Grace BUMBRY - Carmen - Habanera

[sg777778]

This song takes a while to get started. It was about a 1:30 in before I was all, "Oh, it's THAT song!" I guess all the things which feature this song only feature it from that point on.

[OperaMystery80]

The year, 1967, the place: Salzburg Festival Austria, the conductor, Herbert Van Karajan; the cast: Grace Bumbry as Carmen, Jon Vickers as Jose & Mirella Freni as Micaela. This was made to look like a movie, which was a stroke of genius. It's available on DVD from Deusche Gramophone label on Amazon.com. Bumbry, Vickers and Freni are all outstanding. My favorite Carmen of all time. The best!

[petenjohn1]

I love this but I do find the whole thing a little static. However.....there is no denying that Grace is able to seduce with those eyes. Captivating.

[simonamarkova]

She looks as perfect gipsy for this role, very sensual... nice voice, but when I only listen, somehow, I don´t feel enough passion... Too much legato, or glisses? Starts to be boring after 1 min...

[kerryincolumbus]

this version of this fantastic aria SUCKS big time! she SUCKS worse than florence foster jenkins!

[sheshe1231]

Fantastic!! Sensual, powerful and beautiful. Perfect!

[AceofGallifrey]

She doesn't even have to use that voice to have you captivated... it's all right there in the eyes before she's even sung a note!

[kendahke]

@EspressoFan4Life and opinions are like the assholes who own them... they stink.

[onewithpuppetheatre]

How can anyone NOT LIKE THIS?!?

[Dhyahbolical]

Wow. An ideal Carmen. Skillful and beautiful singing, but I can't get over who's playing Don Jose in the film.

Just picture it, the gorgeous Grace Bumbry next to the MIGHTY Jon Vickers.

a match made in heaven.

[guanchuflero]

ella noes mezzo dramatica ni soprano ella es falcon esta entre las dos voces por favor mas informados

[erzbet07]

Miss Bumbry is an artist down to her fingertips! What a wonderful voice, stage presence..the whole package! Thanks for sharing!

[TheTherese3]

Bumbry is what Bezet hoped for.

[3FromTheOutside]

AMAZING VOICE! What a gifted singer she is!

[ukiepantz]

the BEST

[InPandoraHeart]

i love her voice, more than many sopranos !!!!

[MultiKungfumaster]

 She is really Great.. but noone can beat Maria Callas... :-)

[patty860515]

Mezzosoprano dramática

[jerrynova14]

It's like she has the original Snooki poof. And by God, she works it too.

[livadarosa]

Miss Grace, living grace on earth. Legendary voice of America !!!

[scharada]

she IS carmen! perfect for this role!! and that voice....

[veeerooniicaaa]

Muy lindo

[emremokoko]

and for those who are curious about black classical musicians: SCOTT JOPLIN!

[stirling1950]

The production is just awful. Bumbry as usual is Bumbry and not the character she is supposed to play, she was always the same. Vickers was certainly better in French opera than German or Italian, but again it could be his Otello or Tristan , the acting never changed. the lunge left or right or up or down. , expression I don't think so. This film like most of Karajan's opera films are deeply flawed,

[MsTracie]

@stirling1950 Man whatever! You sing, act, walk and chew gum at the same time. And see how well you do. Negative comments are unneeded. But your welcome to your opinion but I don't have to agree, as well as you don't have to agree with me. Free will is a wonderful thing! Got any recommendations of minority opera performers to offer?

[stirling1950]

@MsTracie Having seen Miss Bumbry in all her major roles over a period of about 40years and having worked with her in The Trojans and Tosca, she was Bumbry and nothing else.Karajan's films are not very good, they all lack a sense of emotion and are too neat. Carmen on stage, only Crespin and Jane Rhodes came close to the character, they both knew it was a Frenchman's view of Spain and in essence this was ,and which some people make a error a French Opera tout simple.

[ellz4547]

I love her and Leontyne Price's rendition of it as well! Opera at its finest!

[SitDownAndShutup1]

White culture has once again been Tiger Woods'd. I'd rather listen to this woman than Pavarotti

[3589546]

best version of this i have ever heard.

[Txalaka]

@3589546 Maybe you´ve never hear Maria Callas...

[bigjoetube]

Amazing Grace!

[richandrome]

Phenomenal! She sings it like a lullaby with such grace, beauty, and ease. Listening to her sing this is like a tall glass of cold lemonade on the hottest summer day - soothing and refreshing. Is it me or does she kind of look like Maria Callas in this.

[esquire2K11]

I love this!!!!

