Ave Maria, Bryn Terfel, Hayley Westenra, and José Carreras

[escamillion]

aarrggg....out of pitch. But still nice

[tonyval214]

BEAUTIFUL..THANKS FOR SHARING...A SONG OF PEACE AND LOVE..

[Peppi94]

That was just beautiful. Thank you.

[retoricalanswers]

this must have been a great concert. there are other videos around of it. wat was it? so many big names

[Pladominga]

Fantastic entry .... baritone, soprano, tenor .... wonderful to hear!

[mep1990]

Hey, wait a second? I did like 6 or more comments on this video, but only one has appeared. If you haven't approved them, it's ok, it's your video and it's up to you, but if it is that they weren't posted correctly, I can try again.

[Sqid101]

Can you see all the posts you made now?

[mep1990]

And, one last opinion more concretely about this song... It doesn't make a really big difference, but I prefer the original German words to this Ave Maria, although I don't fully understand them , but I think they are richer than these in Latin... And Hayley can sing in German, I think now that she has improved a lot, she should record this again, it's such a beautiful song and she could do such a great job on it!

[JuantasmaDeLaOpera]

@mep1990 Dont Understand your difference between operatic singing and Lyrical Classical... btw, are you musician??? Ave Maria in German??? probably as a lied, with not sacred songs, as Schubert wrote a Lot... but... still I dont get your point...

[mep1990]

But,, although it can't be considered an absoolute truth, in terms of technique and difficulty, Operatic singer is superior than lyrical classical, and the last one is superior than pop. I mean, to reach the operatic technique requires much more training and effort than pop, and also it gives you wider possibilities to express yourself with technics and controlling your voice more consciously. People who sing good enough without any musical knowledge, will surely improve after studying a little.

[pixelrow]

@mep1990 - someone who doesnt know much about singing. If this was true all opratic singers would make the best pop singers - but thta is not the case.

Someone like declan galbraith - a classical singer - is not very good at pop at all.

The idea that pop is somehow lesser art is Pathetic.

People like Mariah Carey has better range than virtually all operatic singers - she used to be the world record holder.

[mep1990]

And, also, I am a really big fan of Hayley Westenra... hmm... about either operatic singing is superior than pop singing or lyrical classical singing... well, as an art, I don't think so, since art is any human creation that wasn't done just for its utility, and as it, there's no way to determine any superiority (both the composition itself as any of the particular interpretations of it can be considered art)... .

[mep1990]

Well, first of all, great performance... And, well, I was doubting if I should enter the discussion, cause I dislike arguing with people, but I like debating and sayiing my opinion while respecting the others. I am not an singing or music expert, I just love music, in almost all its ways (listen to everything, the only music I really dislike is Rap, though I respect it)... And Classical music has a special place in my tastes... Let me continue on another comment...

[LucaYune]

bryns got a beautiful voice :)

[Lohuli]

HI there does anyone know where to find the score of this version ?

Thanks a lot !

[Mrrsz1]

did carreras missed the lyrics at 1:26??? he said ventris twice!

[lifenw]

I love this version of Ave Maria.

So beautiful and angelic.

Bravo and thanks for sharing.

[rcorbinnnn]

opera singers dont shout so sing high. they use their headvoice, rather than chest voice or falsetto. good ones do, at least.

[viv3147]

actually your wrong, tenors are taught to carry chest voice through the head notes. called covering.

[Sqid101]

I understood that the fashion in opera since early in the 20th Century is to sing high notes from the chest (putting it crudely). So what you say is consistent with what I have read.

[Sqid101]

I mean that what I have read is consistent with what viv3147 said.

[YT102008]

Beautiful, Hayley at her young age held her own.

[WiseMonke]

This really is lovely... made my day. Thank you. God bless you and yours.

[Marvinglz]

Honestly, I've never heard of any of them but poeple are classified in whatever music genre they sing in, not how well or not they can sing that genre. Charlotte Church was considered an Opera singer though it was obvious her technique was less than perfect.

[Sqid101]

Charlotte Church was considered an opera singer by whom?

I'm surprised you say you haven't heard of the others I mentioned. I expected that you would have at least heard of Hayley Westenra, since the video up there features her, and her name is planted across the top of it. In case it is not immediately obvious to you, she's the one in the middle.

