Sills - "My self I Shall adore" (Semele, Handel)

[CoreyLeig]

I just lost all respect for you, I thought I was dealing with someone somewhat knowledgeable but to call Sills´s voice that of an off-pitch horn to defend your misguided notions about your favored oh-so-cutsey-wootsey puny-voiced-Met-fired-down-on-­her-luck-mentally-deranged wannabe diva is unconscionable. End of story.

[pedrofribeiro]

Too much embellished, doesn't even sound like Handel anymore. Bubble's was never really suited to baroque, she shines more in french(Elisabetta, Olympia, Lucia) and italian(Violetta, Elvira, Rossini's Pamina) repertoire. Battle is a much better Semele and Cleopatra.

[CoreyLeig]

@pedrofribeiro As good as Battle was (mind the verb tense), she can´t hold a candle to Sills´s Cleopatra, a role Beverly owned and which catapulted her to international stardom in 66, or Semele. I have Battle´s Semele recording so I know what I´m saying. Sorry pedro, "Battle much better?", please, not even in the same class.

[pedrofribeiro]

@CoreyLeig I'm not saying that Bubble's Cleopatra/Semele were poorly sung. Just stating that Battle handle baroque better(technique, pronunce, embellishements) than her. Sills' Cleopatra lauched her, but that doesn't make it the best. Battle is known as the best Semele ever. I have various recordings of Battle's Semele(live, Carnegie Hall, Studio) and in all of them she's much better than Sills', the same with her Cleopatra, much better sung than Sills'. Sorry corey, Battle is much better.

[CoreyLeig]

@pedrofribeiro If you had said, "In my opinion, Battle´s Cleopatra and Semele are just as good as Sills`s," I´d say, ok, but even that is debatable, but to say that Battle is not just better but much better is just ludicrous. Battle has an undeniably beautiful tone but her roulades and embellishments can be quite sloppy, her voice is not as fast or agile as Sills´s, she takes weird breath pauses, and is inferior to even Bartoli as Semele. But hey, if you like her, knock yourself out!

[pedrofribeiro]

@CoreyLeig First of all, Bartoli has absolutely NO technique, AT ALL, just go on gargling, she shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Battle. Battle's voice is one of the most agiles of all time, go to /watch?v=PNr-FuFG5tU and you'll see a show-off. Battle NEVER did anything that she couldn't master, and her technique is beyond any criticism, so "sloppy" doesn't fit her, at all. Semele needs a voice like a flute(Battle) and not like an off-pitch horn(Sills). Accept the facts fellow.

[ronfland]

I would be remiss if I did not add to the comments here a mention of the FABULOUS intonation.

[metzwiler]

I agree about the monotony of the song - in the opera the character Semele is infatuated by herself in a mirror. She sees her reflection as a goddess but it's a trick by Juno (Hera) Perhaps the simplicity of the theme is on purpose. Ms. Sills' ornamentation is awesome! She is so "Bubbly!"

[90lysander]

Okay, can I say this? This aria really annoys me in general. I love Handel, don't get me wrong, but sung fairly straight, there's not enough lyrical and musical variety to keep me interested for ~7 minutes. For me, "Myself I Shall Adore" only works when used as a vehicle for completely amazing and gratuitous ornamentation -- and no one does that better than Sills! That da capo redefines the term "stratospheric."

[cembaloish]

Ok..Alright already about period instruments! I play the harpsichord. Indeed, this is a little on the tubby side but who cares..NO ONE ever nor most likely will anyone ever sing this aria like sills.

[condulmier]

They might not know what music philology or period instruments were, back then---but they sure knew how to play and sing! Bubbles lives forever. "Ecstasy of happiness" she gives us, really, with each flawless performance of hers. Thanks for posting---I'd love to know if it's on record.

[nostopsnopurgatory]

Best singer ever! 

[Sadiesexy]

Love it..

[Babs22h]

3:30-4:30 is pretty unbelievable.... the control and agility wow!

[Babs22h]

she articulates the coloratura so well... each note can be heard!

[coopandre]

I've never heard this either. Beautiful!

[eelco67]

Music, voice...it all comes together here. Brava!!!

[mstrsims2]

O ecstasy of happiness! Myself I shall adore

Cleveland-- XII-28-67 is the date for this aria (according to the sills website)

[mstrsims2]

67-12-28 Cleveland OH, Severance Hall Cleveland Orchestra

Robert Shaw

69-06-21 Katonah NY, Caramoor Festival Julius Rudel

Not sure which of these performances this comes from, unless she did it in concert as a recital aria.

[bruceagogox]

OH MY GOD. She's soo incredible.

I love Bubbles but this is my first time hearing this. RIP.

The ornaments in the in the last A section are incredible.

[wimniewenhuijs]

Brilliant singing this Handelaria!

[moghedien13]

I love sills. Over the top for ornaments, definitely, but never unstylish.

[primadivo]

Stunning. I love this along with her interpretation of Cleopatra also on youtube

Such a loss :(

[SENAFOREVER]

Fantastic, unbelievable! She said once that with years passing and gaining confidence, she achieved things vocally she never thought possible.

[Rudolph03]

Beverly Sills will always be remembered as one of the greatest coloratura sopranos ever. Her melisma lines are crisp, accurate, beautifully sung and full of joy.

[handeliantenor]

ZOMG! I can't believe someone Youtube this. I had the Sillsiana CD and it's really good. These ornamentation are really good. It's as good as her role in Cleopatra.

[soprano543]

qu'elle voix !!

[isinglouderthanu]

this aria always gets me... its so beautiful, and Sills SHINES here!

[p10nker100]

Marvelous stuff!

Beverley Sills truly can sing like a bird.

[petelovesbevsills]

Stunning adorable wonderful Bev!!! Brava Diva!!