The Evening Prayer - Kathleen Battle, Frederica von Stade

[amesavis]

So nice. I could listen to it 100 times over. What ladies!  What dresses! What music!

[varadero1839]

@amesavis What a discerning person! Thanks so much for your comment. I, too think it's enchanting. Very grateful to hear from you!

[Jan96106]

This is my favorite version of this duet, as close to heaven as one can get.

[varadero1839]

@Jan96106 They're amazing together. Grateful to hear from you, and a belated Happy New Year!

[sdegrace]

Your right because I was thinking at it at Notre-Dame de Montréal for Christmas.

[varadero1839]

@sdegrace Please forgive the delay in my response; I apologize. Can you tell us more about your Montréal performance? I hope it happened, and that it was a great success! Best to you!

[sdegrace]

Love it. My favorite duet actually.

[tasslajara]

I love this video and I love the red dress!!! Most singers don't dress the part and It's refreshing to see someone who dresses for concerts. TG.

[varadero1839]

@tasslajara Given all the negative comments about the "red dress," hearing from you is like a voice in the wilderness! So grateful, and honored that you enjoyed these two amazing women! Thanks again for your comment.

[russedav5]

This piece is too beautiful and lovely and exquisite and heavenly to describe. As to being a "Christmas" piece, it certainly is wholly and perfectly appropriate regardless.

[insomniatic505]

the red thing looks like something Lady Gaga would wear. :P

[FashionDesignerlove]

Playing this song at our School spring concert!! :) super pumped!!

[varadero1839]

@FashionDesignerlove Hope the addition of this beautiful piece will help to make your Spring Concert a great success! Best wishes!

[operagirl81]

I love this duet. But Kathleen better watch out, she could knock someone out with those sleeves!!

[OLIVCHEN77]

Mein Gott, wie zwei Engel...wie schoen

[CanadaPisces]

"The Evening Prayer" sung by two very fine singers whose voices blend beautifully together! Thank you vadadero1839 for posting this lovely duet!

[varadero1839]

@CanadaPisces Delighted to hear from you CanadaPisces! This seemed to have been one of those too infrequent combinations that just plain worked! Thanks so much for your comment.

[Beto246]

My God... so beautiful. Thanks for posting this, I watched this on TV a very long time ago and missed it for ages!

[varadero1839]

@Beto246 You're welcome Beto246! Happy to hear from you, and delighted that it brought back fond memories. They're wonderful together!

[Pollewopwop]

I am Dutch and this poem /prayer as always there in my younger years.

I have this music on tape, but thus time I see them singing.

thank you for sharing.

[varadero1839]

@Pollewopwop Thank you so much for your comment. I'm very pleased to know that it brings you fond memories! Best wishes!

[lickylicky5dolla]

@Pollewopwop I am really sorry my computer screen freaked out and I tried to click to make it respond, but I did not look where I was clicking and I clicked thumbs down. :( I am truly sorry!

[varadero1839]

@lickylicky5dolla Hi Pollewopwop! Please, don't even concern yourself with this! I'm hardly technical, and tend to make many errors myself. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

[Bess111]

This is such a wonderful version! Thanks also for the german lyrics. I know the last two sentences as 'Zweie die mich führen, zu des Himmels Türen'. May be, there are different lyrics (it's not important). Thanks for sharing this.

[varadero1839]

@Bess111 Very gratified to hear from you! I studied German only briefly, and can't make a really coherent statement as regards the last phrases. I'm convinced of the following: It might have been performed in any language; when voices like these combine, it's like hearing the angels sing!

[Bess111]

@varadero1839

In the opera they all sing your lyrics. But this was used as an evening prayer for kids also when I was a child (I'm german). I think, they changed the last words, so kids could better understand. 'Des Himmels Paradeisen' is nearly middle-aged and not used in the daily speech. 'Führen zu des Himmels Türen' is very common (lead me to the doors of heaven).

However - it's wonderful...thanks again for having posted it to YouTube:-)

[katmomsinger]

Wow, this is just lush! They both have that bell like quality, but I've never heard a single person sing the lower part better than Frederica von Stade.

