Kathleen Battle - Porgy and Bess - Summertime

[LauraBrandwood]

God that support is incredible... Beautiful

[BRaeh13579]

wow... this is beautiful. Such a clean pure voice. and talk about control! A+

[ashfab90]

@Rexicano it is also called an opera on wikipedia. And it's Pavarotti, not Pavoratti. Please show at least some respect for opera by spelling the greatest tenor's name right :)

[ashfab90]

Porgy is considered an opera, although it may be debatable. And she sings this BEAUTIFULLY!!! 

[frogeyeful]

I saws pargy n bess when i was littlw boy on NBC and I have never seen it seense a very good opera.

[bssnplayer]

Porgy and Bess was written by George Gershwin as an opera. Listen to the whole thing.

[karmakujo]

at 2:17 she gets a BIT flat before her gliss to the high note. but that is the ONLY flaw i can find.

[Rexicano]

Way too formal;

she ruins the piece.

It's not an Opera...it's a gut level Blues piece.

[diuscorvus]

@Rexicano actually, wasn't this piece written as part of an... opera?

[Rexicano]

@diuscorvus

That's like calling West Side Story an Opera...It's a staged musical.

Besides, an Opera from the 19th century is not the same as the 20th...or maybe you didn't notice.

[bssnplayer]

@Rexicano This is from an actual opera. When it was premiered, it was as an opera.

[Rexicano]

@bssnplayer

I could take any soap opera and call it an Opera;

doesn't make it so.

It's just a staged musical drama.

No one with a brain calls Porgy and Bess an Opera. You're dreaming.

[sobefobik]

@Rexicano Apparently you're unsure of what an opera is. It may not be the classical opera you're be used to, but it's still an opera. If the words are sung throughout the composition, it's an opera.

[Rexicano]

@sobefobik

You call it what you want;

I call it a Musical.

And is that you playing Malaguena?

Terrible.

Playing a nylon with a pick...I guess you just don't care about good tone quality.

[sobefobik]

@Rexicano Oh, and is what you call it the standard? For someone who is unsure of what an opera is sure has strong words. And you're a teacher? Maybe you should go back to school and have someone reteach you.

Have you ever heard of Les Miserables? I'm going to assume you call it a musical. Well, actually it's an opera.

And, by the way, I am not in the video playing Malaguena. But I would imagine he's a better performer than you. Don't be a bigot, and try admitting when you're wrong.

[Rexicano]

@sobefobik

Don't blame me for knowing things you don't;

like when someone is butchering a piece of guitar music...and nylon string with a pick is really low rent technique. But maybe you really hate the way Segovia, Bream, Williams and Parkening play. Or you plainly like crap.

So, anyone with a differing opinion needs to go to a re education camp I suppose.

And what's with the "bigot" name calling? You're a confused and ignorant person with stupid assumptions.

[sobefobik]

@Rexicano If you have a problem with Ramone De La Cruz's technique, complain to him about it, not me since it is completely irrelevant here.

An what is this argument about technique anyway? What does it have to do with this video being an opera? You're still wrong about it, so get over it. Is that how you try to defend yourself when you're wrong, to produce irrelevant arguments?

Know your history before making yourself look like an idiot.

[sobefobik]

@Rexicano ...and as the Harvord Dictionary of Music states, "Porgy and Bess...Opera in three acts by George Gershwin, produced in New York in 1935."

[jewelmarkess]

@sobefobik Actually, Les Miserables is a musical not opera, but I agree with you on Porgy and Bess. The main diffence is composers' intention and style of singing required. Porgy and Bess was conceived by Gershwin as "American folk opera" and its first performance in 1935 featured entirely classically trained singers. It was also performed at the Met. Les Miserables was conceived as a musical, it's written for musical theater voices; operatic voices sound very wrong in Les Miserables.

[jewelmarkess]

@sobefobik This is a very antiquated definition from the time before microphones were invented that has never been updated and when all musicals were operettas with spoken dialog. If you look up "musical" definition you'll see that it also mentions that it can be sung-through. In fact, just as there are operas with spoken dialog - e.g. Carmen, The Magic Flute, La Fille du Regiment - there are musicals that are sung-through. Today the main difference is style of singing.

