability designed to satisfy a minority of purists. In terms of her versatility and sheer presence Sissel is streets ahead.

[zgopify]

@blackbeasthamish lacking depth or warmth...her voice is considered the warmest of all Wagner sopranos. But she is singin opera. Not popera. Sissels version is betterthan many others, but comparing her to Flagstad is perhaps unfair. SarahBrightman is better than Birgit Nilsson too, I suppose?

[blackbeasthamish]

@zgopify I take your point, but I think the last thing Wagner would have wanted for his works was "warmth" and for that reason Flagstad probably does Wagner very well. I don't actually know what the term "popera" means unless you are saying that Sissell makes opera acceptable to a far wider audience rather than to a narrow band of "purists", in which case, good for her. Opera should be for everyone and not just for small group of elitists who like to think they know what's best for us all.

[dunmoria]

I think Purcell would have been delighted with this amazing version of his piece.

[SuperLoverHero]

This is the best version of Dido`s Lament here on YT. Just one word: Fantastic!!!

[AurolaGerero]

beautiful voice

[streb6]

what a beautiful way to lament, splendid voice !

[paulprocopolis]

The singing is cetainly very fine but, for me, this smoothed-out, popularised version substitutes an all-too-easy and shallow emotion for the real heart-rending pathos that can come across in a good performance of Purcell's original. If I was after a 'pop' version, I would probably go for Alison Moyet's. Although Moyet is a far less well-trained singer than Sissel, the former does convey a sense of tragedy in her recording.

[blackbeasthamish]

@paulprocopolis This is a good version of Purcell's masterpiece. Some of the more established "opera" singers overdo this until it becomes almost comical. This is far from being a "pop" version. It is apporached in a way which does not require the singer to give the impression she is about to burst at the seams, and the performance is much the better for it

[54spiritedwill54]

beautiful version :)  Marvelous!

[hobgobblet]

She has a lovely voice and this is one of my favourite Purcell pieces. But it is meant to be song of desolation. The split beat destroys the sadness and competes too much with the singer.

[choirboyfromhell1]

Admittedly as sweet as Emma Kirkby's with a slightly darker timbre, but is it necessary to have a sub-divided beat to accompany this?

[parky963]

Thank you Sisselfan for posting this. A definitive version - her voice is so beautifully modulated, not trying to over- extend the 'remember me's' but rather understate. The accompaniment in double time and faster, but it really works. Gorgeous. Have a listen to Hayley Westerna's redition of this, it's also very beautiful.

[DustinHahnMusic]

Very beautiful! Her first "remember me" sounds so full or emotion. I love it.

[Jitpring]

Her cultivation of pop posturing and imagery is unfortunate, but it must be admitted that this is a good performance.

[janeym]

I love voices like hers! So pure, clear, and beautiful!

[nannygoatj]

Her voice is clear as a bell.

[TheBirkeboot]

Wat a greatful life

[SuperLoverHero]

Fantastic! This is the best version of "Dido`s Lament" I have ever heard in my life. No one can sing this better than Sissel.

[dunmoria]

Glorious. Purcell would have been impressed with this rendition.

[bbccd999]

She not only look like an angel. Her Hearts is an angels. Beatifull.

[FDGDSFg332]

fascinating...

[marhomist]

Smooth and Warm! Soft and Elegant!

As always-Art of Sissel!

[TheMusicOfSissel]

Sissel is the best singer in the world ever.

[eoarwyn]

Marvelous! :D She captures it just right...and the instrumentation's good too.

[morbinful]

Più l'ascolti e più ti innamori della sua voce!...

Che gran dono ha avuto!

[ekahamsa]

beautiful version, very smooth & warm ^-^

[galliumarsenide]

finally some production value!

and I find it very important that this is sung softly and quietly, like done here.

although I love the trill at 'forge~~~t my fate' which is missing here.. :(

[hsch1234]

For sure Sissel is an angel on earth!

[nestersg]

I always said angels sound like Mara Callas, but I never actually heard one...untill now.

[perevineta]

I don't believe in angels, but if they existed they would have the voice Sissel has. This song has arrived to my soul.

[Eldithil28]

Mondieu!!! Elle est si fantastique!!! Je l'aime!

[artma101]

Sissel! wonderful voice.

[Garunnu]

somebody get her laid. just kidding XD

[selfdual]

One of my favorite Sissel song! Thank you for posting, fellow Sissel fan!

[noLifetoRevive]

this is amazing! i love her tone!

[ankra12]

Fantastisk.:-)Har faktisk ikke hørt denne før, men Sissel har jo et enormt materiale.

[iirmo]

Thank You for sharing..

WONDERFUL!!!!!