[390204]

@katmomsinger Yes, I entirely agree with you. von Stade's lower register is so warm and piano-like. Not only can it melt the most hardened heart, it also blends so elegantly and beautifully with sopranos such as Battle, Popp , Te Kanawa and Welting.

[musicallyspeakings88]

Am I the only one who thinks of Mickey and Minnie Mouses' ears when I see those sleeves?

[VantisDoroHall]

@musicallyspeakings88 It is very likely.

[dmpetrick]

O, brave! What a beautiful lullaby.

[OneTrueLionessQueen]

nice slevees!

[hernia56]

WHAT is that montrosity Battle is wearing? Looks like 2 Montgolfer balloons....

[operagirl529]

Oh dear. The sleeves.

[pandoramelly]

For sound only.

[CrackedPotts]

This is absolutely beautiful singing. I do have to know what Kathleen is carrying in her sleeves though.

[dmpetrick]

@CrackedPotts

Style, darling, style is what she is carrying in her sleeves!

[AnkeZohm]

I'm german and I saw your video early in the morning. This song touched me so much.

[varadero1839]

@AnkeZohm Wonderful to hear from you! As for your being German, the beautiful comment and sentiment you have conveyed make me even prouder for having posted this clip! Thank you so much!

[rcsample7]

voices are so smooth and musical. and the music is heavenly. Enjoyed this so much.

[varadero1839]

@rcsample7 Your comments are so welcome, as are you! Thank you so much for your gracious notice of these 2 amazing divas! Even the less than enchanted with either of these two have said this particular "combo" is just magical! Gracias!

[vibraharp226]

They're supposed to embrace at the end when they fall to sleep, but I don't think Battle could have reached around those beach balls on von Stade's arms.

[itaintovertilthethin]

@vibraharp226 that is Kathleen Battle with the beachball sleeves. ;)

[vibraharp226]

@itaintovertilthethin

Ooops, thanks!

[kyrio5a]

Hah? Two in covers fuck me?

[mkurnat]

too fast. period.

[itaintovertilthethin]

@mkurnat No way. This is perfect. It already has VERY long lines. They don't have auxilliary wind supplies. It's a lullaby, not a dance number.

[OlDoinyo]

Perhaps some singers are particularly good at duet and ensemble singing, quite apart from their solo skills. It was Frederica von Stade who teamed up with Lucia Popp in the iconic recording of "Ah, perdona al primo affetto," and this is almost on that level. I suspect there are other examples.

[AmiJurgl]

tempo is too fast... loses some of the mystical quality.

[gayemacy]

Heard Flicka’s Farewell Tour performance tonight in San Diego. She is so accessible, and makes you feel she would be such fun to know. A gentle, bright, funny spirit that enjoys every moment on the stage. We were in seats A101 and 102 and were literally at her feet. Fare well, Frederica. You bring so much to us.

[varadero1839]

@gayemacy Grateful to hear from you! I'd purchased tickets to see Flicka's performance in Oakland as a benefit for the incredible loss of lives in Haiti. Right before the concert I had some health issues and had to be hospitalized. I gave my already purchased tickets to a dear friend. Wish I'd been there! Guess you know, after seening my site, I consider her a goddess!

[tyavion]

damn that red dress is obnoxious. its already eaten Miss Battle and is slowly creeping toward the other soprano. Her feet have already lost the battle. There's no escaping the red soprano eating dress.

[bassfanne45]

This is about as good as it gets. The blend is simple perfect.

[varadero1839]

@bassfanne45 Guess sometimes "simple" takes the prize. These 2 together are just amazing! Thanks so much for your notice and comment!

[silex17]

A piece of heavenly beauty, sung by incredibly beautiful voices. Still, there is something to be desired, as there is too much tension, too much affectation and too little of the simplicity of the child wanting to lose itself into the world of slumber.

