Kiri Te Kanawa sings Bellini (vaimusic.com)

[TheWisemonkey8]

Bellini, for me the most interesting composer for the soprano voice... supported by a mere gossamer of sound from the orchestra... the sign of a truly great soprano is to dominate this music. Might I just say...Drame Kiri nails it... extraordinarily emotive, touching, empathetic and frankly heart breaking...

[Deathmarks1]

HA HA she almost scared the crap out of me at 2:09. What a pitch!!

[GeaVox]

Emotion and technique, what else can we ask of a soprano, but to really, honestly sing? Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has gifted us that. Thank you Kiri!

[veeerooniicaaa]

Gracias por el video!.

[vocalissimo1]

A beautiful voice and excellent technique, but little understanding of how to sing bel canto.

[beachman831]

listen to the Beverly Sills version...extraordinary! I am a big Te Kanawa fan as well :-)

[SandrineSoprano]

Lovely.

[fcogurrola]

Fantastic really. Thanx so much.

[DottoreJojo]

She ruins the emotional climax of the scene... screaming and going too fast on that last run, it's almost vulgar.

[operaoaf]

This music doesn't quite suit her voice as well as Mozart and Strauss, or even Puccini. She never really had an intalianate sound or techniques for bel canto.

[montsyblackmadonna]

Horrid music,

sounds like elevator music !

[nichtsleezy]

@montsyblackmadonna Only to someone with a limited knowledge and taste!!

[billyflynn2]

Though I'm not a fan of 'lyric' singers generally, one still has to accept beautiful singing.

[TheWisemonkey8]

@billyflynn2 yes.. I am not a fan. However, she sings well here.

[796824]

Besides the affectation of her mouth position, being twisted to the right, the unnecessary fortes mar the legato which is germane to

singing this piece despite the trills.

[sweetsoprano1211]

Okay...and you have room to judge her technique whey?

[brolobear]

As much as I love Te Kanawa, this is too fast and doesn't give enough time to caress the Bellini line. Listen to Sills...1968 with Jussi Jalas...that's how it goes. Perfection.

[moghedien13]

i think i know which one your talkin about. sills has a few renditions but there's one that just destroys all others, even her own. i think i have the one ur talkin about

[silsio]

peccato che la dizione lasci molto a desiderare...chissà come mai dagli stranieri accettiamo tutto ma se noi cantiamo in una lingua non nostra siamo letteralmente massacrati!!!

[ezayi]

That´s right... hai ragione.

[DCFunBud]

Simply superb! No costume, no set, no gestures: her voice did all the acting.

[Operaphile]

Divine, but slightly too fast for my liking. Yes, I wish she'd done more bel canto too, but at least we have her Mozart and Strauss to bathe in!

[dt195k2]

I always have loved Kiri's voice, have many of her recordings and saw her sing a great NY Desdemona. However her interpretation of this wasn't "Bellini" enough for me with the phrasing and some vocal lines - more spinto than bel canto. I liked her trills here though and, of course, her sound...wonderful as always.

[IAQUINTASERRA]

un'altra che insieme alla cotrubas pensa a scavare nella musica e non solo a cantare

[Michaelito72]

Beautiful song and her voice is amazing.

[aadamy]

best rendition of the song. hands down.

[mtenor]

caballe is better

[laboheme29]

Caballe isn't better, You like more.

Nobody is better than other

[htshoward]

You know what? I have long felt hers was one of the most beautiful soprano voices around, but when she sings I feel very little...it is just too "clean." No depth to the singing. She has some pretty astounding high notes and a beautiful "clean" line, but again, no depth.

[wonderloly]

i just saw this on the art channel. i got choked up with emotion listening to her beautiful voice and watching her phenomenal performance. god, she is one in a million.

[bubukaka5]

PHENOMENAL !!!!!

[FrenchBuckeyeBoy]

Dame Kiri will always be one of the most magnificent voices during my lifetime. Equally gorgeous in tone on recordings as on the stage. And what a fantastic stage presence and acting ability! I saw her in Capriccio and Arabella at the Met. Sublime doesn't even begin to cover it.

She takes my breath away!

[Tonioo84]

OK now, all you singers who think you know something about singing....when u sing at least half as good and have at least half as long and big career comparing to hers-THEN SAY SOMETHING BAD ABOUT HER TECHNIQUE AND SINGING AND PERSONALITY!!!!!!!!!

[2007nc]

I love Kiri and her singing. I feel many "music critics" are often too harsh and cynical. Bravo for Kiri and thank you for sharing your talents with the world.

