Jessye NORMAN "The Bohemian girl" - M.W.Balfe

[TheAkelei]

A very fine piece with a gripping melody - til now I thought Enya (who sung this spendidly) did compose this, too.....

[Jan96106]

I had the great good fortune in the 80s to attend one of her recitals.Her voice and precision are incomparable.

[mellorslover]

The voice of an angel....my favorite song--never heard it more tender and sweet. Carolyn in San Antonio, TX

[rogharm]

@lamusicahera I agree love Jessye she great. This is strange i first this song in a HAL ROACH STUDIOS production of The Bohemian Girl with  believe or not with Laurel and Hardy. Also Fra Diablo. they were comedies but they educated to quality music. ROGHARM

[SuperHartline]

Bartolli is a poor secretary girl?? Maybe you should check her out singing Una Voce Poco Fa on the web. Okay, she makes silly faces, but it's in character. And her voice is among the greatest. Superhartline

[AleksandraPlamenac]

Wonderful! Amazing voice and the dress is sweet!

[Dhbrydon]

Magnificent

[davehshs]

@lamusicahera Ah, yes, bring back the "good old days!" Why is it that so many older people look back with rose-colored glasses upon everything from their youth? Norman is indeed a fine singer, but some of those you so casually put down are also quite good. I'm not exactly young myself, but I try to remember that much of what makes events from our youth seem so great was due to the mere fact that we were young then.

[alshouse]

Why carp about who's better, Jessye Norman or Joan Sutherland? They're both wonderful. The version in the movie of the Bohemian Girl is vanilla compared to them...

[lababoc]

BRAVO !!!

[lightcrazed]

Exquisite . Those top notes. Ah, Mr Balfe!.



[solsticecelt1]

Lovely!

[ShawDAMAN]

good diction and an incredibly powerful voice. she never moved me though for some reason.

[lewis1936]

Her singing brilliant ,as alwayys. Her dresser zero,makes her look like a pigeon

[AustrianAdrian]

WOW ... what a great artist can make of a simple song!!! Brava la Diva

[osbornd89]

Fantastic diction!! 

[rogharm]

the l & H movie was the bohemanian girl based on balfe seen in 1952 on wcbs-tv as a cutup 15 minute movie. they made swiss miss, fra diablo and babes in toyland. all with classical music and classic singers. but they made a comedy of them. wcbs-tv nyc had to fill in 15 minutes at9:45 am and wcbs-tv just showed any part of the of any l & h movie with no titles. in 1959, one nyc tv station showed them all from beginning to end with titles. anymore questions Ask! ROGHARM

[iwillliftupmyeyes]

she is amazing singing this can someone tell me how to get a copy of this as i have checked her albums and carnt find it .please help BH

[TheGman1004]

Stunning. By  far the best version up here

[ruffomaldito]

After replaying it 5 times in my laptop, my only question is: "How can a mortal sing like this?".............Thanks for such a treat!

[rogharm]

@ruffomaldito AGREE 10,000% ROGHARM i first heard this song at age 7 in 1952 in a laurel and hardy movie. that is how i learned fine music walter woolf and dennis king in the l & h movies. just like alfalfa carl switzer introduced me to bing crosby in the early 1930's. Great performance!!!!!!!!!*****

[ruffomaldito]

@rogharm I ´ve always been a l & h fan myself. I think they´re the greatest ever.....so funny that I hardly ever paid attention to accompanying music. So I suspect this song was played (or sung) in a very different style and tempo. Do you happen to remember what movie it was? I´d been fascinated to view it again, to listen to the music. Thanks for your response.

[rogharm]

@ruffomaldito the l&h movie was THE BOHEMIAN GIL i am age 65 now 2010 and never forgot it> rosina timpani sang it. they made a comedy of it but they went to jail for kidnapping her, but the gypies stole her if i remember correctly. HAL ROACH STUDIOS introduced to culture and crosby-alfalfa. ms. norman deserves the great applause. fabouls perform. ROGHARM

[ruffomaldito]

@rogharm Yeah, yeah, of course I remember the movie. One of my favorites. Old Stan got drunk when filling the bottles.....one of the greatest scenes ever. Thanks for the memories.

[solsticecelt1]

I once watched a film about the explorers burke and wills attempting to cross the australian Gibson dessert. This was sung on the soundtrack, does anyone know who the singer was?, I've not seen the film since so can't find out.

[kgarmaker123]

Unlike Joan S.. Ms.Norman can be understood.. Her vowels are much better, and as it is an english text.. wow.. we as english speaking people really need to understand the words. My hats off to her.

[stingabe]

@kgarmaker123 Jesse is a mezzo, singing in a mezzo range. Joan is a lyric soprano, singing in a much higher range.

[kgarmaker123]

@stingabe REally? Is that Joan S.. excuse? Pardon moi...

[langleywil]

Oh I knopw she doesn't need one. Someone else commented that she used on for this performance.