[vibraharp226]

@silex17

Very well said. Public television is great to have, but this is from yet another one of those soulless star-studded, pledge drive concerts. Produced to yank cash from the upper middle-class, grey hairs, they cherry-pick excerpts from operas, gaining in marquee names (Battle/vonStade, 3 Tenors, etc.) but losing in charm, context, and warmth. Yes, their voices are lovely, but bigger isn't always better, and I'm not referring to the mutant beachball appendages on Battle's dress.

[TearTaker]

I just can't get over those sleeves. I mean... each one is larger then her entire head. atleast twice as big!

[loverflicka]

Really, for me and for a lot of people, the true angel was and is... FLICKA.

[bahoonies]

The Battle looks like she's been eaten by a giant killer tomato, jaws agape. But with a voice like that you can dictate fashion. Glorious, gentle duet sensitively caressed into life by to supreme talents. Aren't we lucky to have youtube?

[AGM1951]

While the red sleeves are a bit distracting, the singing is beautiful from both artists.

[crstnbuenca]

my daughter had a master class with Flicka. What a wonderful person she is. Not a bit of complaint from a master singer when my daughter changed her song last minute because she just got over the flu

[11777766]

Flicka is as personable, compasionate, and endearing off stage and on. Her vocal talent is recognized as musical genius, Nor has she ever played the diva despite her worldwide sucess, and so is widely loved and admired by her fellow artists. I say all this since my wife knew her for the many years we lived in Manhattan, and I was always elated to visit with her, Perhaps that is why we seldom compare her with other great opera talents.

[FoggyRoad81]

She is also on record saying she loved working with Kathleen Battle...was that not true?

[11777766]

There are 14 angels protecting you night and day for a full recovery.

[varadero1839]

And one "lead" angel, namely YOU! Thanks so much for your kind wishes and friendship.

[11777766]

There are 14 angels there to protect you night and day.

[Chrisanthimum]

They sound beautiful and I want their dresses!

[BUweB]

Finally a great rendition of this Song. Here are many awful versions flowing around.

[musicalethia10]

Flicka is amazing and I got to meet her once; she is really nice and her energy is like an angel, just like her voice.

[curlingnf]

IS EVERYONE A CRITIC??? Why can't you just enjoy , two very professional singers performing.

[odee89]

i am preforming this very soon and i hope i am going to be half as good!!!

[anonymusum]

Unfortunately a little bit too fast - and the orchestra is missing the very romantic feeling/expression of Humperdinck.

[rrichter1965]

Well, it may be a little bit fast, but it's remarkably unostentatious, with sotto voce, just like Humperdinck wanted this song done.

[anonymusum]

But the tempo makes a lot of the atmosphere and this tempo is definetely too fast, not only a little bit.

[kaathleenolivia]

Lovely singing, but what's with the airbags?

[Loveydvy99]

Their voices definitely compliment each other. Really a perfect example of "harmony"

[linnyloo2]

Here's a quote from Flicka, about some other singers she's worked with:"... you might wanna throw a chair at them, but they're not MEAN." The same cannot be said about some of the comments I've read on YouTube by folks who know a great deal less on this subject than Flicka.

[Joeleole]

It's a tad fast for my taste but beautiful singing nonetheless.

[nzlove]

My goodness, absolutely beautiful.....thank you so much for sharing this jewel with us :)

[11777766]

This hauntingly beautiful "Evening Prayer" deserves this perfect blending of two gorgeous voices. Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel is moving and heavenly in its inspiration.

[varadero1839]

Jeeez! What a relief! A friend who's actually not taking the dress designers to task! Anyone in their right mind would realize that these 2 had an incredible performing relationship! Thank you for merely listening to the voices, avoiding the clothing and controversy, etc. You're obviously on another plane! Sorry for the "Jeeez," I'm a New Yorker!

[11777766]

Thanks. I'm a New Yorker, too, the guy who enjoyed Barbara Cook's great evenings at the Carlyle.

[PTCello]

Beggin' yor pardon, but Kathleen Battle never had an incredible performing relationship with anyone. There are so many documented stories of her appalling egotism that even if you elliminated half of them, she'd still be one of the most selfish singers ever.

