Leontyne Price "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess

[lopezbon513]

Greatest ever american soprano Leontyne Price singing the famous Summertime from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess

Please, also listen to Verdi's O patria, from opera Aida sung by her at her farewell performance at the Metropolitan Opera house new york city usa

[Adainlakes]

Do they have a 'thumbs-up' labeled LOVE IT?

[kngiht84]

What did I just listen to?.... This is pure heaven!

[VassalSon]

Who else can do this besides Renata?

[mimsiesdaddy]

La Diva has no equal in the depth of this great voice. I saw/heard her in recital in1976 and I was transported to another world. We will never hear a voice like this again thank you all for all the postings

[auntiezanne]

This was the first black lady I had ever heard sing. (My parents had at least one of her albums.) She was obviously one of the best. Nevertheless, I like Ella Fitzgerald's version better, because I could understand the words. Also, the music seemed to reach right down into my soul and/or guts to make me feel the intention.

[arrozconzapatos]

AAAHHHHHH!!!! JUST PHENOMENAL!!

[eeli1]

Jesus christ, I can't get over how good this is. Best summertime I've ever heard.

[markhh]

That's about as close to heaven as you can get on earth. I've heard Mme Price sing this dozens of times, live and on tape, and it's fresh and surprising every time. Thanks so much.

[thekiwiguys]

lol 1:13

[cjm608]

I cry every time i hear this woman of limitless talent. Miss Price I am in awe and profoundly grateful that you have shared your talent.

[ohsnapitsme59]

I saw here at Carnegie Hall. The thrill of a lifetime because sitting in the box seat across the theater from me was Marian Anderson, who Miss Price introduced! You can't imagine.

[Theatreguy34]

She originated the role of Bess in the opera correct?

[ohsnapitsme59]

@Theatreguy34 No. Anne Brown, another black singer did the original opera. You can find it on YouTube...I just finished listening to it.

[CMHism]

She and Marian Anderson both broke the color barreir for black opera singers.

[miraclefatdude]

those who opened the door for people of color In America to expand their musical palettee!

[ernest671]

Gorgeous

[kmaru80]

Perfect. Better live than most can create in a studio. Almost hard to believe; makes you want to look around for the turntable spinning in the background that she's lip syncing too

[jorgepda]

she's supreme. long live the queen.

[etoiledelkirov]

voce straordinaria bravissima

[Isreal94]

CHILLS...EVERYWHERE.

[beatlemaniac487]

WOW. I've never heard this song done like this before! It's so amazing!

[hatdance9210]

she's so sassy! and her embellishments are subtle and add so much to this. nobody sings this like her.

[Blackblacktyme2]

Wow...I love the facial expressions!

[breakaliciouskid786]

I Am learning this.... She makes it look so easy, so flawless, so BEAUTIFUL......

[maizepeda]

lo mismo digo, me remece, increible de verdad, poderosa y verdadera en su interpretación

[missuma2]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL VOICE !

[cumsanctistuis]

5 people misread "dislike" as "dis I like."

[vardoegers]

@cumsanctistuis Clever comment is clever.

[grahamteja]

This is what I call singing!!!!!She makes it seem so easy and her execution is so effortless.Bravo...Bravo!!!!

[mtbrown75]

who were the 5 misguided souls who disliked this? They must be insane!

[ERIC13100]

comment peut on ne pas aimer ??? Leontyne Price a atteind la perfection !!! merci Madama !!!

[bananas215]

instant goosebumps.

[breakaliciouskid786]

I have died and gone to heaven !

[Elin48]

Which president was this song sung for it was certainly not George Bush?

[breakaliciouskid786]

@Elin48 carter i think.

[khaderach19]

@Elin48 carter. i think this series of a presidential concert in on youtube somewhere.

[hotwaiter]

@Elin48 It was Carter.

[muzetta100]

When fish are jumping I`m jumping to))))))

[LEOPARDTWO]

World class. Brava! 

[Tommyfazz]

Question: How many female singers does it take to sing 'summertime''?

Answer: All of them apparently!

[Gladys915]

I miss her!

[brungatune]

Simply BREATHTAKING

wow she performed that song with perfection better than any other recorded version

0:50 Fish are jumping incredible only Leontyne !!

[Fnessundorma]

YES!!!!!

[NYCFOX18]

What surprise to come upon this! Madame Price was (and still is) a diva!

[orovalleydude]

Thank you for posting, a great song, a great singer, a great pianist - what more could we ask?

[Jrod0817]

my true joy in life is when one makes a song their own and brings new life to the text/music. gave me chills when she sang "fish are jumping". she literally made them jump before your eyes.

[Od3tt301]

Awesome!!!

[bishopdr]

FLAWLESS!

[jorgepda]

i just can't get enough of this woman.

[choralman8009]

How much louder is that idiot at the piano going to play; porca miseria!

[thetrebleclef]

@choralman8009 I don't think he's overpowering her. She's got more than enough voice and he's playing with a great beautiful sound to support her. David Garvey was her longtime collaborative pianist. His playing of Strauss' Morgen in this same concert is a masterclass in piano playing.

[sassycassie6262]

sooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!! amazing song!

[alexmz123]

Thanks to youtube and to the poster, Oneguin65, for sharing the best soprano of all time! No one sings like her! Leontyne forever...

[seanicboy]

This is the best Summertime I've ever heard :)

[AngelVoiceFromHeaven]

@seanicboy have you heard Sissel singing Summertime?

