Sumi Jo & Ah-Kyung Lee - Delibes - Lakme - Flower Duet

[ZeekWolfe1]

This music can not be performed any better. It is the definitve version.

[theperspicacious1]

They are magnificent! Wow blown away.....

[MegaAznLove]

I absolutely love the chorus of this song if that is what its called(: Dream High brought me here hehe

[Linternauter]

Truly the best version of this I have heard so far. I was also wondering whether her voice was synthetised by I see form the comment it is all natural. And what utter mastery of french ennunciation, wonderful performance!

[VoiceClassical]

3:41 ... so delightful...

[Reporter40]

This can't be true. So nice.

[pdruiz2005]

Talk about globalization. "Lakme" is about an Indian princess who falls in love with a British soldier during the British Raj. But then some French composer decided to rewrite this story as a French opera. Then 150 years later, a Korean orchestra with Korean opera singers decide to sing the most famous duet aria in said opera in flawless French. On a completely unrelated note: why are most of the orchestra players women? That's unheard of in the West. Do Korean men hate playing instruments?

[putoseiko]

asians are good at everything!

[chinaman612]

@smoothiw. 6 months ago, I'd never heard of Sumi Jo. I stumbled across her on youtube, and have been affected ever since. With every video viewed or cd listened to, my previously high blood pressure has tumbled to a manageable level. I am convinced it is down to the tears I shed watching and hearing this celestial beauty sing.

She has had a profound effect on my life, and for that I thank her.

An extraordinary artist and person.

[boyoungc]

@chinaman612 I am in tears reading your comment. I agree 100%. Did you also see her singing Ave Maria by Gounod? It is just heavenly.

[chinaman612]

@gasizaad. I saw Sumi Jo in London last week at the Cadogan Hall in front of a 30 - 35 piece orchestra. There was no sign of a Mic or speaker anywhere. She was truly breathtaking. The worlds finest performing artist by a long long way. If you you allow her to, she can be life changing. Beautiful both onstage and in her general demeanour.

[smoothiw]

@chinaman612 I see that you were completely fascinated by Sumi Jo last week. I know it well :) I was exactly same 15 years ago. One evening, I heard her voice from TV, having dinner, and said to myself, "What is it? Is it really a human voice? WOW." The moment my love started. One incredible evening when I met someone I would love forever.

[gazisaad]

no mics wtf !

[chinaman612]

Absolutely delightful. They are both excellent, but Sumi Jo presses every button. She is totally breathtaking!

[flicfan416]

Ah Kyung Lee is fantastic! I wonder if she performs regularly

[ZenSpider40]

unreal, beautiful, brought me to tears

[JackRodriguez666]

I'm so impressed, such a divine piece of music!

I don't understand why it's so unknown,there's something wrong in today's people

Esta musica me encanta, vozes de angeles!

no entiendo porque no sea conocida da todos.

Questa musica è così sublime! come è possibile che non sia conosciuta da una grande tantissima gente?

[missbellacullen94]

I LOVE this. They have the voices of angels!

[guambrilla]

Angel's voices in the earth!!

[4419931406]

thanks to god, that people with those voices does live on earth and not in paradise

[petenjohn1]

I love Sumi Jo. I hadn't heard Ah-Kyung Lee before and I love her timbre. They blend beautifully. I think Joan and Marilyn or Jane are my favourite two, but the balance of these two voices is just beautiful. Too often the mezzo is overshadowed - its so delightful to hear Ah-Kyung Lee. Love it.

[wellasang]

Two beautiful-voice Koreans. Wonderful, truly amazing.

[rscmrcmd]

gorgeous 

[princessmarian21]

When I heard this song, It brings me back in the 17th century...

