Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann, Antonio Pappano - Madama Butterfly

[Maripudelmonaco]

¿ COMO ? QUÉ  ES ESTO ?

[Zolyushka95]

Am I the only one who sometimes fantasizes about what would have happened if Angela and Jonas had actually had a kid? I mean-imagine the voice they'd have...and the acting skills...and the looks...

[sisifus100]

I like Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann and Papano...

[vkaminsky]

why must everyone recall singers of the past, in lieu of being content that there are new singers and that the opera, albeit tenuously, carries on? Yes, I too have favorite singers from childhood, but am happy that there are new and exciting recordings being made, especially in light of the dire predictions of the end of recorded operas.

[1Profion]

imi vine sa-i pipai catifeaua vocii si sa urlu Este!...

[Mixtupabit]

The Pavarotti,Freni and Karajan recording of Butterfly is still the best..

[chef4hyr]

Can not compare to Mario Lanza; he was a fluke generated by Hollywood to appeal to critics that claim Hollywood has no culture. Mario Lanza had a great voice, but did not have the stamina for a full blown opera because he gave his all just to sing one aria. Jonas is trained for the full role. His voice is a bit heavy, but very rich; I hope he can maintain that rich timbre and not burn out too soon. Hope he makes it to helden tenor.

[singinciaran]

Beautiful recording. Brava Angela!

[barocklover1]

beautiful recording

[seetsebea1]

she is simply great

[Sarrahbg]

Angela Gheorghiu is a good singer but try to imagine the velvety voice of Kaufman singing with Raina Kabaivanska - the best Cio-Cio-San.

[Sarrahbg]

Angela Gheorghiu is a good singer but try to imagine the velvety voice of Kaufman singing with Raina Kabaivanska - the best Cio-Cio-San.

[Sarrahbg]

Angela Gheorghiu is a good singer but try to imagine the velvety voice of Kaufman singing with Raina Kabaivanska - the best Cio-Cio-San.

[seetsebea1]

Angelica es una delicia. De visto y voz. Que belleza, una maravilla. La vi en Viena. Que estrella.

[gencerito]

BRAVA ANGELA!!!!

[Rcoppin91]

Your opinion does not matter the slightest, so why post it? I mean, what credentials do you have to critique her in such negative ways?

[singinciaran]

Angela beautiful as always!

[CatalinaDM56]

Gheorghiu wouldn't sound like that without the help of an excellent technical team.

[emotion70]

I noticed you have only negative comments on Angela.Even when there's something extremely well done.That's not fair.

[CatalinaDM56]

It's fair because it is true. I regret that I personally offended you. But it is true.

[emotion70]

Only negative comments from you.I noticed that in other comments from you,too

[frastor]

il mensile inglese Gramophone ha premiato, come miglior CD dellanno per la categoria Opera la Madama Butterfly di Puccini incisa da Orchestra e Coro dellAccademia di Santa Cecilia diretti da Antonio Pappano e pubblicata lo scorso mese di marzo dalla EMI Classics. Vi ricordo che il Classic FM Gramophone Award è uno dei principali riconoscimenti discografici, spesso paragonato allOscar per la musica classica.

[jcbcn751]

KAUFMANN = VOCE INGOLATA!!!

[DottoreJojo]

I'm buying it, but it's not going to replace my Karajan.

[nazaritasedicioso]

ah este personaje de manrico se le pueden respetar todas las opiniones que tenga pero llegar la insulto es lo mas bajo en que puede caer,lo mejor que debemos hacer es no hacerle caso alguno y se cansara.

[gduane1516]

I love this, Saw it at the London Colesuim, Mingella production, truely magical, Puccini is a genius, may his operas live long, I may also add I saw ALOT of the west end musical songs (the writers and singers I think were strongly influenced)

[AOG93]

Angela Gheprghiu llego para salvarnos de la escacez de buenas interpretaciones! Hoy en dia ya casi no hay artistas de su calibre! No, no es una Butterfly como Callas (quien puede serlo?) ni Scotto ni Freni, pero es hermosa como Moffo, aunque no tanto como Tebaldi y Price. Su expresividad, sin embargo, es cautivante. Muy original y, por lo menos, consistente. Espero que sigan saliendo CDs como este!

[ioynadiemas]

Quiero ese CD!!!!!!!.....