[komodiakarma]

I wonder what plagues her.PTCELLO. It's so sad, makes you wonder if she has more than just an issue with ego, but perhaps a borderline personality disorder that needs medication. Still- Battles voice is stellar. One of my favorites.

[rrichter1965]

You should be very careful using medical diagnosis to discredit others. Leave this to medical professionals and above all to privacy of the artists or other people.

[linnyloo2]

PTCELLO, you might want to see what Flicka has to say about Kathy. Go to the FanFaire website, where there's a group of three interviews with Flicka. In the one labelled "A long, glorious career," Flicka speaks with wisdom and compassion about some of the "bad behavior" exhibited by some singers, including Kathy. I believe that Flicka is likely a more loving, generous person than the rest of us. That seems to be the consensus of most of the folks who've worked with her over the past 40 years.

[rrichter1965]

Don' read stories, just listen! Whatever Kathleen Battle does or did, here there is perfect musical harmony with Fredeirca von Stade. Two strong personalities, who complement one another.

[OlDoinyo]

Beautiful vocal teamwork, one of the best versions of this I have heard. But the dresses--ai,ai!!!

[operababe2010]

attack of the sleeves!!

[RichCaloMusic]

My first exposure to this piece was with the Morman Tabernacle Choir. Lovely, indeed!!!!!!!!

[kangadillo]

Sublimely beautiful. It made me weep.

[dodi132]

This is SO beautiful!!!!!

[debbilyn99]

Two Divas blending beautifully!

[varadero1839]

You're very kind! Thank you so much for your comment!

[juloph]

Name of song: Evening Prayer

Composer: E. Humperdinck

Type of song: Descants

Time signature: 4  4

Characteristics: homhophonic and polyphonic sequences

[tasslajara]

I love this... and listening to it before I go to bed is like having two angels gently sing me to sleep.

[Maestro2011]

i think its great-- i'm a huge fan of battle, even with her large sleeves, and I don't think that she was trying to upstage anyone.

[390204]

Agree. From all the clips on YT of Flicka and Ms Battle, one can see that the two have rapport. Unlike Battle & KTK (Arabella clip) or Battle & Fleming(Final Trio, Der Rosenkavalier). Probably she feels threatened by another famous soprano? I disagree with jhayeAmes. If one is singing a duet, the stage belongs to both the soprano and the mezzo, especially in this brother and sister evening prayer duet - the mezzo is just as important as the soprano. here the two voices blend so beautifully.

[Memgilb]

I like the Flicka and Judith Blegen singing this much better than Battle. Flicka always sings her part beautifully.

[Incantare]

When at night i go to sleep

Fourteen angels watch do keep

Two my head are guarding

Two my feet are guiding

Two are on my right hand

Tow are on my left hand

Two who warmly cover

Two who oe'r me hover

Two to whom 'tis given, to guide my steps to Heaven

[varadero1839]

Thank you Incantare for this alternate version! Actually, I think this incredible duet could be sung in almost any language and still be very moving! Thanks for having suggested this different approach to the lyrics. Very grateful.

[captatnonmuscas]

As someone said: think the bitch with the giant sleeves found it necessary to dress and sing like an idiot to upstage von stade... it didnt work

[390204]

No one can upstage von Stade; and here her singing is perfect ,and she exudes warmth to Ms Battle as well.

[JhayeAmes]

Clearly Battle is the Diva and the stage was her's from start to finish, von stade looked more like back up melting inot the background with that drapy looking green gown. OMG and that look that Ms. Battle gave her at the end said it all ! DIVA !!

[auntiebeanie]

Why do you have to call people out of their name? Not nice, not nice at all.

[mrportobello]

Kathy's dress looks like her sleeves function as some kind of jet engines or hot air balloons that will rocket her straight up and out of the theater!! hahah

[craigwalters]

Simply beautiful singing!

[tenorlovesasoprano]

absolutely beautiful

[StephanAOTTO1]

Keep 'em comin'!!!:)

[varadero1839]

A sus ordenes siempre, Mi Socio!!!