[stevesg92]

Can someone tell me what the highest note they sing in this? thanks

[sherrach898]

@stevesg92 It's a high B. :)

[sherrach898]

@stevesg92 Well, if you wanna get specific, the high soprano goes up to a B, and the mezzo goes up to a G#. :)

[alendelonce]

pearl,pure pearl:)

[ElasticGiraffe]

It appears the cameraman rather fancies one particular oboe player. ;P

[cinnamonbrandylite]

@ElasticGiraffe or they know that in the score 'oboe' is 'bird singing nearby to which they listen' - in which case 'cameraman doing his job right'. you know-nothing upstart

[ElasticGiraffe]

@cinnamonbrandylite I was merely kidding. Lighten up, you priggish fussbudget.

[honorablessy]

this is the best version !

[atlanticdjn]

Beautiful, this is real music...

[knoduron]

was a bit fast , and i always thought Dame Joan Sutherland And Jane Berbie were the BEST at this song , but by golly .... theses women are AMAZING!!!!!

[KoolaidSARANGKhJ]

one word. AMAZING XD

[stopputtingLoL]

Sing or hear this song brings instant happiness.

[measio90]

Wow..... IMPRESSIVE! Mezzo has such pale and milky skin tone, look at her chest :p

BTW great combination, balanced, matching timbre. And i don't think it is too fast at all as someone commented below. It sounds organic.

[dragosnarcis]

Are those 36 dislike-ers mad or just mean :( this is beautiful how can someone dislike this ?!

[cd14523]

its too fast, all the emotion is lost but beautiful voices

[becho32]

!!!!!!!!!!!!! afinacion perfecta !!! Realmente excelente !! Escucho a Sumi pero nunca habia oido a ah-kyung lee  me encanto esa mezzo !!!

[AGL770306]

Elles ont quelque chose qui me donne un magnifique frisson au départ, mais par la suite j'ai du mal à leur suivre.

C'est tout de même remarquable.

[elilov3]

o interpretare foarte placuta, un cantec dus la sublim...

[onotuoedaul]

oh oh sumi's dresses;................

[arhanghelcazut]

Awesome!

[truediabolique69]

I just got the chills listening to these two angelic voices descended to earth on some voluminous and diaphonous cloud to please and enchant us.........

[DivinityEthereal]

That gave me shivers. I love, love, love that.

[shnuggydunks]

Found it at long last! The most balanced and silky smooth Flower Duet ever. Fantastic.

[Hope1760]

Dream high got me here

[PoupeeLand]

@Hope1760 me too :)

[elsuir]

Oh how I love this!!!!

[donniganclan123]

that song is so beautiful and moving it always leaves me breathless

[amedeoVIsavoia]

bellissimo!!!!

[FurAlyssey]

They should have a brighter mezzo soprano to match the bright soprano. Only thing otherwise lovely....

[tolomia1]

... just beautiful, bello

[laaporto]

Lindo demais !!!

[lydiake1]

the best version ever!!!!!!

[northernsoul808]

Stunning

[complexionne]

Soooooo Balanced!! their sounds(their timbre) matchs perfectly. extremly pleasing to litsten. i can llisten to it all day long~ it seems they know each other in person.

just curious: 060-700 -XXXX what is that number for? i just want to know what it is said above in korean... ive seen it another sumi's video :p

[icylakepaxphile]

@complexionne this is a new year concert. and at this period, there are many charity donation activities held by many associations. that is ARS auto donation system. if you call this number, the fee would be automatically send to the KBS(Korean Broadcasting System)'s donation account.

[themackenzieproject]

amazing!

[TheALEXdoa]

This was so beauitful!!! Gosh ya can sing!!!

[mflorevzla]

primera vez que las escucho en esta bella pieza musical....simplemente extraordinarias....gracias

[sugama246]

i listened to each and dey sound as if dey are the same people singing it

[tumaini14]

Wow. Im so impressed that every 5-10 minutes I'm back to this.

[23zowie23]

KodarKodar - like you stuffed up with your spelling - marvellous singing to the ordinary listener. Graham Melb Aus

[jimmyl324]

two of the greatest ever!!!!!!!

[lespedeeza]

I like the pacing of this version!

[devynethang]

Ethereally beautiful. Stunning performance. Thank you!

