Jessye Norman Samson and Delilah Improved Sound

[marchesano]

Sheer vocal beauty and drama. You don't hear audiences react that way anymore, unfortunately.

Would that we had singers like this still.

[carlosasmarab]

Maybe one of the BEST videos on You Tube. Absolutely speechless.

[vlada498]

The best performance of  this aria i ve ever heard.

[bronxboy47]

That was devastating! For a moment there, I caught a glimpse of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

[RobbieF63]

I have but two words to describe this performance by Miss Norman.

Velvet - pure Velvet & such artistry.

[Tdubsish]

Her dedication to the character and the story is absolutely stunning.

[africanzionflo]

Icannot believe how beautiful she and this song is. I play it over and over again.

[dpknpdx]

@africanzionflo I do too!

[BearAZ]

There are no words. **melt**

[MizRoxy2005]

Awesome!

[SavHub]

Her voice reminds me of the great Elena Cernei...

[jorgegs41]

WHAT A LOVELY CARRY ON ON 6:25 - SHE IS SUCH A GIFTED SINGER/ARTIST TO DO THIS...WHAT A TALENT...THNKS FOR HARING THIS VIDEO TO US.

[jorgegs41]

JESSYE NORMAN IS ONE VERY GOOD SINGER WITH SUCH MAGNIFICENT VOICE. NOT ONE WILL GET CLOSE. WHAT A GIFT FROM GOD TO HEAR HER SING...THANKS FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO...

[bonnies1234567]

@jorgegs41 -- I totally agree. All that she performs is positively exquisite; perfectly interpreted.

[Cafepolo1]

What an extraordinary performance! I have never heard anyone even come close. When did this concert take place?

[gromiting]

How can someone have so much power and placidity at the same time?

[bigjoetube]

If you hear Jessye Norman you MUST fall in love with her.

[leoniemikele]

@bigjoetube Yes.

[jofish1943]

ms norman has been empowered with a voice and demeanor that is unparalled in her performance. thank you paul.

[Mariana740126]

I have no words...is a perfection....moves me to tears....so wonderful!

[dowarp]

She is so amazing

[PatateRoussoiste]

I was born too late...

[SoleLove85]

8:24 was so clear and amazing

[IngridBerg]

BRAVA

[Chilair1]

She's conducting and singing at the same time. lol.

[MrBluedanube]

that note at 8:24!!!!!

[BalletBabyBoy]

She is like a wild banshee! Fabulous!

[AleksandraPlamenac]

She is so marvellous any Samson would fall in love with her...

[NoirOrchestre]

Quelle dommage que la direction d'orchestre ne soit pas à la hauteur...

[ian1856]

I am speechless!!!!!!!!!

[steelpower179]

How awesome. This woman puts her whole mind, body and soul into this work. Here is passion for music rarely seen. Seeing her enhances the experience of listening by an exponential factor. Is there some sort of award the USA can give her for being a national treasure?

[NZdodobird]

Completely fastinating.

[flipsyboy]

She seems to be wearing an entire tapestry.

[piali60]

This was one of the most moving musical experiences I have ever had. Thank you for uploading.

[panajody]

What Samson would not willing be bald for the sexiest Delilah on earth who sings gorgeous French, who has breath control unimagined by most singers, who overwhelms with her passion, and who defies superlatives?

[vocalissimo1]

A much more sensuous vocal line than Marilyn Horne ever produced.

[Loumademe]

Not that it should really matter but I was comparing Norman's version to some of the other well known performances.

And, in truth, that breath held after the last "à voler dans tes bras!" and carried over into "Ah! réponds à ma tendresse..." makes all the difference in terms of dramatic force. Does any other soprano do that? It's a most powerful effect as it maintains an almost inhuman level of intensity. LOL She's great. Thanks again for the repost.

[gromiting]

@Loumademe Hear!  Hear!

[tenore23]

Such a shame that she never did this role. That would have been one hell of a telecast.

[velociraptor44]

Qué maravilla!!!!