[THESPINTO]

He leido con cierto morbo ese pequeno universo paralelo descrito magistralmente por MANRICO60 (el 60 es creo su cociente Intelectual) donde una soprano de epoca es descrita como una mujer carente de toda belleza, talento y dignidad... imagino que un golpe en la testa a temprana edad impidio a MANRICO60 el disfrute ilimitado de el resto de los mortales. Lo lamento espero algun dia encuentres la paz.

[abcdnike]

I love the begining with the violins.

[firmirira]

La voz sigue siendo bellisima, pucciniana, con una dicción y expresividad excelentes.Cuando recoge la voz y apiana, el resultado es dulce y magnífico.Brava Angela¡¡¡¡¡

[TRIBUNOX]

Eres Bonzo por casualidad? manrico?

[firmirira]

Hacia tiempo que no me reia tanto,pero de que culebron has salido???

no te molestes en comentar no voy a perder ni un solosegundo mas contigo.

[firmirira]

Le dejo con toda esa MIERDA que destila,el sitio de donde nunca debio salir.

[firmirira]

Afortundamente usted no decide nada,ni tiene criterio musical.Ya he vusto todo el historial de insultos que dedica a Angela.

[firmirira]

Claro y es usted quien decide lo que es bueno y malo.

Cuando no se tienen argumentos,hay que tirar de insultos,usted mismo se retrata.

[firmirira]

Es en respuesta a manrico60

[markovican]

Mate,we the opera lovers,can sit and lament all day how there arent enough great singers today, especially dramatic tenors&sopranos, but our moaning wont get us better Cio-Cio San or any other role.You hire who you can,and thats what is here,ye I know that "the star factor" played a big role as well when it comes to cast, but thats the way it goes nowadays.I dont mind Gheorghiu as Cio-Cio San though.For me worse is when Pavarotti sang Manrico,Radames,Calaf-now thats a lyric beefing up the voice

[firmirira]

Es tu opinión muy respetable pero nada mas,aqui decide el publico.Y que yo sepa ella canta en los mejores teatros del mundo.Boheme,Rondine,Elixir,Fa­ust,Simon Bocanegra,Traviata ,Tosca mal que te pese.

[GuilhermeMoraesSanto]

CApacidade maxima é ser o melhor para você mesmo! quando temos a capacidade de nos aplaudir sobre nossos conveitos daquilo que é o melhor,entao estamos no auge de nosso potencial. ë inutil esperar de alguem o reconhecimento de nosso esforço. Angela Gheorghiu é a prova de alguem que tem conseguido aquilo que sempre idealizaou e eu a amo muito por isto!!

[GuilhermeMoraesSanto]

Angela e encantadora e assim como todos nós humanos, estamso sujeiros a variaçoes na vida no qual cada vez fica maior o desafio de encantar a todos. Talvez seja porque ela ja chegaste a um pico imenso de criatividade no qual agora seu coraçao somente pode aumentar tamanha frequencia. Amo muito o trabalho de Angela Gheorghiu e sei que sua natureza é magnifica.

[firmirira]

La direccion es magnifica y Angela esta inatacable y Kauffman es una voz algo pesada y oscura pero cumple en este desagradecido papel

[ejrouge]

There's no Butterlfy but Angela. I waited a lot for her to record the complete opera.

I love her voice wich is perfect for the role. She's beside a great actress.

Thanks for uploading this.

[emotion70]

Angela's Madam Butterfly -no.1 in classical charts!- up to now.

Go on Angela!

[voce29]

It seems to me Gheorghiu has turned a page in her singing. The nervous energy that was always so annoying I cannot find in her Butterfly as a matter of fact she sings quite beautiful. Maybe Kaufmann and Pappano inspired her!

[4drcoop]

@voce29 and maybe being single suits her.

[adricar21]

Se ve muy buena! creo que es lo unico que me ha gustado de Angela

[amlirco]

What you call pretention I call criteria, your perception for negativity is mine for realistic view, so eat it yourself and have fun. This is the only level such recording can achieve, and don't forget your handkerchief. They even don't bother to go deeper (incl. conductor).

[stephon327]

This come out tomorrow! I am so excited! I can't wait!

[42daniela]

Para mi, Angela es perfecta.

[barleggero]

i wonder how much sutdio magic regarding volume was put into this recording in order to seem that she wasn't being outsung by Kaufmann. Another not so smart role choice for her. It's gonna be as disastrous as her ROH Tosca when Terfel sang her to the ground.

[4drcoop]

@barleggero A gentleman would not "outsing" his counterpart. Studio magic can level the playing field, the same magic unfortunately does not manufacture manners.