[CreoleLiveDoll]

This is an AMAZING duet. My absolute Fav!

[CreoleLiveDoll]

OMG! My Mother used to sing this to me as a baby! THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! :')

[PhleshWound]

The best thing on the internet.  Truly divine - and this from a guitar rock chick of the 70s and 80s. Rock on ladies.

[mrspenn1611]

classic lady's classic voices, classic music, sounds like angels dancing in my ears. . .just beautiful, , , hmmmmmm

[AwaTu]

Definitively Lovely —I've never heard a better performed version of "Sous le dôme épais" —Sumi Jo & Ah-Kyung Lee partner up well here —And, framed beautifully by Francesco Columbo and the Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra...

[LukeSkyscraper]

Possibly _the_ most beautiful duet sung by two equally beautiful women.

I clapped and I wasn't even in the audience.

[sophiaspapi2003]

And they say there is no God...

[Contratrombone64]

This is a beautiful performance and it's good to see Sumi Jo actually turned up! Afterall, despite how far away from Europe, she did walk out on performances with Opera Australia in Sydney ... not very professional

[Thewisemonkey9]

This is a beautiful performance. There is no doubt. Although, what struck me most was the extent to which Jo made room for and offered help to the less experienced artist. A honourable, commendable and sadly rare quality in the performing arts… I must source some live recordings… this was very beautiful… very beautiful…

[PatateRoussoiste]

What a shame ! This is beautiful but the mezzo isn't really good at french.

[rllopez99]

No soy critico de canto, solo una persona comun y corriente que siento que algo en mi corazon se deleita y a la vez se estuja al escuharlas. Sublime!!!!!

[elleonh]

I agree. I think the tempo was just a little slow at the beginning.

[Tenorbravo]

Wow...I am speechless.. This what is called Bel Canto or Bell´arte del Canto.. One of the most beautiful interpretations that I have listened in all my 62 years of seeing and listening operas around the world. " Viva el "Bel Canto".

[lugliooo]

: ' )

[RMax304823]

Love it. Korean singers and instrumentalists, conducted by some white guy, singing a lovely aria from a French opera to an audience of Americans and Europeans. Why can't we all just get along?

[Philippejj]

@RMax304823 Well said, and the story takes place in India!!!

The whole world in a 6 minutes clip!

[happyman]

@RMax304823 thats what you call globalization!

[lindsayjohanna]

@RMax304823 You forgot the "Takes place in India" part of that ;-) hehe

[9starbrite3]

@RMax304823 Did you see the random white guy on clarinet? :)

The Koreans really have taken a lot of Western traditions and customs and made them their own. Very impressive, and a lovely performance. Really illustrates how music transcends culture.

[999scarpia]

@RMax304823

Might help if the emotive description "some white guy" wasn't used?



[cepefra]

No puedo dejar de verlo, Es.... sublime..

[NeitiOmena]

Under the thick dome

Where the white jasmine

With the roses entwined together

On the river bank covered with flowers laughing in the morning

Let us descend together!

Gently floating on its charming risings,

On the river's current

[morganthecelt]

Sumi Jo is just... a God's masterpiece. It was perfect. So much work...

She is the best ever.

[rawmark]

Ok, these girls are my next favorite to sing this song, which is a tough song to sing. The only women who can sing this duet better are Joan Sutherland and Huguette Tourangeau in the 1976 production of Lakme at the Sydney Opera House. Look it up. Everyone else's singing fails in comparison to the lovely voices of Sutherland and Tourangeau but these two ladies come really close to achieving perfection. Their voices are amazing!

[abc98714]

that freaking flute ruined the performance. end of the high note at 5:00 was terrible. the note just died out, going a little bit flat. the fluet and singers sounded separated. that fluet player has to be more musical. playing music is not just playing the notes thats written on the music. its making music musical and personal. its just so dissappointing to hear that irritable flute since those singers sang this song so beautifully.