[MacVaderzehn]

She doesn't have the makings of an opera singer! Believe me.

[stephanofmunich711]

Gentelemen please!!!

This is not Football. There is no winner or looser and everyone has there own set of ears. I was in a Winter Reise von Schubert in the Getty Museum, where a well known Opera Tenor blasted it to hell, and everyone cheered because they thought it was good to sing Schubert like a Football fan! Even in this obvius case, it would be wrong of me toforce my judjement on everyone.

In the case of Callas...There´s not a female singer that I have more recordings of, and she will a

[Adiambrozi]

Her voice can save a life... kia kaha, Kiri

[jackarturo2904]

se eqivoco en la letra!!!! al principio!!!!

[musicyh]

To those who think that Kiri doesn't sing with emotion, I don't know how you can say that after hearing this. It couldn't get any more emotional without the voice breaking down.

[TwinkieMe]

I love Kiri!!

[elisarig]

To sll who post negative things on the character of Ms. Te Kanawa all I would like to say is that a very close and dear friend of mine knows her and has said that he has never encountered a sweeter more generous singer. He describes her as a simple lady who treats everyone with warmth and respect. I have never met her but I believe my dear friend. There is no denying that her voice was (is) beautiful and she gave it her all.

I hope we all can aspire to give so freely of ourselves too. Thanks.

[musicyh]

Thanks! I know some people who have met her - they all said that Kiri is the gracious type, very sweet, very humble and down-to-earth, unlike other famous opera singers who act like divas. I'll meet her in Oct this year when I play with her as part of the orchestra, and I'll let you know after that if she's really how she seems like. But chances are I can't be very far off.

[iValkure]

I don't think there is any dispute about her being sweet and gracious etc. But I have to say that I heard from a conductor that she once didn't know about a certain phrase as being sad or happy so she had to ask the condoctor! is that why in England she is almost being made fun of on TV shows etc?

I like her style personally as she has something to offer that is associated with her and I can identify it. Any singer who has something positive to be remembered with is great in my opinion.

[musicyh]

Could it be because of the ambiguity of the textural meanings sometimes? Because there are some songs that I've sung (classical songs) which are in a foreign language and where a particular section of the lyrics can be intepreted more than one way, and I wasn't sure which was the intended meaning. Anyway, I do agree with your last sentence. Very aptly put.

[swanningaround]

elisarig. Kiri's personality and humility come across in her singing. She is a simple and also talented soul.

[gokathyJ]

Kiri's Humility? Bwhahahahahahahahahhahh!

"Humility"? She's certainly simple.

[1964stellina]

@elisarig

è vero!!!

i cantanti hanno una caratteristica non comune ad altri: essi SONO LA LORO VOCE.

la voce di Kiri Te Kanawa è proprio lo specchio della persona da te descritta.

[Gobbi2007]

@elisarig so what does that have to do with her singing? Last time I checked, most of us who have access to the internet live in free societies, where we can exercise freedom of expression. I love, adore, Kiri. Her voice, her poise, her personality, her Contessa, her Desdemona... delicious. However, I will express my opinion on her character whether it fits your friend or not. BTW: do not post anything negative about Iron Maiden: they are really nice guys. I know them personally.

[GeaVox]

@Gobbi2007 Love the Maiden, love Kiri! What's to not love? It's all music! :D

[ininacsot]

@elisarig bonsoir, il suffit de l'écouter ou de la regarder pour voir toute les qualités decette dame

[truvianni]

@elisarig Well if you ever meet her tell her that I am a fan of hers and even mentioned her in my book "New York's Opera Society". I also saw her in Warsaw in 2006 and was very impressed by her even more than I thought I would be. I also wrote an article about this concert if you wish to read it please google "Truvianni,Te Kanawa".

[cantanteporsiempre]

this orchestra does not have good entonation, but Kiri is a goddess

[cuddlebear51]

More like Yellini.

[EmeraldSky33]

Actually, I think it's crappy compression high notes on YouTube, not Kiri.

Em

[cuddlebear51]

Squid101 rocks, Kiri sucks! What an ugly singing!

[paulotomaso]

This performance is the best Ive seen of this. I just watched Battle literally crap all over the stage doing this, it was a complete horror show. Kiri is divine, and all these crazies saying all this crazy stuff need to get over the bitterness of their stalled careers and trying baking or pottery.

[domi2020]

A rare venture out of her usual repertoire-very nicely done! She did sing Rossini as the La donna del lago in 69 and also as Anna Bolena!!!!. If anyone has Anna Bolena to upload- that would be a rare treasure indeed!!!