[4drcoop]

@barleggero Please inform me as to why ANY professional performer would "sing someone into the ground" . Is this a result of jealousy or animosity? If not is it must then be sheer stupidity or poor manners since doing so effectively ruins the performance for the audience. "Big voice" fans make my blood run cold.

[Perfidiame]

You guys can argue about who is better all day long. I am a huge fan of Mario Lanza, love Jonas Kaufmann and have adored Angela Gheorghiu for many years. Thanks so much for posting this, I will enjoy it over and over.

[ShawDAMAN]

They both sounded a wee bit shaky on the final note, especially Gheorgiu (who I've never been particularly fond of) but I wonder how many tenors with voices as heavy as Kaufmann's is would have attacked that high C like that. Bravo for effort!

[leonorafl]

Amlirco may not know why we laugh :-). Lanza was a movie star singing some opera arias, he didn't perform in an opera house at all. He can't be serious in comparing an artist like Jonas Kaufmann with a cross-over movie star like Lanza. Aside of this Jonas is not naive and plain at all, but very intelligent in general and he always explores the characters of the roles which he is doing on stage,

[amlirco]

Now you made me laugh. Thank you for taking care of my health. I know perfectly who Lanza was/is and how he sang. The fact he performed only arias does not mean he hadn't done this in a unique manner. Please pay attention before saying nonsense such as "cross-over movie star". It sounds like ignorance.

[amlirco]

All my respects to Mr. Kaufmann who has a promising voice but he has also a long path to traverse in order to be called Artist (BTW to explore the character is a must not plus). And this is the GOOD thing, the Challenge. Any premature glorification would turn in obstacle if he's not wise; and I'm sure he is. I wish him to leave a Legacy similar to Lanza's.

My best regards to you.

[ShawDAMAN]

Lanza actually performed this entire role twice at the New Orleans opera house, to good reviews. He also did the duet live in concert, in addition to 2 studio recordings. He also is my favorite Pinkerton in terms of recordings. He had a fantastic voice that should be appreciated. However I agree that it's futile to try and compare him to someone like Kaufmann on a full-fledged opera level. I like Kaufmann very much, he sounds great here.

[amlirco]

I have not campared them. It's useless exercise. If someone makes the effort to lesten to, switching off the Hollywood element, sth "unexpected" emerges in Lanza's recordings/films. I would add that some of the best full-fledged tenors were stunned by his voice and interpretative skills - a well-known fact.

To m97et02f: Hollywood is not supposed to create art by definition (every exception is welcome) while EMI is.

[j72050]

More than that...Toscanini said about 1952 Lanza was the greatest voice of the last 100 years....over Caruso and Gigli....over all other singers.... He was the greatest, really that ever lived, even though undisciplined...and left many many recordings. He met Bjoerling, and Jussi said publicly that Lanza really knows how to use the voice.

[4drcoop]

@j72050 Lanza was going to make one more Italian film and then devote time to the opera. The year was 1958, he was thirty seven years old and he thought he had plenty of time to perform live opera.

[jonathantay]

@leonorafl While I would not compare Jonas Kaufmann with Mario Lanza, I would like to inform you that Lanza did perform a full length opera and it was as Pinkerton in Butterfly in April 1948. That though, was his only professional appearance in an opera theater.

[Englishtenor2]

Of course I would, but the moment in question occurs when Butterfly sings 'have you ever seen a Japanese kid with such blond hair?' - and Pinkerton isn't on the way then. You got to read between the lines as I did when I sang him. How did he find out? Who send the telegram? Pinkerton's just an idiot in my opinion, but Sharpless knows what he's doing...

[jimhandel]

Angela sounds to me like a CREAM lyric. Larger voices have sung this role and due the amount of singing for Soprano, she may not want to make this a career role. The recording may be a good medium, since many companys may not be able to afford both Jonas and Angela for the same production. It's not a BIG role for tenor but Jonas does have some great music. Angela looks like she could also be an excellent conductor!!

[raythespian]

Angela acts as well as she sings, and I've read that the same is true of Jonas. I'd love to see them together. The only possibility would be in an HD Transmission. How about Manon Lescaut?!

[yuvalyel]

Actually, like Jessye Norman said in an interview - the best way to prepare for a role is to record it, so you have a chance to hear yourself , try many ways to sing it and focus on every note...Angela Gheorghiu may be a diva, but she has the voice and musicality to back her reputation. So what if she is a bitch (not the it's a fact)...she sings beautifully.