[KodarKodar]

this is the best version i have ever heard - so silky, and so warm ! wow ... BUT if you all focus on 1:43 to 1:44 ... the soprano is TO early, she than looks at the conductor to see the tempo lol - she stuffed up but picked up right away

[theLightofOneness]

@KodarKodar ~

Sumi Jo is indeed out of time between 1:43 to 1:44 but I can't helping wondering as to whether she was actually endeavouring to get the conductor to pick up the tempo a little!? Just a thought / possibility I wonder?

It is nonetheless a most remarkably beautiful performance.

[KodarKodar]

@theLightofOneness hmmm well true, i gues well never know... and yes it was and always will be one of the most remarkable and beautiful performances :D

[KevinTheNoobie]

@KodarKodar Suck a fat hairy dick.

[KodarKodar]

@KevinTheNoobie lol im gay so maybe i enjoy sucking dick... but wow, your mind really is in the gutter lol isnt it? lol funny i got many likes yet your the low life to throw such a childlike comment at me? for what, making a point that was so true? lol lowlife

[KevinTheNoobie]

@KodarKodar Oh what's that? There's too much cock in your fat, ignorant mouth.

[violanovice]

@KodarKodar I'm with you all the way.

[Celen07]

@KodarKodar What clever eye you have!! I haven't noticed, but you're right! So subtly she gets back in tempo! Lovely, though!

[beginner57]

Mamma mia, che meraviglia!!! Che armonia, che perfezione!

[jezmondo2]

my opinion counts for nothing, i wouldn't know if this is how its supposed to sound or not, but what i do know is, of all the versions i have listened to, this is the nicest to MY ears. You'd have to be a stone cold rock to not get feeling from this preformance....shame about the bastard coughing at the end.

[jezmondo2]

my opinion counts for nothing, i wouldn't know if this is how its supposed to sound or not, but what i do know is, of all the versions i have listened to, this is the nicest to MY ears. You'd have to be a stone cold rock to not get feeling from this preformance....shame about the bastard coughing at the end.

[ALYSSA09MUSICSTARS]

Who knows how to reach the fantastic mezzo soprano AH KYUNG LEE? I've tried anything but I've no idea where she is singing, living and so on.

Thank you!

ALYSSA

[icylakepaxphile]

@ALYSSA09MUSICSTARS she lives in Korea. she graduated from Kyung-Hee University and graduate course. which famous from its music school in South Korea. and she won the champion of Bellini concour and Mario del Monaco competition 2004. and sung Rigolletto. lakme and so on in Korea and Europe. now she is a professor of Muing-Ji University in Korea. but She also sings in Europe and Austrailia too. but mainly in concerts not in operas. but she also is singing operas in Korea

[Miaina77]

Leur français est ex-ce-llent.

Their french is excellent.

[kiziormizior]

Piekne czyste brzmienie -super

[voiceacts]

I'm in love with these ladies. Such BEAUTIFUL voices they have. I got chills listening to this.

[keeperchik2006]

I thought it was beatiful. does anyone else think that the mezzo overpowered the soprano a bit. It was hard to hear for like the first half of it. but overall excellent everything!

[Oikuvxwbos]

@keeperchik2006 Usually the soprano overpowers the mezzo. To me, I find it more difficult to hear the mezzo in a duet, but because Lee's voice is so powerful, her volume balances this duet perfectly with Jo's.

[MrWileyCoyote]

Oh, my gosh! I wish I would have been there to hear this live. I got goose bumps hearing it on my computer! I can only imagine how much better it would have been in person! WOW! By the way, if the race of the singers, etc. makes a difference to you, just close your eyes and bathe yourself in a truly beautiful HUMAN experience!

[elansvc]

Just lovely, and I've seen a lot of this done by Westerners without the nuances that made this really special.

[wrongforthat]

this mezzo is more like alto... not to complaint. rich, warm and big. exellent harmony. very interllectual approach. Sumi's diction is also very good. nice recording, clear sound and picture. thx for the post.

[MsPerret]

must be seen in live!!

wonderful!!

