Beverly Sills: Cleopatra, "Che sento; Se pieta di me non senti." Handel.wmv

[itsallgood544]

In my opinion this is one of opera's greatest arias. Beverly Sills' version was what cemented my interest in opera in general and at the time I had no idea that I wasn't really going to hear anything better. She breathes the spirit of the Baroque, understands Handel ( a lot of sopranos are playing Cleopatra today as just a comic vamp), and with incredible musicality and stunning ornamentations sings this so that it is yearning, melancholy and deeply moving. No wonder it made her famous.

[scoolnursedog]

I know nothing other than I absolutely love this. This womans voice can cure all of my ills.

[Rosecrus]

She was a resplendent Song-Bird from Paradise.

[donpkra]

natalie has great talent but there is no comparison to the velevt stunning voice of Sills - Dessay is often hard to listen to and doesnt take the vocal risks that Beverley did

[davinapons]

It would be interesting to compare the overtones in her voice with other sopranos and THAT trill. Is there a flute player alive that can trill that fast and clean?

[davinapons]

I just spent the last hour listening to numerous versions of this aria. Sills truly has little competition as the best version both musically and technically and that amazing sound!! There may be others that can sing soft and high such as Dessay, but Dessay is like cheap white wine (sweet, but lacking depth) compared to Sills. Sills has such amazing depth and colors in her voice. Like really fine, aged and expensive wine, it is hard to describe all that is there, there is so much.

[velazquez2011]

@davinapons I don't agree at all with your opinion on Dessay. She has pathos Look at her Paris performance, she has bite and tender melancholy and near the end intensity! Sills is more sugary than Natalie!

[petelovesbevsills]

Glorious Beverly!! Thank you Kestal for thiis topnotch upload, it's just amazing!!