[dragonfly8486]

Callas's version will always be my favorite but I do LOVE this woman's voice. It's beautiful :)

[Sebastian94338]

i like it but i still believe that Callas' Habanera is a song for itself that cannot be compared with no other as she lived the song she sung, my opinion

[rejuvenation1]

She is absolutely stunning!!!!

[meggallie]

Perfect. Her voice is so perfect and smooth. As is her appearance

[iamweirdnessful]

firs time i heard this i was watching Going my Way

[mattplusfriends555]

Definitely not as charismatic as Maria Callas sing Carmen but still amazing lol

[analuvsjaej4evar]

Still amazing....:)

[Treasures4Food]

Very amazing.

[luceroblanco]

This is my favorite Carmen video on youtube. Her singing is flawless, clean and effortless. And she is gorgeous, sexy without even showing a lot of skin and acting like a wild slut.

[MrClasicalone]

Amazing!



[silverbaal]

This is an amazing performance. And yeah lol they don't let the blacks know about her. I had to search for this stuff on my own. It would be great to use to educate people...This sort of history. But don't expect that anytime soon.

[cantanteporsiempre]

Bumbry´s voice is really out of this world. She is a monster

[al1at1]

The best Carmen ever! Great person and fantastic singer!

[S1M1xoxo]

she does it so effortlessly...it almost looks fake, i mean this with all due respect (AKA a good way)

[1959cloclo]

I have never heard of her before now, where have they been hiding her, she is stunning in looks and stunning in voice WOW.

[premed80]

Leontynne's version is still my favorite, but Grace B did an Excellent job as well!

[1krrov]

So gorgeous and that voice

[MsTracie]

@FranklyMsShankley Exactly! I think Americans and blacks especially, need to make our children more aware of blacks in the arts and sciences and NOT just athletes and rappers and pop singers. Also, my sister is married to a German man, too. LOL What is it with German men and black women? LOL

[tantely2]

I have the analog record with her singing the whole Carmen opera,

and the most impressing is the part where she is reading in the cards

that she will die (have forgotten the title of this part).

[ladyEulaelie]

Beyonce, dream on babe...dream on.

[MikeES345]

Beautiful actress and musician

[manabusama]

I could only describe this as what I imagine a Siren would sound like. Absolutely mindblowing

[bjroberts65]

She's STILL INTOXICATING!!!

[ananse77]

Her voice is so effortless!

[flippadeal]

she doesn't sing it, she's vouced over

[chicagomarchingbands]

which recording is this from? karajan?

[barnaby1988]

@chicagomarchingbands Yes, with the Vienna Philarmonic, Don José played by Jon Vickers and Justino Diaz as Escamillo.

[gigirox18]

THERE SHE IS! /That's/ the Carmen personality I've been looking for! :D

[thischickisaaight]

What a wonderfully clear voice she has! I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[piper1233]

@FranklyMsShankley No shame there, there is more broad appriciation of the finer arts in europe. we focus more on fighters bashing each other in a ring here in america.

[ArchiducDeBelgrade]

I love this version.. well performed by all plus she is very seductive here..

[DieSonneSinkt]

Continuity error at 0:35 !!!!!

[entropyftw]

That note after the "c'est certain" sounded a little like "OH SNAP."

[sebastian12312]

Amazing and what a nice chorus!!

[ohmusic25]

WoW!!! A young Grace Bumbry was a FINE Grace Bumbry!!!!

[spheere1]

so easy flowing ... Thank you for the music, Ms Bumbry...

[Tannimd]

Wow, simply amazing, what a voice and the body and face to go with it.

[soverysneaky]

Does she do a topless version of Carmen?

[coo1breeze]

I wanna see this entire film!! Anyone know where I can? :S

[variolaa]

Best Carmen ever...

[bodinian]

She sung it better than the other youtube women.

And she has more booty.

[impatientwithdesire]

@bodinian lmaoooo

[MsTracie]

@bodinian All too true! LOL

[SandrineSoprano]

@bodinian lol

[SandrineSoprano]

Nice one

[cwaldo8911]

I love her!!!! She's My Idol!! Someone who's studying Classical music from a little town in Maryland can really appreciate someone who was brought up the same way....

[Nephthys4Isis]

The best Carmen ever

[Thorneycroft1937]

The moment at 1:11 is magic

[BlackShogun83]

Sublime.... That is the BEST Habanera I've ever seen.... So seductive, so beautiful.

[Lawgirlt]

Whoa. That's hot!

[MarioYanenko]

wwwowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[MarioYanenko]

wwwwowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[MsTracie]

She is incredible. Of course they don't let blacks know about her. I do and I'm glad I took the time to find out about her. I love opera. From a little black woman from Philly

[bodinian]

@MsTracie I also have a top rated comment on this video, and I am also from Philly. Interesting.

