if the met doesn't want her...point her in the direction of london's opera houses. we'll gladly sit in audience. may the din of the maddening crowd diminish in the face of excellence!
@summer3100 Would that I had an address for Ms. B! I'd forward this kind and knowledgeable tribute to her, and/or her manager! Wonderful to hear from you!
@nominext What a beautiful comment! I'm very grateful to you for having posted this most gracious of acknowledgements! Ms. B is/was/always will be a treasure! Thank you for having recognized her!
@nominext I believe this dress, like most of Ms. Battle's couture was created by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. He was mostly known for his ballet costumes, but he created many sublime gowns from Ms. B.
I love her, the way she moves, black people move with the music all the time, it is really delicious to see her, she sings with her body and soul. Brava.
@sammiei Wanting and wishing are so similar. The fact that this clip moved you makes me think that it won't be long before you've conquered this, and other songs. Just know that there are people saying prayers for you! You'll succeed!
@blkchk Most Beautiful Comment! Thanks for viewing, and listening! Ms. Battle has, as you've said, the "Most beautiful voice!" Thanks so much for mention! Best regards to you!
@SENAFOREVER It is very clear, to be sure, but not perfect. For one, her "r"s are rolled at the front of her mouth, not at the back of the throat like they should be. But it is indeed better than most, though
It cracks me up that those who claim to not even like great artists like Kathleen Battle ALWAYS find their way to her videos, just to complain bitterly about her, calling her 'everything but a Child of God', all the while, maintaining that SHE's the party, in this instance, at least, who 'lacks people skills'. Really? LOL
AmericanEvita, youre bound to get backfire from fans of Kathy. I do like her voice but like you I dont like her attitudes/unprofessional behavior back in the 80s. I especially disliked her brawl with Carol Vaness. But all that must be in the past for her. She's probably grown into a nice older lady by now :)
According to Johanna Fiedler's book "Molto Agitato" an expose on opera business & history of the Met, Kathy disliked Vaness as the Countess in Le Nozze Di Figaro. Kathy sang Susanna. She removed Vaness from her own dressing room and claimed it as her own. Kathy did various other unprofessional things during this time. Levine liked Kathy and indulged her whims. But it was this incident with Vaness that triggered Kathy to be fired from the Met.
I feel that I must apologize. There are many fans of Kathy. I know I've called her a spoiled, arrogant diva b*ch but I'm sorry. She has a beautiful coloratura voice. However, I'm just not fond of her personality. By the 1980's, black sopranos like Kathy and Jessye Norman were enjoying a status of enormous popularity and success while sopranos like Leontyne Price, Reri Grist, Grace Bumbry and before them Marian Andeson had it harder because the opera world had not yet accepted blacks
i agree. who could ever know what she had to deal with as an african-american woman in a world that is completely dominated by egotistical people who only allow one of "her" to thrive. we never hear of the battles that price, bumbry, verrett, anderson, and others had to fight!!! i love kathleen's talent. i don't know her as a person, but her work is beautiful. how funny that the nay sayers are watching "her" perform...is she logging on to hear any of them!!! rahahahahaha!!!
Never much cared for her, though she has a pretty voice...for such a small voice she had a BIG ego...everyone who knows about her career knows she was fired from the Met and butted heads with everyone because she was so bossy, bitchy and egotistical...I saw her photo at an Arc Light Cinema..funny place for an opera singer s photo to be
Reri Grist is a lot better than Kathleen Battle. Long before Kathy ever sang her first note, Reri, a black soprano, was singing at the Salzburg Festival and her career was at its height in the 1950's and early 1960's, at a far more difficult time for black women to be singing opera
I think in the hard coloratura stuff Grist is better than Battle. In something like this or Zerbinetta Battle isn't as strong. On the other hand in more lyrical roles like Susanna in Nozze, Pamina, Nanetta, Sophie Battle wins. Ironically, I think no one has ever sung Zerbinetta in the Prologue better than Battle and that Grist isn't very good until the "Opera" act.