[sobefobik]

@jewelmarkess Thanks for clarifying that Jewel. I had a professor tell our class it was an opera, so I've always thought of it as such.

[jewelmarkess]

@sobefobik You are very welcome. There are quite a few interesting discussion on the subject on the internet - if you google for musical vs opera. It's kind of sad that a professor of music doesn't know much about opera, but it's life. BTW - in all these arguments I forgot to mention what is really important: how much I like this interpretation of Summertime. Leontyne Price' interpretation is still my favorite, but Kathleen Battle is fabulous too.

[smichelle65]

@Rexicano "Porgy & Bess" has been jazzed up by several non-opera singers, but it was most definitely composed as an opera. Full productions have been staged at prestigious (read: "snobbish") opera houses such as Italy's La Scala (1955), Austria's Vienna Volksoper (1965), NY's Metropolitan Opera (1985), Welsh National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Berlin Opera, South Africa's Capetown Opera--I could go on.

[Rexicano]

@smichelle65

So, it's the VENUE that makes the style? And since Sting sang on stage with Pavoratti...Sting is an Opera singer?

And the term "jazzed up" is only used by people who don't know a thing about Jazz and usually don't like it.

[smichelle65]

@Rexicano My point is Porgy & Bess has had FULLY STAGED PRODUCTIONS at MAJOR opera houses around the world, several of which are very discriminating as to what they allow to be performed in thier venue. Sting is not an opera singer as he is not trained to sing traditional opera. And the term, "jazzed up", means just that--the orchestration has been reworked to fit a jazz orchestra/band and singer--simple as that (and I love jazz, btw). Oh, and it's PavArOtti.

[Rexicano]

@smichelle65

Well, you LOVE Jazz so much! there are no Jazz selections among your numerous Favs. Right.

You don't really know about jazz; no Jazz musician uses the term "jazzed up" and it's a stupid term used by people who have no clue.

Gee, thanks for the spelling lesson....wow, one letter off...grow up.

You seem to need a music appreciation lesson on Jazz tradition and stop using superficial terms if you want to describe an art form. Or just stick to Will Smith and Kenny Loggins.

[smichelle65]

@Rexicano You might want to consider a reading comprehension refresher course: where in any of my posts do I list my "favs."?! And, like it or not, jazzed up is a common term for what I have described; this isn't rocket science, dude. And for someone who proclaims to be so much more clued in to jazz than the rest of us, I'm surprised by your seemingly total ignorance as to the history of Porgy & Bess, written by America's greatest jazz/modern classical composer. (cont.)

[smichelle65]

@Rexicano (cont.) As for me not knowing about jazz: when is that a pre-requisite to enjoying it? And I am quite grown up, thank u very much. I would imagine someone who knows what constitutes an opera would at least know how to spell the name of one of the greatest tenors in the history of the art form. But that's just me...

[jewelmarkess]

@Rexicano Gershwin intended it as an opera, he called it "American folk opera", and while its very first performance was on Broadway it featured classically trained singers. It was also performed at both the Met and La Scala and with opera singers - you wouldn't call directors of top opera theaters ignorant? In reality, it's the composer's intentions that matter most - what kind of sound he wanted; Gershwin clearly wanted operatic sound. Leontyne Price sang and recorded Bess.

[Rexicano]

@jewelmarkess

From Wikipedia;

"The work was not widely accepted in the United States as a legitimate opera until 1976"

So, I am not the only one not calling it Opera.

It's taken from the music of African Americans by a Jewish Pop music writer.

And that's why it sounds sooooo much better sung by Pop or Jazz singers.

It sound awful done up in the traditional Operatic voices.

You have a very bad habit of trying to put words in my mouth I never said or intended. Grow up—and stop the melodrama.

[jewelmarkess]

@Rexicano I am not putting words in your mouth. You said above "No one with a brain calls Porgy and Bess an Opera", didn't you write it? I replied that Gershwin and opera theaters think it's opera. BTW, there is an interesting article about Porgy and Bess on PBS Great performances website. Google for it, it's called "The great 'Porgy' debate", it explains why it wasn't accepted as opera initially. As to what sounds better - this is called "individual preference".