[MsTracie]

@bodinian No place quite like Philly. Yeah it's filthy and yeah the people can be rude but the music is great! We got Soul! LOL In fact, did you know the theme song for the Chicago show Soul Train was performed by 2 Philadelphia groups?! Funny huh?!

[gustopheles]

@MsTracie Jessye Norman, Shirley Verrett, and Leontyne Price all sung Carmen formidably. But I know what you mean about the racism - for example, I never hear about successful Arabs in opera.

[SandrineSoprano]

@MsTracie Glad to hear it too

[chiefexecutivelady]

@MsTracie alot of black and white ppl know about her...especially those who take vocal performance

[marina929100]

@MsTracie Art has nothing to do with race or skin colour. I like more Angela Gheorghiu and Maria Callas, but not beacause they are white whereas Grace Bumbry is black.

[marina929100]

@marina929100 Well, coming back to what I have just said, race can have an influence on art, but only inasmuch as an artist has a certain cultural and psychological background that is always reflected in his or her work (see Spengler's and Lucian Blaga's philosophy on the topic of culture). I hope you'll understand that my message is not a racist one.

[stephzech]

magnifique carmen Grace

quelle voix!

[TheVivaopera]

great voice!!!!!

[kshortie88]

Yay for being from St. Louis!!!!!

[Thorneycroft1937]

Amazing

[MrFalconford]

Grace, Aretha, Sarah, different music same wonderful results. Therefore its not the music entirely but the artist. Find the living and the future will be positive.

[ladyvee7110]

She looks like Uhura from Star Trek aka Nichelle Nichols right here.

[aogm720401]

Just wonderful!!!!

[The1976spirit]

Saw her on TV, 1967? This record, done with a

Telefunken tape recorder was my compagnion for years!

Wanted to marry Grace Bumbry, when I was grown up

[jimreilly43]

Oh--I had forgotten how good she was! how wonderful

[ronharrelljr]

Halle Berry??? I bet Halle wishes she had just a thumbnail of the talent that Grace has, plus I think Grace is a lot better looking

[rockandbluesboy]

callas was callas, but bumbry's habanera is my number one!!

[callas777]

@rockandbluesboy you`re right ,Callas was Callas,and no need to compare her to anyone

[kiyomi012]

Her voice is stably and beautiful! Wonderful!!,Ms.Grace Bumbry.

[eashyr]

@iloveusa1941. opera is one of the arts that is so democratic that talents trumps above everything else regardless race and conviction. am sure sure she was hired because the role perfectly suits her but of course her beauty helped along the way as well :)

[joliegarrett]

Is it just me, or does she look like Halle Berry here?

[IloveUSA1941]

it seems little odd to have a black girl in an old Italian town. no racist offense. maybe itd be good to have an opera has a story of black person in it like Othello.

[Zion1908]

@IloveUSA1941 "old Italian town?" Try Seville, SPAIN, where the story is set. And I assume you've never traveled to Europe, or else you'd know that many Black people reside there, and have for years. At any rate, Carmen was a "gypsy," and since there aren't many Romani opera singers out there, I think we can forgive the use of someone who isn't... including a "black girl."

[IloveUSA1941]

@Zion1908 sorry for my previous comment. I saw this opera 'Carmen' when I was a middle school boy.. long times ago:) I dont know very much about operas...sometimes I misunderstand between Italian and Spanish things...sorry about that. have a good day:D

[Cacumayo3005]

Brilliant the best Carmen

[Chimier]

Stunning woman, stunning voice!

[eternaldarkfaery666]

Dios mio que bella!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[denverpeach99]

WOW!! lOVE IT

[rifleguy73]

wow...she truly beautiful and captivating....totally steals this scene...peacebewell...

[vivegedda]

so slow it doesn't even sound like Carmen. Too bad with a voice like that. The conductor must be Karajan who as usual is disgusting in opera!Ouache!!

[w0nderlandkeys]

J'aime dis song :)

amazing voice <3

[acoustiMatt]

I know the other versions of this aria have more views, and are performed by some big names, but, in my humble opinion they do not stand up to Grace's performance.

[tranurse]

i love denyce graves, but wow. this is amazing.

[keyphi]

omg I wish someone like could teach me .......*O*

[shinawillful]

Wonderful voice, superlative technique, wicked interpretation... it's all here for those young mezzos who want to know how it is done!

[Anoush23]

i just saw her giving a wonderful, interesting masterclass at RSH in Düsseldorf, Germany...what a fascinating person :) a real diva.

[THEKUCKA]

prelepo! ljuuubaaav...

[chicagomarchingbands]

What language is she singing? Italian?