[seanicboy]

@AngelVoiceFromHeaven I didn't know of her and just checked. mmm, very beautiful voice but a bit feeble... I prefer strong mom, hehe:P

[ScottAuc]

this is as good as it gets......simply amazing.

my personal favorite part is "o your daddy's ra-ich!" :)

[aserfax101]

you know you've made it in the music world when you do a performance like that

private audience, in the white house, in front of the president. jesus

[fsramirez91]

One of my favorite versions of this song.

George Gershwin was a true genius.

[TonnyCallea]

Oh My God. I Loved this rendition

[Brmafuzfafailio]

Such a beautiful voice!Magic! Such an incredible vocal talent .

[scottwoo79]

superb, wonderfully done, with a personal touch

[yodavidnavarro]

She posseses a great unique vocal instrument. I think in terms of pure voice, She's the best ever. And as a performer, She's the close second after Callas. Maria and Leontyne my two favorites of all time!

I'd love to have them back, I mean I miss all these skills, charm, perfection and drama!

[ebaytimr]

Responding to TallMark: Actually, I didn't mean it to be biased at all. I meant it as a compliment. I think she sings it better than anyone else because of her color. I'm sure people would not understand what I mean, and take it the wrong way. But I agree with you, that she's the best! She's got rhythm! And I know what I'm talking about, because I'm a soloist too. She's awesome. God Bless.

[regcart]

What style and grace.....Class act at its BEST!

[Ivyandstone]

There, now, "class act" was what *I* was going to say, but you beat me to it.

[leesterg]

Mine ears have heard the glory . . .

[jdswiney]

@leesterg hehe

[Quiteashtrudel]

you make me cry girl!!!

[sonicesocool]

HEAVEN!

[ebaytimr]

Thank you for informing me it was at the White House that she sang this. She sings with all the class that only one of her color can do! No one could match her!

[tenor787878]

TallMark

Your comment is very biased...Ms. Leontyne

Price even at 82 years this year 2008 can still

out sing any opera singer younger than she...her color has nothing to do with her

voice...this is the 21st Century WAKEUP

[barose1]

Tenor - I could not have said it better.

[terminater1952]

I think this is the best version i have heard,so beautiful.

[econoroller]

Does anyone remember the old avant-garde photo of her with the mannequins and the peacocks? Very cool photo that typified her exqusite style

[avgclown]

THIS IS HEAVEN

[jld21215]

Loved it

[maryjivinjane]

Ahh man... Brava!!

[Moondance727]

Leotyne Price was Bess.

[ebaytimr]

Could someone please tell me where this concert took place?

[Musicsiren]

I believe this was at the White House...beautiful, isn't it?

[Oneguin65]

She's in White House indeed

[terminater1952]

At a guess i would say The White House

[fferocious]

The White House, Washington, D.C.

[childlikeone]

how do u make it look and sound so effortless, Lee....geese louise..

[kives1985]

It's kind of fun to hear all of the different versions of this song.

: )

[dorjenne]

This is the best I've ever heard this sung! I'm grateful to hear the late David Garvey on the piano. I knew him in Julliard during the early 50's. He was such a sensitive accompanist.

[ChaseTheMusical]

Yes! I thought he was absolutely astounding as well!

Chase

[Odara2007]

En un mundo tan confuso,esto es una caricia para el alma.Grande,Magnifica..eterna!

[judycadana]

swoon swoon swoon swoon

[jguinnjr]

Magnificent

[elegie84]

Beautiful! That's the spirit!

[druidwriter]

Wow! I believe George's ghost has tears of happiness in his eyes for your rendition of his work...Thanks...

[dixielandcoryvillanu]

wow

[gordonmvw]

What is there to say? The person who said we are the privileged ones to have been alive when this woman sang.

[ctasdd]

AMASING!

[larespo1]

Who am I to comment? What a voice and what a genius. Such phrasing and such music. She knew all about the voice. She keeps it, I am sure, to this day. Nothing is more beautiful. We have all been lucky to live during the time of this stupendous woman. God bless her. He has indeed blessed us.

[kuninokunino]

... and they say Spector invented the wall of sound. What a voice!

[divaofdatkness]

shes so great and i love her voice but theres one thing i noticed by all the versions ive heard on youtube is that the note in the end they take that as something for itself even though its supposed to be put together with the last word

[classyteacherdiva]

I love David Garvey's accompaniment with Leoyntne Price. What a splendid combination I must say!!

[gehduarte]

beautiful! im enchanted

[iappraise]

wonderfull instrument! Oh and great piano too.

[avaloniarising]

IF God has a voice; you just heard it. Simply miraculous. Thank you posting.

[valie0404]

Perfect.

[jayeffsb49]

Truly she is divine, and in David Garvey had a perfect partner at the piano.

[higharch]

Gloriana! truly La Diva tutte le dive

[nzgilbe]

This is how the blues and jazz singers used to sing before Ella and Billy brought is down low! I am singing this in my voice class right now, its a fun song. very hard.

[oaktree03]

blues and jazz was introduced by the likes of ms. fitzgerald and ms. holiday, not changed....ms. price here was an OPERA singer. hope you did well with the song!

[Eliiiix]

This song is so hard to sing, im singin it atm in my singin lesson. and in this key :S Absolutely wicked tuneagge tho :D

She has an amazinn vooice.

[JessiCott]

I wonder what key she sang in...

[happyactor6]

I want to shower in her voice!

[delicious00]

I love it... I don't know exactly why, but I do. Her voice... her voice gives the song an unearthly resonance. She's got balls and the lungs to match.

[iamtheperfectcrime]

She makes it look so effortless. I love her face at 1:13. "Girl you know she is." Beautiful.

[Babs22h]

I LIKE HER EXPRESSION for "good" she really vamps it up awesome

[Pagudo]

Brava Price!!!