[ger6704]

Very strong voices; words the clearest of all renditions. High notes lovely.

[AlternateViewpoint]

A heavenly matching of two glorious voices. It sent chills up my spine.

[ShinobiSasukeUchiha]

I wonder how much voice training it took these singers to be able to sing that high. @_@

[licangoth]

no mames hermoso chinga esto es musica

[slawek1200]

cudowne kobietki , wspolgraja

[23zowie23]

Ah CantoSemper49 - you have it. Sumi great as ever but the warmth of the mezzo was overwhelming ..Do I give away Marilyn Horne or just embrace them both. The latter I think. Graham Melb Aus

[TheBlackgolum]

PREFIERO LA VERSIÓN D ANNA NETREBKO JUNTO A ELINA GARANKA! ESTA VA MAS RÁPIDA! Y ME PARECE QUE ES MAS AGRADABLE AL OÍDO LA VERSIÓN QUE LES DIGO!

[TheBlackgolum]

PREFIERO LA VERSION D ANNA NETREBKO JUNTO A ELINA GARANKA! ESTA VA MAS RAPIDA! Y ME PARECE QUE ES MAS AGRADABLE AL OIDO LA VERSION QUE LES DIGO!

[SusanSusaw]

Gorgeous...Goosebumps....The are both so suited to this aria..A match made in heaven

[olaponeb]

very very nice relaxing angels xxx

[CantoSemper49]

Sumi jo is dazzling as ever pahh. BUT THAT MEZZOOOOOOOO So warm! I'd love to hear her perform more!

[ScreamingPanda57]

true starlight and gossamer breeze!

[baltazarcoco99]

Ah-Kyung Lee!!! Such an incredible mezzo!!! Sumi Jo.. Beautiful, as usual..

Somewhat I found the 2'nd sequel has better blending & control than the 1'st... The Best Flower Duet I've ever heard.. 5 stars performance!

[PatateRoussoiste]

Jo has the best diction ever ! (well Dessay's better, but she's french)

[butterfly756]

I just love the part of the mezzo singer here! She should sing this with Erika Miklosa.

[insaneCHILD00]

Ah-Kyung Lee's tone is INCREDIBLE. Wow, just wow. Her part usually doesn't stick out much, but she has such an amazing voice and it cannot go unnoticed here.

[rockingbeethoven]

tad bit fast for my taste, but, still ... Wunderbar!

[acitipo]

Este es uno de los mas bellos duetos en la Opera, no solo por la bellisima letras sino por la perfeccion de estas dos voces, ademas de la perfecta afinacion.

[jimetrillis]

great performance I love it

[plaina]

Fantastic! They have my applause!

[robotabob]

eargasm

[1hmm2]

Wow what sheer brilliance. 

[gorejehs]

Absolutely beautiful. Beautiful women as well.

[olamosq]

Absolutely beautiful.

A great masterpiece interpreted by great talent has no nationality.

Breathtaking.

[alemarisil]

CHÉ BELLEZA!!!!!!!!

[ageordieboy]

At the age of 31 I'm only just becoming familiar with opera and I am falling in love with the magic of Sumi Jo! Ah-Kyung Le is stunning also!

[reclamantul]

Their singing is like a dream. It's amazing how they communicate and how their voices vibrate at the same paces. I have listened to many renditions but this is PERFECT. I dont know what else to say. I just love it and listen to it again and again.

[grafonolafavorite]

Wow, She sings Sondheim also. I found her singing "Send in the Clowns." Beautiful too.. submitted by Glenmed.

[uglyduck6ify]

loved it....

[1981regie]

just amazing!

[grafonolafavorite]

How beautiful

[coonarick]

30 tone deaf, emotionally uneducated poor souls, I feel sorry for them. A beautiful rendition of this classic by two of the best voices in the world today. Thanks for posting.

[merian101]

they have wonderful fluidity in their vocal range; and they looked like they enjoyed playing the part, which is always a plus.

