Si mes vers avaient des ailes ♪ Hahn - Donalda (1907)

[WRParker3]

I love the song. I actually sung it during my senior recital... I kind of wish I didn't feel like the only male to sing it.

[serenaluce]

Is it supposed to be beautiful?! Sounds awful to me! At least Graham's version is really beautiful! This is just a cat pulled by the tail! The best version I've ever heard is countertenor Nicholas Spanos's. After him for me this one is just impossible to listen. Sorry.

[wtchcorvuspixie]

I just think her vowel articulation is incorrect...

[cintmint]

man... I think her voice goes completely against the natural movement of the music. bla.

[Lamfada]

I know nothing about music, but I like this.  I really like it

[kfsinger]

i will be singing this song for our solo and ensemble. i am scared because it is french but i know that i can perform it just as well as her!!!!!!!!!!!

[archeophone]

You are so lucky !!!!!!!!!

[pasfresh123]

this is an amazing performance for its purity and control, messa di voce and all that; however she "swoops to emphasize", and she emphasizes too many syllables. when you emphasize everything, it's like emphasizing nothing.

[malibu64]

This is my favorite recording of this song.

[Panymphe]

Enregistrement historique...et c'est bien : cela nous invite à appendre sur l'interprétation du temps de R. Hahn; Et celui nous démontre qu'on n'est loin des niaiseries prétendues de certains musicologues. C'est retenu, presque diaphane... Bravo pour cette recherche.

[joanabanyeres]

l never heard Pauline Donalda, (Levingstone )

singing. childish voice, l studied with her in Montreal. recording so old.... Nevertheless l studied with her, her classes were quite dear in canadian dollars, and many singers have taken class with her , she was president of some opera club, which name l don't remember Really she teach ed me nothing.. l am sorry but it's the true.

She left singing at the very young age of 40 and some more...l lost time and money.

[wattever333]

That's still happening today. A bunch of old Met & Covent Garden regulars from the 50s-70s were teaching in Montreal until recently, and they ruined people's voices, attitudes, career possibilities and finances. When a person $tudie$ with the same tyrant for 20 year$ and still can't sing, it's just wrong.

Montreal was never a great place to study singing. It used to be France and Italy, now it's the USA, but not for the same reasons. Singing today is ALL about politics and money, not art.

[joanabanyeres]

But l am 78, now and l still sing. My pupils are also singing quite well, not just for voice teaching but for the manner of expression, diction, poetry, meaning...... Really this teacher taught me nothing, l am sorry to tell this bit la always sang better than her. As for the song you may look for mine, l think she never understood the real meaning of it. canadian dollars and l was poor and also a bit idiot.

[meltzerboy]

Taken at such a slow tempo and sung in strict time with no rubato, the song really exposes the voice, and frankly, Donalda's singing does not hold up IMO, in terms of steadiness of tone. Certainly not as good as Melba's recording of the piece. Sembrich also made a beautiful recording of the song, one of the best of her performances on record.

[AulicExclusiva]

I like the legato, she almost seems in a trance, but the voice is bland, what I would call a "white" voice, and thins out on top.

[brychar66]

Very good presentation indeed, makes me quite envious! Her voice is clear and pure, if somewhat lacking in warmth, child-like really, but quite charming. If you are into comparisons, you might like to compare this with Maggie Teyte's rendition on my own video. Afraid my video is not as accomplished as yours, but Maggie Teyte's voice comes across in all its warmth and intimacy. Regards, Charles.

[balletamie]

Thank you for telling about, I'll search your video.

[kspm01]

Donalda's candid approach and particularly delicate vocal treatment make this wonderful song (a gem in itself) even more authentic and moving. Thank you for sharing!

[jurek46pink]

Absolute vocal tone - indeed.

And your excellent care and touching...;-)

Great - "Comme l'amour" !

[balletamie]

Thanks J.