[amlirco]

Puccini wrote Butterfly as a soundtrack?! She must be kidding. I can understand she feels herself living in a movie, a bad one, we can add, but to reduce Puccini's music to a soundtrack, it's really so shallow. What Musical Theatre can we speak about? It's all clear about the level of the opera today if the so called leading artists thinks and portrays like that.

[Homoclassicus]

The recording was probably edited. In an interview she explains it much better: she says Puccini writes like a "soundtrack" because it's like every melody and note create the scenery and describe the movements that are made on stage in an exact way. It's so obvious you're one of those "anti-fans" that are going to interpret any word or comment in a negative way, but in this case I think I should give the complete information.

[amlirco]

Usually soundtracks are generic and create/support the mood, hardly they could "create the scenery and describe the movements". However, Puccini's music does it. It is usualy called "theatre" or "dramaturgy".

[Homoclassicus]

I agree with every word you say about what soundtracks generally are like. But that's how she expressed it, and we all know the word soundtrack - not our opinion about it - means a music that is created to accompany a movie's scene, conveying the movements, the atmosphere, etc. Besides, what matters is that she expressed her opinion better in an interview, and I told it. If you don't want to believe, now that's your problem. Bye.

[amlirco]

I love soundtracks; there're plenty of examples of great music. The issue was, why is there need a "new" name to be given to phenomena that embody the idea and essence of musical dramaturgy. For me it's a strained sense of "originality" that diminishes the cultural value of the opera.

[joanabanyeres]

May be. we should consider that Pinkerton is a " BAD " person. The voice of Jonas is may too beautiful, but the dramatic accents are may be the right ones.

[Englishtenor2]

Don't forget it's Sharpless who tells Pinkerton in America he has a child and to come and get the kid! Pinkerton's just an opportunist and a bit weak, which is how I sang him on stage, but Sharpless is the one without the morals!

[gesztenye]

Before listening and wathcing: BIG fan of Pappano and StaCecilia! Angela makes me laugh, her divadoing is too much for me and shadows the work she might do well... Kaufmann should already leave the italian roles. NOT FOR HIM! he will be a great Wagner tenor...

[Homoclassicus]

In fact, Gheorghiu would be a great Butterfly on stage. Lighter or darker voices have been great Butterflies, and this is a flexible role if the soprano understands how it must be sung. For me the timbre of her voice is just exactly what Cio-Cio-San asks for: a blooming and lyric voice that is capable of darker and more intense colorings. As for Kaufmann, he's simply the steadiest, most versatile tenor of our days. If everything went really well, I'm sure this will be a great recording.

[amlirco]

The problem is there are no sound engineers on stage. And as she says, she must sing reeeeeeeeally a lot.

[Homoclassicus]

She's sung Traviata a hundred times and it's a very heavy role. She must sing a lot, and has done it marvelously for 15 years. The sound engineers obviously have their work in a studio recording, but the fact is this Butterfly, as far as I can hear it from these excerpts, sounds the same as the Gheorghiu on stage. The problem is: Gheorghiu is unwilling to sing that require too much effort on stage, so she avoids singing long/heavy roles. This is right, but she's so radical about it!

[amlirco]

Quite interesting, the place of an artist is on stage, no matter how much effort is required. But I can understand her. She doesn't want to fare brutta figura, the public may hear nothing when it comes to Piccolo Iddio, and to exhaust her voice, she need to feed herself for years to come. But this is again not Musical Theatre, but business, nothing bad but why this pose of sth more.

[Homoclassicus]

You may be right. She's got a small voice, and that is no great drawback, just a voice characteristic. Besides, having the fear of overusing the voice in heavy roles doesn't mean she's lazy or sees Opera as a business, but exactly the opposite. Business singers would sing whatever they are called for, no matter if they'd be at it or not. And to record a role only in studio is something the greatest singers have done and doesn't diminish them at all. It only does to people who aren't fan of them.

[amlirco]

Being a non fun is neither a great drawback. I don't think she's lazy, please, do not misinterpret my words. I also did not say recording in studio diminishes the artist. What I'm saying is that recording without sound experience of "building" the character on stage, relying only on modern technologies to make one's voice bigger than it is in reality is a fake approach, some kind of distortion. A matter of business and marketing, not of Art.

[Homoclassicus]

I understand you and partially agree. Live performances are always more thrilling and admirable, because the artist is there singing his best with all the circumstances of the moment. Now, I haven't heard the recording, but from these excerpts I hear no distortion. Of course, this is studio, so we hear her voice from a near point, not from a seat afar. That's not fake. Her voice, in quality and characteristics (a strong top, a dusky and fragile bottom, etc.), sounds just the same.