[Marvinglz]

Sorry for writing so much but I have to explain the whole "focusing at the region of scream." Think about it this way; Let's say you see your friend across the hall from you and you wanna get his attention so you "shout." Compare that to when someone is being mugged and is "screaming" for help. Screaming and shouting are 2complete different things and in Opera singers use shout to sing. There's no other way to reach high pitches its physically impossible. A law of Physics.

[Sqid101]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not talking about anyone screaming or shouting; I am talking about people singing. It is a fact that to project over an orchestra you must hit frequencies outside the orchestra's range. Opera singers concentrate sound energy in the same pitch range as the human scream. Go Google it.

[Marvinglz]

Andrea being a classically trained singer. And even if you try to compare him with any other pop singer who can sing a high C. The quality and substance of the two will be evident. Opera singer use shouting to sing high notes while pop singers usually just scream, as we all naturally do, in order to try and reach the high pitch. Art form?? I think it makes sense.

[Sqid101]

This is astonishing because Bocelli is one of the so called "popera" singers most hated by the purists. Do a google and check what the opera freaks say about Bocelli -- they hate him more than they hate Hayley, Jenkins, etc (or at least as much). They claim he cannot sing opera properly that he is useless. They do, check it out...

Opera singers, according to musicolgist David Huron learn to project over an orchestra by concentrating sound energy in the same region as the human scream.

[Marvinglz]

But see what I'm saying? Art doesn't make the people, people make the art. Andrea is a great example. He's actually applauded for his ability to cross over. When have you heard of a pop singer do the opposite? Going back to why Classical is considered high art form than pop. Classical is a discipline and inherent form of singing.

[viv3147]

its not a concentrated scream. its using resonators. one can still sing piano and be heard over an orchestra, its the vibrations in the resonators.

[Sqid101]

Yes, I agree that it is "using resonators". I have consistently said that projecting "over" an orchestra is a matter of hitting the right frequencies. It is not a matter of power or loudness (decibels) it is hitting frequencies outside those the orchestra produces. And sure this is done using vibrations in the resonators - that sort of goes without saying really, don't you think?

[Sqid101]

Look, for God's sake, I didn't say anyone screamed. I said that the frequencies where sound energy is concentrated by opera singers is in the same pitch range as the human scream. Savvy? In a pitch range that the human ear is particularly sensitive to. Can you grasp that producing sound energy in the same range as the human scream is not "screaming". OK? A musical instrument or a siren can produce sound energy in the same pitch range as the human scream.

[Sqid101]

Your using Bocelli -- one of the purists and opera fans most hated enemies, one of the objects of their fiercest invective -- as an example of good classical singing leaves me stranded. Well, actually, it leaves you stranded and confirms my own arguments about the opera fraternities inconsistencies.

[Marvinglz]

The only reason the so called "purist," as you choose to call them, which, are a small number! Dislike Andrea because he started to sing in another genre like any other group e.i. Gospel singers are hated when they start doing secular music. The integrity of his technique does not change just cause people choose to ostracize him form a certain genre.

[flaze3]

actually, no, he's just an inferior singer. Pavarotti crossed over and everyone still loved him.

[Sqid101]

Just out of curiosity, how do you classify Paul Potts, Russell Watson, Jonathan Ansell, Hayley Westenra, Katherine Jenkins, Faryl Smith, etc?

Ironically, none of the crossover singers named or any opera singers I know of have the same range as several famous pop singers. Having a five octave range is useful, perhaps, but it doesn't necessarily make for great artistry.

[Sqid101]

What is "Art". I'm not sure that I know, or that I know it when I see it. I think the Tchaikovsky symphony I mentioned may be art. I think that most of Shakespeare is art. But my reciting Shakespeare won't make me a great writer. So, even if some operas are art, that doesn't make all opera singers "distinguished artists" simply because they sing it. To argue they are is nonsense. The purists hate Church, Westenra Jenkins, etc, because they expose the art music myth.

[Marvinglz]

The reasons why Opera/Classical is considered a high art form its because it actually uses music, phrasing, dynamics, chords, as its main entertainment! Pop infuses synthesizers, electronics, beats, trite musical chords that everyone in pop recycles in order to stimulate the senses and hook the listener. Not saying I don't like pop that's all I listen to but I also appreciate Classical/Opera music and can see as clear as day why its a higher art from and when compared, pop falls short.