[Xalira06]

Great interpreter. I love her singing here, she is very passionate.

[voltape]

I am astounded at all the crap written for Kiri - She is a wonderful singer and I admire her for many years - I have most of her recordings.

[Sqid101]

Dame Snotti Te Kanablah is one of the greatest bitches of all time. One the most odious, mendacious, duplicitous, arrogant, dispicable, and stupid cows in the history of the planet. Someone should insert a large microphone forcibly in her rear passage and toss her over a cliff.

[piggyhashim]

And look -- the stupid malicious old cow is using a microphone!

FAKE, FAKE!

But all opera is fake. Fake art.

[elizabethvonslussen]

Poor you PIGGHASHIM, you sound like someone having a score to settle with Dame Kiri, has she hurt you professiobnally in any way? If she did, I don't think this is the place to blast your wrath. No one can deny Te kanawa is one of the greatest.

[Sqid101]

A lot of people do deny it. Dame Snotti Te Kanablah has hurt many professionally.

You are hardly, dear elizabeth, in a postion to take the high moral ground. One may well ask why the opera psychotics are continually spamming and making person attacks o threads. It has gotten to the point where those posting threads featuring Jenkins have to disable comments. Recently, whole videos mocking Jenkins and Westenra have been posted. Has the opera community a score to settle with them?

[elizabethvonslussen]

One cannot go down to this level. I have been to several concerts of Dame Kiri where she delivered unequalled singing. We can only judge her by this standard.She was magnificent. The beauty of her voice, the richness, the timbre - all haunt your heart even after coming home from her concert. We saw her perform in an open air concert at Ulriksdahl Castle, outskirt of Stockholm in the presence of the Swedish Royal Family and everybody was so happy. The Nobel Gala with Sir George is vintage event.

[Sqid101]

Dame Snotti Te Kanablah is one of the greatest bitches of all time. One the most odious, mendacious, duplicitous, arrogant, dispicable, and stupid cows in the history of the planet. Someone should insert a large microphone forcibly in her rear passage and toss her over a cliff.

[Sqid101]

I beg you pardon, I seem to have mispelt despicable.

Dame Snotti Te Kanablah is one of the greatest bitches of all time. One the most odious, mendacious, duplicitous, arrogant, despicable, and stupid cows in the history of the planet. Someone should insert a large microphone forcibly in her rear passage and toss her over a cliff.

[Sqid101]

Sorry, that should read "personal attacks".

Well, Elizabeth, can you explain? Has the opera community a score to settle with Kathy Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Paul Potts, etc?

Have they hurt you professionally? Run over your dogs? Seduced your husbands?

Since Dame Snotti Te Kanablah's (see I can do it too (it is evidently considered very clever to call Westenra "Westenblah") it has gotten worse. We can't use the site in peace, so we may as well fuck up the snotopera threads.

[nashvilledisco]

One of THE best Opera singers of all time, indeed!

[elizabethvonslussen]

I completely agree. She even has a beautiful sense of humour. KIRI FOREVER!

[PsmythEsq]

It is well-known that this foul and disgusting creature sucks donkey-dick. Then most opera slags do.

[piggyhashim]

Indeed, Psmyth, sir, it is well-know. They are malicous, insanely jealous creatures too. The opera community is the lowest and nastiest of low life and this ridiculous Te Kackawa creature is one of the lowest of the low. Pure Pigshit.

[elizabethvonslussen]

Piggyhashim, please get it right this time, I entreat you. The OPERA, repeat, the OPERA, IS THE MOST NOBLE OF ALL ARTS. It is acting and singing together, a feat not easy to uphold unless you are gifted. And mind your language. Please.

[dinulipati]

Frankly, I'm astonished at several serious reactions. Comments like those of Piggyhashim (the nickname itself says enough) seem to me either expressly provocative or ignorant.- Dame Te Kanawa has indeed failed to thank me for something she have done, no doubt about it. The story is too long to tell here, I will gladly mail it to anyone who is interested. The fact is that it has hurt me, but I push that feeling under the table when I listen to her exquisite timbre.-

[LaBelleHelene]

Would you mail it to me?, please...

And, as you said..., pushing the feeling under the table is the best you can do, because she's really exquisite. Don't let any hard feeling take from you any wonderful one she may give you when singing... Ever.

[dinulipati]

LaBelleHelene, did you receive my reply? I'd like to know it, because I'm not sure if it was sent correctly, and I don't know when it's going to be be added to this forum.

[gokathyJ]

Some of the stupidest acting I've ever seen. Of course most opera acting is absurd. It makes monty python seem sensible.