@AmericanEvita i have just come into Reri Grist as i have read her name in posts. i do love her voice. i have compared some songs that battle recorded as well, she had a stronger coloratura, but some of her phrases weren't as well executed as battle's. battle and every singer after grist owes her a lot, but they are both strong and weak in different areas. i love the facets of the human instrument!!
God was obviously in a good mood when he created this exquisite creature!
timdivine 5 months ago
Angelic voice and so beautiful appearance!
elegie84 6 months ago
simply beautiful - so light and full of soubrettic feather-lightness...
noeldunsky 1 year ago
@noeldunsky Grateful for your comment. Always superb, she's even more so here! Thanks again.
varadero1839 1 year ago
if the met doesn't want her...point her in the direction of london's opera houses. we'll gladly sit in audience. may the din of the maddening crowd diminish in the face of excellence!
summer3100 1 year ago
@summer3100 Would that I had an address for Ms. B! I'd forward this kind and knowledgeable tribute to her, and/or her manager! Wonderful to hear from you!
varadero1839 1 year ago
A magnificent performance, Kathleen Battle beautiful talent is truly inspirational.
b4we2were1 1 year ago
Thank you for posting this performance. I am inspired by her beautiful voice.
cyberdyva 1 year ago
@cyberdyva You're welcome, and I'm delighted to hear from you! Ms. B is simply amazing.
varadero1839 1 year ago 2
this is my dream song <3
sammiei 1 year ago
the best dress opera singer of all time.
nominext 1 year ago 2
@nominext What a beautiful comment! I'm very grateful to you for having posted this most gracious of acknowledgements! Ms. B is/was/always will be a treasure! Thank you for having recognized her!
varadero1839 1 year ago
@nominext I believe this dress, like most of Ms. Battle's couture was created by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. He was mostly known for his ballet costumes, but he created many sublime gowns from Ms. B.
njgeoffery 1 year ago
I love her, the way she moves, black people move with the music all the time, it is really delicious to see her, she sings with her body and soul. Brava.
cantanteporsiempre 1 year ago
She never ceases to amaze. She is spectacular!!!!!!!! I boworred her soul over 10 years ago, and I never gave it back. How I love her so!
MrSpain29 1 year ago
i wanna learn how to sing this so badddd. (:
sammiei 1 year ago
@sammiei Wanting and wishing are so similar. The fact that this clip moved you makes me think that it won't be long before you've conquered this, and other songs. Just know that there are people saying prayers for you! You'll succeed!
varadero1839 1 year ago
Most beautiful voice.
blkchk 1 year ago
@blkchk Most Beautiful Comment! Thanks for viewing, and listening! Ms. Battle has, as you've said, the "Most beautiful voice!" Thanks so much for mention! Best regards to you!
varadero1839 1 year ago
Yes Kathleen is a warm and brilliant artist I can attest to that. Met her spoke to her and could feel her kindness
eze102 1 year ago
She makes it look easy
LatvianVixen 1 year ago 3
I am amazed at the perfection of her french diction.
SENAFOREVER 2 years ago
@SENAFOREVER It is very clear, to be sure, but not perfect. For one, her "r"s are rolled at the front of her mouth, not at the back of the throat like they should be. But it is indeed better than most, though
Tayuku28 1 year ago
Comment removed
TheReturnOfStephan1 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
It cracks me up that those who claim to not even like great artists like Kathleen Battle ALWAYS find their way to her videos, just to complain bitterly about her, calling her 'everything but a Child of God', all the while, maintaining that SHE's the party, in this instance, at least, who 'lacks people skills'. Really? LOL
Looks like a lot of projection to me.:)
TheReturnOfStephan1 2 years ago
Kathleen battle is a warm kind and brilliant artist. Rumors to the contrary.
bogofusion 2 years ago
AmericanEvita, youre bound to get backfire from fans of Kathy. I do like her voice but like you I dont like her attitudes/unprofessional behavior back in the 80s. I especially disliked her brawl with Carol Vaness. But all that must be in the past for her. She's probably grown into a nice older lady by now :)
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
What in the world happened between her and Vaness?
kathleenbattlefan 2 years ago
According to Johanna Fiedler's book "Molto Agitato" an expose on opera business & history of the Met, Kathy disliked Vaness as the Countess in Le Nozze Di Figaro. Kathy sang Susanna. She removed Vaness from her own dressing room and claimed it as her own. Kathy did various other unprofessional things during this time. Levine liked Kathy and indulged her whims. But it was this incident with Vaness that triggered Kathy to be fired from the Met.