[Sqid101]

I accept the difference between a simple pop ditty and a Tchaikovsky symphony, but that difference cannot be extrapolated to arguing that opera vocalism is superior to crossover or pop vocalism, or that opera singers are all superior to "pop" singers. And defining exactly what is and what isn't classical music is not nearly as easy as you make it seem. Opera vocalism is to pop what the prose of Sir Walter Scott is to the prose of Grahame Greene. Scott is not necessarily the superior artist.

[Marvinglz]

I see what you're saying but lets compare two voices shall we? You know Andrea Bocelli? Well lets compare him to? oh... lets say, Justin Timberlake. Let's say we wanna ask them both to sing a male high C in full voice. I personally have never heard Justin sing a high C usually he resorts to falsetto. Which, I'll admit sound "pretty" but will be considered cheating. Andrea would sing it both in head voice and falsetto with ease no strain or force! How wouldn't Andreas voice sound superior?

[Sqid101]

Are you saying that Bocelli is a competent opera singer? Tread carefully and keep looking over your shoulder. The purists will string you up from the nearest lamppost for a comment like that.

[ellecho]

You obviously don't have a clue of what you're talking about when you say opera is a joke.

I respect everybody's opinion, but your comment is just stupid. If you don't like opera, fine, saying it's not art makes you look like a fool

[Sqid101]

It's a joke and a farce. Opera vocalism is the biggest con job of the last century. A stupid and archaic style of vocalism that foolish people worship. You are foolish when you claim that anything some brainless opera singer does is high art and anything a "pop" singer does is rubbish. Give me one objective reason for opera being superior to any other form of vocalism. Dr Johnson thought opera was ridiculous. An intelligent man, Dr Johnson. Opera is a good substitute for Monty Python.

[ellecho]

Did I ever say pop music is no good? When did I say opera is superior?

Don't be a fool and enjoy art in everyform it's done. Don't bash something you know so little.

I enjoy good music, wether it's rock, country, pop or practicly every other genre there is, inluding opera and bel canto.

Again, I respect everyone's opinion, but you're just bashing a form of art for no good reason.

[Sqid101]

On a very good day when I haven't been abused as ignorant by more than about 25 braindead opera freaks I might concede that opera is a valid form of expression. But whether opera vocalism, which is not quite the same thing as opera, is art is a moot point. My main beef is with those who draw an arbitrary line in the sand and say that everything on one side is art and everything on the other is rubbish. Since you don't seem to be quite in that category I may concede you have half a point. ;-)

[dartboardheart]

This is not opera. Do you consider this song a valid form of art? And, I'm dying to hear what you think of Hayley Westenra's operatic qualities.

[Sqid101]

To whom is this post directed, dartboardheart? BTW, HW once described her singing as: "It's just entertainment". I wish other singers from a number of genre's had the same lack of pretentiousness. I see that HW is now featuring on Debbie Wiseman's soundtrack for the epic British film "Lesbian Vampire Killers". This means she has appeared on more film and TV sound scores than any other New Zealander. (Along with Nintendo games and Lexus Hybrid ads.) Surely this is true artistry! Brava!

[razzmaster7]

Opps! What are those words again at 1:25? :) Nice to know that things like that even happen to the greats!

[mkurnat]

Hmm. Hayley Westenra has no lung capacity.

[Sqid101]

For a 16-year-old female born at sea level, she was probably about normal or a bit above because she was, I think, a cross-country runner and aoerobic athlete training can increase it. Still, it may only be half what Bryn Terfel might have. When they sang Pokarekare Ana together, she seemed to make, relatively, a lot of noise. But Bryn seems to shed his opera technique when he gets into more popular material so it's a moot point whether HW would benefit from developing operatic technigue.

[Sqid101]

I've read that light sopranos are used to making noise without using much air, but may use the chest and diaphram more as they age. You base your comment on listening to many songs and videos when she's at different ages, no doubt. The differences in opinion are amusing. Most criics describe her as having a a strong or powerful voice while opera snobs say she and all non opera singers are feeble voiced. Objective tests with sound meters show that opera singers are not more powerful than pop.

[Sqid101]

Fear and jealousy. She has a much more powerful voice - obviously so - than most opera singers, and a much more pleasant one. Most of opera training is learning to "resonate" or "project" over an orchestra which is done by concentrating sound energy in the same pitch range as the human scream. That opera singing is "art" is one of the biggest jokes of the last 100 odd years. The degree of anamadversion is in some ways a compliment. People don't go to such lengths to attack the insignificant.