[gokathyJ]

She is a malcious evil slag who has attempted -- and succeeded I believe -- in damaging other singers careers, and is now conducting another vendetta. She has slagged Westenra off in public twice now and many times in private, avoided meeting her and snubbed her the one time they did meet. This is not the behaviour of a mature and senible adult. She has attacked every New Zealand singer who has every gotten any limelight of their own. She is a jealous dangerous bit of pond scum.

[petelovesbevsills]

Oh dear, a spelling lesson from an obviously disturbed person. Thank you "gokathJ". How does one break it to you gently? Westenra has as much talent as an empty Coke can.Kiri can snub AND slag off who she wants to without asking for your approval. O.K.? Now Dearie, as you are hell bent on teaching me to spell, may I point out that "gotten" is trashy English useage. Remember your school report? "can do better"? well, you haven't gotten any better. Demand a refund from your school immediately!

[gokathyJ]

"Gotten" is standard outside of the UK. Yes dear, she can be as malicious, vicious, jealous, and stupid as she likes, just don't say she's not. The fact you attack the likes of Jenkins and Westenra the way you do proves their standing. They're a thousand times more talented than any any silly screeching opera cow.

[swanningaround]

Gokathy. I have never attacked either Miss Jenkins or Miss Westentra. I did mention that the Jenkins people do criticize Kiri, for example say that "Kathy only sang with the old lady as she felt sorry for her". This seems to indicate the arrogance of the Jenkins people.

[petelovesbevsills]

Oh Dear, gokathyJ, who rattled your cage again? I DO come from outside of the UK and certainly did not employ the use sloppy English. Talking about attacking, you have to be the queen mother of attackers, are there no hobby shops where you live? Perhaps a peek into my comments might be a revelation to you to note that I have not mentioned our fabulous, talented Katherine Jenkins. You do have a coniferous forest growing on your shoulder about Kiri, did she refuse to sign your programme?

[bjorlingfan]

The sign of a not so well person is one that puts DAME Kiri into her favourites and then proceeds to attack her "favourite" with malicious venom. Are you getting treatment?

[Tsaraslondon]

having read through the rest of the comments here, I've come to the conclusion that gohathyJ is seriously disturbed, not to mention the fact that much of what she says is actually libelous. Maybe we should point it out to Te Kanawa's lawyers

[petelovesbevsills]

Besides being seriously disturbed she has obviously been subjected to extremely traumatic "potty training". This normally results in irrepairable personality defects.

[BeauTenor]

Jenkins? Ha. Talk about a fake singer who needs a mike. Westenra isn't any better. Kiri had a REAL career, around REAL voice and REAL talent. She WORKED for what she has, FAR more than any little talentless hack handed a career because of her looks.

[russtunes]

Exactly.

[Operaphile]

Too bloody right!!!!!!!!!!

[truvianni]

@BeauTenor you are right in everything you say only I would say that Kiri stil has a great voice

[paulotomaso]

she has a different sound in this performance than most. i love it. this piece is so haunting, and Kiri is like something from another world who occassionally comes down to earth to remind us of the promise of heaven

[robertdonkers]

I love it, such beautiful perfect voice and lovely to hear these great singers, singing repertoire outside their standards opera repertoire.

[cooollikethat]

you tube please kick this gokathy off shes a nutcase

[europeobsession]

yes....how does one kick someone off though? im going to try to email them. Because someone shouldnt be allowed to leave horrible comments like that. and kiri shouldnt see it...she is an incredible singer and one of the best singers of all time

[gokathyJ]

Yeah, yeah. And lunatic braindead opera freaks saying Kathy Jenkins never really won a scholarship to rada (it was a mistake she was sent a letter meant for someone of the same name) is fine. And saying that her contract stipulated a boob job and losing weight -- and meaning it, not joking, is fine. You lot are the ones who need treatment. Spamming every thread by Jenkins and Westenra is fine too. Comments like "Die bitch Die" are ok coming from pyschotic opera fans?

[piggyhashim]

You are far too kind, gokathyJ. Describing opera fans as pyschotic is not strong enough. Dribbling, gibbering, criminally insane, pond scum comes closer to the likes of Te Kackawa.

[cleanears]

wonderful singer... she sang the high note as written... she was not a coloratura anyway.

[paulotomaso]

she is other-worldly. i loved it!

[impshit]

my dog sings to this shit search 'my dog is singing opera'

[briony1980]

she's not using a microphone, you idiot.

[gokathyJ]

Get your eyes tested lunatic.

[europeobsession]

how dare you!