[butlertyrek]

the best version of this duet that I have heard!!!!

[JackDevvo]

Makes Me Think Of British Airways

[pointemeout]

MAYBE it's just me:

but it's so rare to see 2 asian women doing this duet.

not only are these two very very vocally pleasing to the ear..but the two of them are also very visually stimulating and different than anything I've ever seen.

very lovely job ladies!

and thanks for uploading Smoothiw :]

[acitipo]

Muchas gracias a quien ha traducido la letra ES BELLISIMA!!!! Cuanta poesia !!!! no solo la letra sino tambien la musica, me parece pero no hay un dueto tan bello como este en dos mujeres cantantes en la Opera, verdaderamente hermoso!!!!!

[acitipo]

Hermosisimo duo muy afiatado, tan bello como el de "las grandes mounstros" (es un decir ) del pasado Joan Sutherland y Marilyn Horne en este msmo bello duo de las flores.

[gisellegarbe]

stunning voices!!! great recording!!!! thanks for posting!!!

[shaylybri]

so stunning

[altf4likeohmygawd]

Very beautiful performance. I agree with the consensus: this is one of the finest performances of this piece I've ever heard. I feel sorry for the people who can't get past the race of the singers to truly experience this.

[ondrejvaroscak]

@altf4likeohmygawd when it come to performance, among other things, the race is so unimportant. I feel deeply sorry for all people with racial prejudices...

[mrspenn1611]

@altf4likeohmygawd you are sooo right, truly fantastic

[christianrosenrot]

BEAUTIFUL!

[dj12120]

omg i got asked to shutup while i was singing to this HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

serves me right to sing opera t 1:30 in the morning

[LaHermite]

These two are so great together...beautiful and mesmerizing.

[hedonistelle]

Merci Raf !

MAGNIFIQUE ... La pureté du diamant dans une voix...

[bosanac1977]

amazing

[Caribeanqueen79]

Divine performance!

[pkzip31416]

!! excelente!!!  bravo!!

[delboylaz]

Beautiful!!!

[knoduron]

WOW >> WOW .WOW !!!!! NEVER before have I heard these women sing , I always thought that Dame Joan Southerland and Jane Berbie were the Best ....now I must rethink that! wonderful !!! kudos ladies!!!!!!

[silajeep1]

Wow! stunning performance! All those haters out there dissing this need to go and get lobotomised );-P

[VelveTenebris]

Love it.

[kiziormizior]

Piekne wykonanie ! 

[NLR884evr]

This is debauchery! Koreans and Asians in general are utterly incapable of emotional dexterity and thus impossible for them to render a halfway decent opera performance. The wuuurrrrring sound you hear in the background is Delibes spinning in his grave!

[northernstarpolaris]

@NLR884evr Hey that is really racist! the performance was overwhelming, I believe even Delibes would agree. Sumi Jo is one of the best opera singers alive, before you talk, you at least must do some research about the singer's wonderful career and all the critical acclaim, she's had over the years

[NLR884evr]

@northernstarpolaris I'm quite familiar with Simi Jo as I worked in Soul for three years. And since you're a yankee you have no clue about the mindset of the French...they hate everyone.

[northernstarpolaris]

@NLR884evr Well everybody has the right to have an opinion, and I'm not a yankee, I come frome the Country of the Inkas, and I know how french people may be, nevertheless, I have to say I learnt french and I don't like that language, it's quite complicated. But Those ladies seemed to sing it without problems. For me that's impresive!

[Nautilus1972]

@NLR884evr If you want to bring race into it then one can argue successfully that they have superior tonal control - l as they speak tonal languages - unlike westerners. Or you can just stop nitpicking and listen to their beautiful voices.

[northernstarpolaris]

@Nautilus1972 That's the spirit!!!! Well said!

[NLR884evr]

@Nautilus1972 Please, spare the people your uneducated opinions and amateur linguistic anthropology. I lived in Korea for many years and have been studying music for many years and am much better qualified to assess peoples abilities than a dilettante like you.