[Sqid101]

It's hilarious, actually, because there are few opera singers of any age who could do the Pokarekare Ana duet with Bryn Terfel with the power it was done by Westenra at 16. And fewer who could foot it with Jonathan Ansell going all out the way the older Westenra can.

[kazooie1404]

Hayley Westenra que hermosa voz!!!

[pavelkostov]

the girl is no good

[nyak0834]

watch this one! watch?v=xuo5vSTMp9c

[Pitonznz]

sung wonderfully, arranged for making money and getting popular -.- i can't imagine that schubert would have liked this. shame on "popularizing" pieces like schuberts ave and puccinis nessun dorma :(

[mcoli2720]

the girl in the centre looks like my niece, and the big lad looks like my mad brother, even sounds like him when hes had a few black bush in him.... what do you know... anyway now too

[Sqid101]

What about the little guy on our right? Doesn't he remind you of some family member? Or a local shopkeeper, perhaps?

[mcoli2720]

Squid im not kiddin you its true, and now that you mention it jose has a striking perfil resemblance to a long dead uncle, from my mothers side, plus i have to agree wholeheartedly with pitonznz.

[Sqid101]

Mcoli27, hell, I never thought you were kiddin! And on reflection I'm sure you and pitonznz are right about Schubert and Puccini. They would want these things arranged so they reached as few people as possible and were always produced at a loss by the most snobbish of opera companies. That way they could claim it was great art and live off government grants.

[verso69]

love your comment!

[Sqid101]

Debatable... I thought Puccini was renowned/stigmatized for an emphasis on melody and popular appeal. The conditions the great composers worked in were much harder than today, and many paid more than a little attention to popularity. And if they didn't sell they didn't eat. There were patrons, I suppose, but the composers weren't able to do just what they liked. Still, you may be right, especially if they were from the area when the composer's wishes were sacrosanct.

[bandgeeks2005]

I would have to say that the singing and the arrangement were both good.

[lindyloulala]

I was there! Fantastic evening.... sigh

[mhskbb]

Great singers, horrible arrangement.

[RONDOC68]

The voices were brilliant............but the plucky arrangement sucked.

[MCJagn]

Brilliant!

[gingerelanor]

I was there! It was a lovely evening. Ave Maria and Amazing Grace are not at all my usual types of music (not being in the slightest bit religious) but they were the most beautiful performances I think I have ever heard.

[klickenpod]

sheesh. he's gained a little weight, that bryn.

[holywells]

YEP----that young LADY has done very well for herself !! This is a fantastic trio doing this particular song----WOW !!!!

[tennislover2]

This is so beautiful!

[tkeyt]

Wow! She was 16, my age! I wish I could sing like that! I like her other take on it as well.

[HOTEGETY]

Jose Carresras has battled lukimia and lived, and you can see the scar of the struggle, but he is greater than ever, and his knowledge and professional skills in music (not just singing where his voice is his instrument) would easily exceed the sum of the entire audiance. The three were equal, and this must be one of the most beautiful moments in the history of this planet! What have you done lately?

[swanningaround]

What a wonderful man José Carreras is. He is by far the most famous of this trio, and just blends in beautifully. The man is so humble. All three singers were great.

[Sqid101]

I believe she was 16 at the time.

[lveccar]

serene and lovely ---- i wish the world was like this

[piman25]

Even in his upper range Terfel's sound is unsurpassed. The harmonies between the three are delightful.

[Staev]

Indeed, and what's REALLY amazing is how well he blends with the other two, especially Westenra. She's a strong singer, but there aren't many people on Earth who have the vocal power of Bryn Terfel. The man's an elephant seal - huge lung capacity for a huge, huge man. :p

[silvermoonlight007]

A soprano/tenor harmony! How divine! Although is my least favourite version of Ave Maria put to music. I much prefer Caccini's take on the prayer. And Hayley actually did it too! It's like she read my mind!

[flyboywales]

Have never heard this song performed like this...truly awe inspiring... brilliant!

[oksana1]

She was 16... amazing!

[ChicanesAngel]

Wow..it's..wow...I have no words..you know I just..want to know when does this happen, I mean, that performance when does it happen?

Anyway...I love it..XD

[Sqid101]

I think it was at the 2003 Faenol festival in Wales. It has SOP on it -- a BBC programme, but I think they filmed it.

[oddball1711]

The SOP stands for Songs of Praise

[Vatsek]

Wow! 10*!