[jewelmarkess]

@Rexicano Incidentally, you seem to claim that I put words in your mouth even when I reply specifically to what you write in the context of a specific conversation. In the other incident, my understanding of what you meant was based on both what you said and the context of the conversation: we weren't chatting in general, you reply to a specific comment regarding a specific singer, so my understanding was valid. Here I don't see where I "put words in your mouth". Enlighten me.

[jazzdanca59]

Oh yeh! The way it should be sung!!

[FanOfBats]

How did five people not like this??? It's perfect.

[LEOPARDTWO]

Bellisima! 

[Ajewa]

La belle noire. Tres fantastique!

[4099aj]

Molto godere di buona........

[luciferda007]

great technic

[blkchk]

Her voice is like crystal.

[forevermorphingari]

<3  love her

[collegeri]

what recording on cd is this from? i've got to get it. that was so good i hurt!

[herbj3]

im dead she is def a favorite of man right now

[tkguy30]

such a beautiful voice she has

[knittingmommy1121]

Love it!~!!

[shatros]

listening to this is like a metaphysical experience.

[emileelouiseb]

this is absolutely beautiful!! I can't believe her control. Wonderful

[premed80]

If I never heard Leontyne Price's version I would have said this is the best I've ever heard. She does it justice I must say. A very strong second in my book!

[denidowi]

Well this is probably the Best version I've ever heard of this song.

I'll see if I can chase up that other voice.

[mago3331]

wow

[west07626]

This is the best version I've heard, her voice is like silk. Also look at a teenage soprano, Liza Sobel singing it. I will have to send her this posting to aim for as she matures. Thank you for posting this song. Even her picture is fabulous.

[543693The]

Oh !!!!!!!!!!!!! 5*****  ***** merveilleuse et angélique voix !

expression superbe de sensibilité

[macciboma]

@543693The Tres belle Merci Mariek

[nambypamby34]

Love her voice and the power behind it!

[poshpescatarian]

Thanks so much for this! Incroyable!

[Achbar]

I love her voice

[bireman]

best interpretation of Summertime i've ever heard...

[armando1920]

Fantastic,Just Fastastic is the voice like an angel but there's a "but" always,but Janis,i can't explain is more than fastactic is a voice that make you feel somethin' inside you,maybe the epoch,the 60's bit both are great!

[biginternetfan]

at school we have some1 who sing just as pretty!

i know it sounds wierd but it's true!

they both have a voice that's sounds unreal :S

[helderbalanta]

beautifull voices... and tecnic amazing...

[classyteacherdiva]

Truly a voice like none other!

[dlsw23]

UNBELIEVABLE!!! FABULOUS!!! Maybe she is the Angel of Music....

[Yaziphae]

wow

[khykhy]

limpid and exquisite

[jocumar117]

Bravisimo !

[fluffynamedkimba]

her artistry is just perfect for this

[Barbaraplease]

perfection indeed.

[Koshenteo]

i think u r perfection indeed barbarapleasebarbara!!!

[critters46]

Incredible!

[peroslav1]

such control. very beautiful.

[WickedAwesome25]

wow i cant get that high note

[H2obearer]

WOW!!! Flawless.

[comboman]

Exquisite.

[catilyndevone]

perfection!!!!

[whiteliketar]

Like droplet of water bursting in slow motion...her control. Almost like if time is being suspended when she pulls and holds those notes.

[Cvallo77]

too perfect ant too less expressive and individual

[monyae2000]

Kathleen Battle is my modern day Maria Callas!!!

[depawindu]

Thanks for one of the real greats

[wilmingfun]

Amazing.....Oh please learn to be a nicer person Ms. Battle.

[Magamaguitam]

"Summertime" brings back to me my earlier memories of the first song I recalled having listened consciously in this my lifetime. Kathleen Battle, a great and inspired opera singer!

Thank you!!

[niggazincrime]

Beautifull(=