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
I feel that I must apologize. There are many fans of Kathy. I know I've called her a spoiled, arrogant diva b*ch but I'm sorry. She has a beautiful coloratura voice. However, I'm just not fond of her personality. By the 1980's, black sopranos like Kathy and Jessye Norman were enjoying a status of enormous popularity and success while sopranos like Leontyne Price, Reri Grist, Grace Bumbry and before them Marian Andeson had it harder because the opera world had not yet accepted blacks
AmericanEvita 2 years ago
Thanks so much; another voice of reason comes to her defense!
varadero1839 2 years ago
To all the "layer haters"here, if only you had 1/8th the talent and beauty. You too could have graced that stage. Hate on Haters!
stingabe 2 years ago
i agree. who could ever know what she had to deal with as an african-american woman in a world that is completely dominated by egotistical people who only allow one of "her" to thrive. we never hear of the battles that price, bumbry, verrett, anderson, and others had to fight!!! i love kathleen's talent. i don't know her as a person, but her work is beautiful. how funny that the nay sayers are watching "her" perform...is she logging on to hear any of them!!! rahahahahaha!!!
couturesixfour 2 years ago
Never much cared for her, though she has a pretty voice...for such a small voice she had a BIG ego...everyone who knows about her career knows she was fired from the Met and butted heads with everyone because she was so bossy, bitchy and egotistical...I saw her photo at an Arc Light Cinema..funny place for an opera singer s photo to be
AmericanEvita 2 years ago
You must go on every Kathleen Battle video and post this same message.
njgeoffery 2 years ago
....,...feeling any better now!
stingabe 2 years ago
Shes not egotistical, the conflicts she had with diretors were always over artistic integrity, it was always about the music.
skitzo429 2 years ago
Oh I agree.
And she was NOT a good Zerbinetta.....
If you want to hear that part sung right check out Ruth Welting or Reri Grist.
AGM1951 2 years ago
Reri Grist is a lot better than Kathleen Battle. Long before Kathy ever sang her first note, Reri, a black soprano, was singing at the Salzburg Festival and her career was at its height in the 1950's and early 1960's, at a far more difficult time for black women to be singing opera
AmericanEvita 2 years ago
I think in the hard coloratura stuff Grist is better than Battle. In something like this or Zerbinetta Battle isn't as strong. On the other hand in more lyrical roles like Susanna in Nozze, Pamina, Nanetta, Sophie Battle wins. Ironically, I think no one has ever sung Zerbinetta in the Prologue better than Battle and that Grist isn't very good until the "Opera" act.
FoggyRoad81 2 years ago
I agree with you....
AGM1951 2 years ago
@FoggyRoad81 Couldn't have said it better myself :)
rennelj 2 years ago
@AmericanEvita i have just come into Reri Grist as i have read her name in posts. i do love her voice. i have compared some songs that battle recorded as well, she had a stronger coloratura, but some of her phrases weren't as well executed as battle's. battle and every singer after grist owes her a lot, but they are both strong and weak in different areas. i love the facets of the human instrument!!
couturesixfour 1 year ago
I never cared for her either...............
AGM1951 2 years ago
This was shown on PBS with the Boston Pops and Branford Marsalis. I still have it on VHS.
Viva La Battle!!!
bigblatino 2 years ago
Where was this performed at??? I don't think I ever saw this...
romarius2005 2 years ago
Accepted and understood, coming from a "Scrapper" like you! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!! Oh, forgot the grateful part!
varadero1839 3 years ago
YEAH, BABY!!!
NO ONE bring the glamour, POWER, technique like La Battle!!
Thanks for posting!
StephanAOTTO1 3 years ago