[petelovesbevsills]

GokathyJ, Dear sweet stupid lady, is there a history mental illness in the family which you might have inhertited? You are certainly not well and should lie down more often and rest your overused brain. I have a Pekingese and she has not stopped laughing at your very purile comment about dogs singing better than Dame Kiri. She says she wishes she could just sing one note as well as Kiri. Do you have a hobby shop nearby?

[htshoward]

LOL!!! Now that is funny! I needed that laugh...Thank you. BTW...I love Bev too! Kiri sings very nicely, also. Not my favorite soprano, but lovely voice.

[petelovesbevsills]

Thanks htshoward! I have sent her a reply to her English lesson that she gave me! Not a well woman at all!

[gokathyJ]

It's spelt "puerile", by the way. What I meant to say was that dead ferrets sing better than Te Kanawa. I'll leave it up to you whether you think I mean that literally or whether it's a hyperbolic way of indicating I don't have much respect for the loathsome old shit.

[Lohengrin]

Incredibly beautiful voice and such a refined performance.

The final scale was sung with fear of the high note that was only touched for a second and the dress yes is horrible (purple is for gypsies and funerals not for divas).

[BeauTenor]

I don't think that was sung with "fear of the high note" at all. She had a wonderful top, and she used it very well. Just because she sang the music as it was written (she usually did), doesn't mean she was afraid of the high notes.

[drdre333]

You are correct. However, I think what people are picking up on is that she really rushed the cadenza, and it sounded pressed. Unfortunate, because she really could sing it well if she tried.

[DomerStud2008]

Only a diva like her could pull off that dress. It almost makes me want to pull it off...

[penwittig]

I was at this concert - in the Wilfred Pelissier Hall, in Montreal, with Charles Dutoit & the Orchestre Symphonique de Monreal.

This was possibly one of the best concerts I have ever been to; the singing of Kiri te Kanawa was awesome; phrasing; breath control; presentation - perfect.

And Charles Dutoit - what a marvellous accompanist.

Bravo - il y a le plus meilleurs concert que je voir.

Le vêtements - pah. moi non plus.

[elizabethvonslussen]

GokathyJ, even the choice of your name sounds like a moron whose whole existence is to wreak havoc on decent, cultured people. I have seen Dame Kiri live 4 times, and you go home with such a beautiful feeling, an experience like a priceless treasure. Your type will not come any closer to real artist like her (a different genre though but as comparison) to garbage like Britney Spears, to this jumpy-froggy-belting woman who calls herself madona, porno Janet Jackson and her freaky brother. SHAMEFUL

[piggyhashim]

A real artist?

Bwahahahahahahahhahahahahah

The brainless Te Kackawa an artist? You're a raving psychotic. Do you think because she sings Mozart that makes her like Mozart?

Bwahahahahahahhahhha

She is shit. Viscous silly shit. And you are a stupidly pretentions fool. Go and take you pills, go home to Hampstead or whatever leafy snotty suburb you come from and have a lie down. Britney Spears and Madonna are just as much artists as this creep.

[Gobbi2007]

it's almost too bad she was tagged as "only" mozartean. she sings lovely. or lovelily. or lovelililily. i agree with the slight breathiness at the end, but who cares? she kicks renée's butt any day.

[lsweetberriesl]

she messed up the words.

[kwbmusicman]

I guess we're the only ones who caught that minor glitch. Good thing she got back on track. Still, it's a wonderful sound for this very beautiful piece! :)

[a1ethioS]

Every time I listen to Kiri sing this I feel the ache of emotion, and I don't even know what I am feeling exactly but the tears run down my face. The sound is beautiful and the passion is almost tangible.

[paminaase]

thanks a lot for posting it!

[camandrula]

brava

[SeniarYdnew]

Great bel canto from a fab lyric. Kiri does this great but it seems a bit breathy at the end. Maybe thats why she doesnt do that much bel canto

[agnellodei]

that's called singing ppp

[DonnaZerlina]

BRAVA!

[europelove]

wow...this is the only bel canto i've ever heard her do...and its fabulous...why didnt she do more?

[operaboy81]

Brava.

[BeauTenor]

Wow...shows you what might have been if she'd taken a slightly different tack. Her line was always fabulous.

[Wavewolfaroha]

This is part of a wonderful concert available in full on DVD. Worth every penny--Kiri is the best there is!!!!

[presleyflutist]

yeah.....okay

[colibridelapampa]

Increiblemente buena. Fantastica tecnica!!! Gran interpretacion

[mattskib]

A gorgeous rendition of a beautiful aria - what a shame Dame Kiri never sang Giulietta or any bel canto on stage.