[amlirco]

I meant distortion of the artistic truth rather than sound quiality (I suppose max efforts have being put recording to be up to the mark ... technically), driven by pure ambition and ego. She wants to be sth that never shall be: a Pucciniana. And this is a fake approach in terms of replacement of criteria and categories in the Art. I hope singers of Gheorghiu type and the recording companies themselves (EMI, DG ?!!!) know what they are doing by creating "products" of no artistic value...

[Homoclassicus]

Actually, people who heard her live always say her voice is ideal to Puccini. I haven't, but I must give credit to the opinion of everybody who have heard her. She's got a small voice, but then also Toti dal Monte, and De los Angeles' wasn't much large either. Her timbre, IMO, is one of the most ideal to Puccini roles in the last few decades. Perhaps it's just a matter of impression: she/EMI may not be consciously "distorting" the Artistic truth, they may really think they're doing the best.

[amlirco]

Well, I don't think so but this is just my opinion. They must, I am sure they do; the problem is to convince also us that the reasons for recording MB are artisitc but not to knock together another product for the priceless Puccini collection of Ms. Gheorghiu and easy-to-sell staff for EMI.

[Homoclassicus]

That we will have to see when the recording is released. I personally think a digital studio rec. of MB is a great surprise and I can't imagine a better pair than Gheorghiu and Kaufmann for these roles. I confess I like her phrasing and colouring for means of expression very compelling and genuine. People talk so much about her voice being too light for this role, but they forget Rosina Storchio, the 1st Butterfly, was a lighter lyric soprano who excelled in roles like Rosina and Micaëla.

[amlirco]

Wish you nice anticipation. I personaly expect nothing valuable of such effort. Gheorghiu cannot be MB for me (she's too self centered), Kaufman's voice is rich but he seems quite naive, nicely plane (my favorite Pinkerton is Lanza), a pupil (in particular placed against "sweeping" Ms. Geheorghiu) rather than passionate lover - interesting interchange of roles, this could be an achievement. So, another block buster is on its way... The scheme is tested, it always succeeds. Congratulations!

[marioj34]

Dans l'optique d'un enregistrement studio, il me semble que tout est requis pour que celui-ci soit très très réussi. La musique de puccini et Angela Gheorghiu ne font qu'un. Il me tarde ! maintenant, espérer l'entendre un jour sur scène dans ce rôle, je peux toujours rêver. Mais après tout, Freni ne l'a jamais chanter sur scène non plus... et pourtant, quelle Butterfly !

[jotaone]

Habrá que escuchar la grabación completa una vez salga al mercado... en estudio todo se puede cantar, en el teatro no... con tal que no le de por grabar Norma y Turandot todo está bien

[Klassizismus]

Has youtube abolished the 10-minutes limit for videos??!!?!?!

[DessayBestSinger]

no...but the official channels can send videos that can reach hours!

[Klassizismus]

hmmm... but some time ago FoxyGrandpa (who is no official channel as far as I know) has uploaded a video of Natalie that lasted more than 23 minutes :O How can this be???

[DessayBestSinger]

that's because he created his account when we could upload videos that were more than 10 minutes...

[Klassizismus]

Ah ok, thanks for the explanation! Ahhh, that were good times when one could create such long videos.............

[DessayBestSinger]

yes! it must have been so great! xD

[Klassizismus]

Will you record Natalie's Melisande??

[DessayBestSinger]

"c'est une question qui ne se pose pas!" OF COURSE! xD

[Klassizismus]

Je l'aurais dû savoir^^ Tu es vraiment un "super fan" xD

[DessayBestSinger]

hephephep, I'm not un "super fan" but unE "super fan" xD

yeah I'm going to record it... I hope there won't be problems :S

[Klassizismus]

Ma chère, excuse-moi, mille fois!!!!! xD Tu es apparemment UNE "super fan" xD

[DessayBestSinger]

bravo!!!!! and sorry but I can't say anything in german in exchange xDDDDDD

[Klassizismus]

Ce n'est pas nécessaire!! Mais je l'appréciérais si tu m'écrivais en français, car cette une langue plus belle que l'anglais ;-)

[DessayBestSinger]

comme tu voudras! xD

[lucianotajoli]

With so many interesting roles for Konas Kaufmann Pinkerton had its impact? insignificant for an Opera tenor like him ..

[hanja2etoile]

wow, this is going to be an amazing recording!

[1ni2na55]

I cannot wait for the CD with Jonas Kaufmann as Pinkerton.