[AmericanEvita]

@chicagomarchingbands  She is singing in French. This is a French opera written by George Bizet, premiered in Paris in the 1870's. After the premiere, Bizet died.

[chicagomarchingbands]

@AmericanEvita Thanku!! Opera has really grown on me

[acoustiMatt]

@chicagomarchingbands French

[IndianaDylan]

is that uhura??

[couturesixfour]

...and she is singing while these babies are smoking all around her!! yes maam!! i would die...JUST DIE!!!

[MARCOx87x]

I am so in love..... :D

[ravennrichards]

its so flawless, its like shes not reely doing it. like some voice from heaven has possesed her

[OHsonemracky]

Watched this in choir, read the subtitles. x_x

[evewiemer]

I saw her live at Deutsche Oper Berlin as Carmen. It was wonderful, her bright voice and how she was acting. Brava, Grace.

[acoustiMatt]

Habanera Perfection!

[tenorismo]

She dosen't need her boobs hanging out to be Carmen. A true mezzo Luv ya Grace: ))

[cieobt2]

Delightful, mischievous and pleasing in all ways: oh, what a little Karajan can do. Look out John Vickers!

[wingnux]

"Epitafios" brought me here.

[ApparoDei]

When she stood on that doorway she's like so divelicious...she's like, "uhuh, thats right. The diva has arrived. Better roll the red carpet", coupled with an index finger and head isolation. Hekhekhek. I love grace bumbry.

[MjOfficial101]

Shes WOW ! Simply Put , Although Words Cant Describe How Great She Is.

[paramoreguate]

k aburrido por dios desperdicie 5 minutos de mi vida por ver a esta pisada

[chicagomarchingbands]

in this performance is she lip syncing?

[MjOfficialTv]

Wow , What A Georgeous Woman With An Astoundinq Voice ! B R A V O ! This Is My Dream Carmen By Far.

[bjroberts65]

Grace is so good that @ 1:50....She's thinking about driving her red ferrari.

[gianysi]

mezzosoprano dramatika como yo claro ella es una maestra técnica vocal impecable hermoso color de voz

[mCrqarli22]

WOW

:D

[Darodh]

what a beautifull Carmen, I fell in love with her...I was 7 haha !

[writerdirect]

my favoi\rite carmen too since i first saw her in 1965 when i was 7; the greatest carmen ever; hearing her sing the role as a boy made me want to be in media

[shabyto]

perfect voice...

[keyphi]

oh x dios!! ella SI que es carmen!!!!

[carolinahermelina]

she is one of the best ever......

[anya030882]

hermoso...

[PowerfulMindsofWomen]

AWESOMMMMMMMMMMMME! Get it Grace.

[coracleman]

my favourite carmen, no contest!

coraclewoman

[writerdirect]

my favorite carmen too since 1965 when i first heard her when i was 7; the greatest carmen ever

[kathleenbattlefan]

wow her timbre is so chocolatty

[yodavidnavarro]

She completely fills the role! If opera is supression of reality. she turned my alert system off for nearly 6 minutes and took me 1 hour to recover...WOW

[americangalbasseyfan]

Perfection.

[clo0017]

Un français parfait et une interprétation tonique ( pas trop legato) !! :)

[MarieKarall]

Grandiose !

Merveilleuse !

[bjroberts65]

she's intoxicating

[Orfeo68]

perfect perfect and more perfect

[xdiscotique]

How hot is Grace Bumbry?

Seriously.

She's amazing.

[koreansatsuke]

she has amazing voice

[picardkid]

With a couple of peacock feathers in hand, she'd look exactly like Uhura.

NERDGASM!!!!!!!!!

[Chriswren9]

Wow that was really nerdy you made a Star Track reference on an opera video. That is a nerd level not reached by many! LOL!

[redhead529]

@Chriswren9 I guess I've reached it, too!

[mftiritilli]

@picardkid

OH MY GOD!!! I THOUGHT THE SAME THING! SO COOL TO MEET A FELLOW OPERA AND STAR TREK NERD!

[redhead529]

@mftiritilli Well, you've just met another!

[noahsarcooo]

EN VOGUE IN MASTERPIECE THEATER of course!

[allcanitbe]

I just got major chills watching her...plus Bizet is no hack either!!

[UltimateGamer89]

she sang the habanera so effortlessly. its almost like shes lip syncing but she isnt. truly amazing.

[classyteacherdiva]

Go Soror! Now, there's a Zeta with class!

[Soul74]

For the first time in my life, I think I'm now interested in opera. Thank you Ms. Bumbry.

[sujagz]

Simply the best!!!!

[KMO325]

I have to say my congrats to Ms. Grace Bumbry getting the Kennedy Center Honor, well deserved recognition.