[freddyzify]

I saw Jesse Normans performance on television and it sent cold shivers up my spine- itstill does. Since then I have tried to obtain a recording of it, without success. imagine my delight when I saw the link on utube. Thank you for giving me that thrill again - whata wonderful voice!

fred

[thomascow1]

Magnificant 1000*****'s, no wonder the applause...thanks

[BravaBerganza01]

GREAT COMMENT! BRAVO & THANKS :)

I totally AGREE with you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The1620]

@BravaBerganza01 How true.

[nkteinert]

My vocal instructor told me to look her up, since I'm a soprano and, like Ms. Norman, I don't have that tiny tinkling soprano voice, either. (As my teacher would say, my voice will never be a tiny bird fart of a sound.) =) I've never heard her before tonight, and I'm in awe. She's beautiful and her voice is divine. If I only end up with half that talent, I will be content. She's amazing.

[schuttowb]

Prima, Miss Jessye Norman!

Was für eine Stimme!

Die Beste!

[shinawillful]

Stunning! Her top notes are divine - ALL of it is divine. And for those of you used to wee 'popera' voices who can't be heard without a microphone - this aria is from the OPERA The Behemian Girl.

[cantanteporsiempre]

wonderful excellent, jessye norman sings always outstanding, one of our divas from the XX century

[anyotherbizniz]

Marvellous singer and one of my old favourite arias. Unfortunately they just don't belong together. A bit like custard on a dover sole.

[Lindow]

You must not forget that she's not singing this piece with a mic right in front of her mouth so she has to project.

[langleywil]

I didn't see the microphone. Where is it?

[qklq42]

She does'nt need one.

[schef123]

Oh lord!

Is there absolutely nothing this lady cannot sing!

Im such a big fan of her!!

Love you Jessye Norman!!

[The1620]

What a lovely dress ........ the voice a Rolls Royce when a Volkswagen would do ...... But absolutely charming !

[shareddrive]

Song and artist mismatched, as it is to the voice of Sutherland. It takes a smaller voice and a less mannered delivery. If you can find it, listen to Elizabeth Wheeler on black Victor; or, Olive Kline in a brief snippet on the acoustic Bohemian Girl Gems on Victor 35603.

[neoceratodus]

A tremendous voice -- a bit much - too full and rich - for this rather light song, but I'd love to hear her do Wagner. And I'll bet she sing a sexy and very lusty Carmen.

[singerjen212]

This brings tears to my eyes - GORGEOUS!

[eutuve]

R.I.P.

Renowned British conductor Sir Edward Thomas Downes, CBE, has died at the age of 85, after travelling to the assisted suicide clinic Dignitas with his wife.

He and his 74-year-old wife Joan, who was terminally ill, chose to end their lives at the Swiss clinic, their family said in a statement.

According to the statement, the couple "died peacefully, and under circumstances of their own choosing".

[fruit1020]

wow i though sumi jo was the best but after hearing norman...boy, was i wrong!lol sumi jo is still a wonderful singer, but i like the richness in norman's voice.

[ugotitbabe000]

I adore this artist

[maass16]

Brilliant!

[yeahbyme]

The voice of the century...and a fab song too. Thanks

[MichelleLaJeunes]

Brava!!!

[Mikirekai]

Ganz schön!!!

[1400deadwood]

BRAVO!!!

[watsola]

That was so magical, it took me to another place!!!

[flouraki]

she has the most beautiful smile and presence!!

[flouraki]

angelic voice.....when I die I want to hear this....!

[Bahia82]

Why is Jesse Norman not seen as the greatest opera singer of this era? She surley has earned it

[davidmcdowell]

She is.

[KakarottoCL]

Most beautiful interpretation of marble hall I've ever seen.

[schuttowb]

Sie ist die Beste!Wunderbar!

Schw. Birgit

[algernon4444]

She's so good! My favourite singer of the Strauss Four Last Songs.

[BlackMagic1943]

William Balfe? No! Michael Balfe.

[Meyerbeer1]

Yes, it is Michael William Balfe.

[maryclaude2]

Beautiful!

[niallsullivan1948]

Superb. It knocks Joan Sutherland's version with the wierd diction into a cocked hat.

[stingabe]

@niallsullivan1948 Dream on.............!

[musicredshoes]

@niallsullivan1948 Jessye Norman is an amazing soprano, and her version of this aria is one of the best for sure.

But Dame Joan Sutherland's version (that you criticised) has got much more subtle coloratura, and as you may know, Joan's efforts on the coloratura sometimes makes her diction less good.

But the fact that they have different styles, doesn't make Joan Sutherland worse than Jessye Norman. Actually, both are "top" performers.

[ruffomaldito]

@musicredshoes I agree. Perhaps Jessye´s style is a bit more expressive, while Joan is a bit more technically perfect. On this particular vid, Jessye´s gestures more than fill her role as an actress-singer. It´s like watching "A thousand and one nights."

[savagebear54]

Wonderful, as always from this great singer,emotion without sentimentality or affection. A joy to hear!