[OLIVCHEN77]

Well...Her my dear students you can hear whats the most important thing which you should be own when you want to become a singer: A VOICE A VOICE A VOICE

Hear Garanca and you know the difference (at 6:18 you know what I mean)

[Woelfin001]

@OLIVCHEN77 I looked at this after reading your comment abaout Garancas performance, and I must agree with you. Norman moved me to tears. Nevertheless, where do we get the arrorance to dismiss one artist in favour of another? I get terribly annoyed whan ignorant louts decide that starlet XYZ is the best interpreter of aria XYZ and often respnd scathingly, but you obviously know what you are talking about. It took years to get to Garancas level, give her the respect due.

[MusicalTenor23]

If I'd be given a privilege to choose my Delilah.. I'd definitely choose her.. She just nailed this piece!! wonderful, fantastic, marvelous and definitely seductive!!!! ^^

[FernandoALR1]

Bravissimo!! Amazing !!

[eliana64077]

brava Jessye ! perfeita sempre ! que voz linda !!!

[victoriamadeus]

is there anything this great woman can't sing?! amazing, love her!!!

[bonnies1234567]

@victoriamadeus -- Yes, I agree. Jessye Norman is amazing. She takes great care in perfecting everything she sings to make it as the composer intended and more . . . !!!

[persa147]

¡¡¡Sin duda...la mejor Dalila!!!!

[rickyiffy]

oh my god ... the culmination in the final two minutes, when you see Ms. Norman's face and neck stretch to the extreme, her muscles tensed, the words "Samson, Samson, I love you" totally engulf you. Oh to see this live! thank you for the posting.

[TheLiu111]

niesamowita!cóż za wrażliwość!

[nesking1000]

Voyou de l'Amour faux clown madaM'oon en paSage dans les flammeSage brulé'au visag'ame tout court chaux doux joyau bijou rejeté cailloUne vraie brun'à la lune!¡

[lausisouza1]

Jessye Norman, como sempre SURPREENDENTEMENTE MARAVILHOSA, que INTERPRETAÇÃO, a mais feliz que já presenciei.

[nucisfan17]

ah! it feels like there is nothing impossible for her.. Amazing!

[mircavalcante]

What a superbe singer!!! She carries all of us with this wonderful interpretation. The conductor is as amazing as the singer, very clear to the orchestra which just followed her. The orchestra was perfect too. Thanks for posting. :-)

[lazer58]

Listening to Jessye Norman sing this as Delilah only goes to show you that deception is an art. Brava Miss Norman, brava.

[TheLiu111]

I loooove it!!!!!!!!!

[jaraca1000]

@TheLiu111

I too :)

[newhotmailit]

i,ve missed it so much!!!!!! beautiful!!!!!!

[orejarota]

Gracias!!! Unica e imprescindible!



[wedidntknow]

This performance is like the finest chocolate from the best chocolate maker 's hands. Made with love care and only the best ingredients. Only to be indulged by my sheer greed for its richness. I'm just saying!!!

[SCCMMGT]

@wedidntknow Agreed!

[ClassicKris]

YESSSS! I've missed this so much! I'm so happy! It's my favorite rendition of Mon coeur!

[raaadja99]

Heavenly voice with a pure artistry of Norman's blended in this masterpiece! BRAVA

[vaughanhyman]

Glorious! Her interpretation mirrors Delilah's hypnosis, seduction, and subsequent emasculation of Samson. This is so delicious, I promise you, it's better than sex.

[normallawrence]

@vaughanhyman yes it does it for me too

[c12mna]

jawbreak and goosebumps 

[operasprite]

With this slower tempo, Jessye Norman creates a sensual & moving portrayal. Fascinating presence & that voice is heavenly. Just love her!

[baltoman24]

Jessye Norman is simply unbelieveable in this glorious aria- slower, more menacing, more irresistable than anyone. If only we had a complete recording with her and Jon VIckers (through the magic of time travel!)Thank you for this great experience!

[mc0558]

Superb! She gets into this role absolutely. Beatifully sung and acted.

[DIVOTENOR]

Love this aria and this rendition!!

[Babs22h]

incredible sense of line! BRAVA!

[elaine9010]

 absolutely Looooooooooooooove this.Am learning it at present.