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

wow...beautiful, and great diction to boot

brava la norman

xoox

[richio44]

Superb aria from a truly great singer a lovely melody by Irishman William Balfe a long forgotten composer who is now sadly overlooked so this aria is his legacy. Thank you for posting.

[lungdoc]

A most beautiful rendition of a haunting aria. I wish Norman had been a more "conventional" singer when she chose her repertoire (aka bread and butter) but who am I to argue with her?

[wolkowy1]

Beautiful and elegant aria and voice. Brava!

[nycolas1712]

Very good !!! Congratulations.

[re6356]

She has to be the most powerful female singer EVER!!! and technically the equal of any.

[bollonbear]

Did you know it is William Balfe's bicentenary this year. Should be able to see The Bohemian Girl somewhere. He is my uncle a few generations back!! :~)

JB

[33blueberries]

Ha, that's awesome! Definitely an unsung hero of English opera, well, I think so :)

[Geekella]

wow what a beautiful, graceful voice

[Doooku]

I think Ms. Norman did this pretty well.

It is just a completely different Bohemian girl from the one interpreted by Joan. Maybe her mother was actually a US lady or she studied a couple of years in NYC...

Anyway, it is called arts...we don't need precision here.

[tenore23]

That dress and turban are fucking fabulous!

[GinnyGirl53]

Love this version to the Joan Sutherland but wish she sang Plee Said and not pleased; if you see what I mean

Enya's version takes on a different angle

Would love to see this opera tho - never seems to be on anywhere

[jadoremassenet]

GRRRRRREAT!!!!!!!

[algernon4444]

What a knock out! Superb song which she sings so beautifully. Listen to her singing Strauss's 'Four Last Songs'.

[mylittlepony34]

I'm a Jessye Norman convert!

Why only 3000 views?

[JoFrSc]

Yes, explain that!

[SubtlyRough]

It might be hard to believe, but this piece has been sung by ...Enya (it has been recorder for one of her albums).

I just adore Jessye Norman, but it is so ridiculous to hear her rendition and voice - obviously TOO powerful, too fervent for this lullaby-like waltz :) Maybe it's just the influence of the somnambulistic version by Enya? ;)

[ejtka]

This is an operatic aria; it was written before microphones were invented, and requires a powerful delivery in order to fill the performance space. To compare this performance to one by Enya is to compare apples and oranges.

[JoFrSc]

You said it: take the technology away from Enya and there's very, very little left to carry over three rows of seats in an audience. Take technology away from Norman and still end up with overwhelming music.

[33blueberries]

Score: SubtlyRough, 1; ejtka, 0.

Watch the Sutherland, it's on youtube, and is a much more endearing and touching (albeit somewhat overly-ornamented) rendition than either this or the Enya. "A powerful delivery" requires nothing more than the proper projection of the tone, which can easily be achieved by a well-trained singer at forte, or piano. It is the latter for which this, yes, lullaby-like waltz calls.

[ejtka]

The point that I should have made - is that comparisons are pointless.

[newhotmailit]

oh my gosh. i've never seen this before. thank you so much for put on this...i can't believe...its so beautyful. brava jessye. again, again and again...

[NART65]

I remember in 1996/7 a colleague showed me this on video. It was from a Royal Variety Society Performance. They thought it tacky but I loved it. He facial expressions, the diction the voice all wonderful. This is not available to buy which is a shame.

[gmmix]

This is a really beautiful performance of an excerpt from a vastly underrated opera. The choruses in this work are magnificent. For a really different kind of rendering of this gem, check on YouTube for Ruby Helder, "the girl tenor"! Thanks for this video.

[gmmix]

Oops...I wanted to say "a really different kind of rendering of ANOTHER gem from Bohemian Girl." (Another senior moment!) In the way of an afterthought, one wonders how many recall the 1930's Laurel & Hardy movie based on this Balfe opera. That film contained some fine and serious singing.

[godivapaw]

Joy!!!! What a joy!!! Thank you for putting this on.

[Liriki3]

Bravo Jessye Norman. Magnífico

[barmanjoe]

A sheer beauty, absolutely wonderful!!! Viva La Norman!!!!

[Dhbrydon]

Magnificent

[legard2]

Thank you for posting this. Over the years, whenever Jessie Norman's name has come up in conversation I have asked if anyone else remembers her performance of this aria. It was at a Royal Gala in Covent garden about 12 years ago. Sadly, it doesn't seem appear on any of her recordings. If anyone has actually found it, please post the details. Superb!

[musicbox99]

Really a fine performance. It's up there on top

[dongbat777]

"Pure Joy"

[royalbattle]

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE I HAVE EVER SEEN. Miss Norman you have acheived even greater respect and adoration from me. BRAVA BRAVA BRAVA

[VoyArrasando]

Look at La Primma Donna Assoluta looking everybit the part! What a beautiful woman inside and out!

[lamarcallas]

this is delightful. how wonderful!! thank you for uploading this.