[nickwallacesmith]

heard shirley verrett as a kid sing a concert samson and delilah in london - this triggers memories!

[rhonesilva]

What I really love about this performance is that we are seeing Dalila's SOUL. This is her underneath all the beautiful aesthetic features. I love this.

[otorino9o9]

THIS VERSION IS OF A BETTER QUALITY SOND IS MUCH IMPROVED. WOW WHAT A WONDEROUS SINGER THANKS FOR THE UPGREAD,SHES LIKE A DREAM,SO TOUCHING,LOVE HER VERY MUCH

[yokka1234]

Suuuuuuuuupeeeer!!!!!!!!!I I love it!!!!!!

[pilotosiqueira]

SIMPLESMENTE  EXTRAORDINÁRIA.

[cagedbirdsings]

Brava Jessye!

[Hisrevenge]

omg @ 4:42... that look... just remarkable!

[Sweetthang9]

@Hisrevenge Almost like a drunk sailor eyeing his quarry....and still so fitting! She's never afraid of taking it ugly for opera.

[Yokeish]

I LOVE how she decides to carry through at 6:25 where most almost always take a breath. It had me melting long before the high B natural!!

[jeanvital]

la plus belle interpretation (meme si elle fait un point d'orgue sur chaque note... le temps d' articuler chaque mot) . Géniale Jessye !

[Loumademe]

TheReturnOfStephan1! Fancy meeting you here. Same taste in divas. LOL

I wish they'd release the entire recital on DVD. "Women of Legend, Fantasy & Lure" has to be one of the greatest concert recitals ever recorded. And this finale is superb. One day, perhaps. L

[highschoolking]

musicalopera93: The spelling for the contraction "You are" is YOU'RE, not YOUR.

You;ve got a pretty healthy dose of ignorance yourself.

[highschoolking]

Heula 1 :You clearly don't understand humor.

[highschoolking]

Very beautiful. Too much hair. Wrong facial expression for saying I love you.

Clarinet player shoiuldn't use girdle ligauture; makes the sound too thin.

Women shouldn't be allowed to conduct.

Neither should men

[heula1]

@highschoolking You clearly don't understand what's going on in the opera when she sings this.

[musicalopera93]

@highschoolking your so ignorant

[wTrevorh]

@highschoolking, go find a white singer! Obviously, you can't appreciate this coming from a black woman. Why watch it, if you don't like what you're seeing; find another way. The rest of us wil continue to enjoy ms. Norman.

[Scramtone]

Slower than normal for sure, but Jessye Norman doesn't march to anyone's tune and she is always exciting and her voice is so rich rich rich and gorgeous. She makes you stop and really listen. I love it and I love her. Beautiful.

[kgarmaker123]

I like Ms Norman and have paid money to hear her live.. but this tempo is way way too slow. and it is not expressive.. further, she has lapses in pitch.

[tenorbear60]

This is one cruel Delilah. I do like the different take of her interpretation, but I found the tempo to be indulgent to the point of pulling the musical line out of shape... literally doubling the duration is a bit much. Still, an interesting performance. Norman's pitch was better than usual.

[ecopin]

La majestuosa voz de esta mujer, llega a todas mis fibras.

Mi corazón se abre a su voz. My heart opens to her voice. Bravo!!!!

[vaughanhyman]

I keep coming back to this recording--it is so wonderfully mesmerizing, delightful and moving. Even the unschooled can't help being moved by the vocal, interpretive, and expressive mastery demonstrated. Clearly Ms. Norman's vocation is singing. When one enacts one's true calling, one uplifts one's self, as well as others and bring light and beauty into the world. Frequently, however, not even the most blinding light can illuminate the darkness of ignorance, bigotry, and just plain stupidity.

[vivegedda]

As usual she's flat and sin gs french like a cow.She is just disgusting!!!

[figarofirst]

@vivegedda

Then cow's French would be sweeter than yours.

As usual, she is just amazing!!!

[vivegedda]

@figarofirst On top of all that she doesn't understand what she is singing and as usual, she is flat

[vivegedda]

@vivegedda I'm french my friend and she sings like a spanish cow and on top of all that she is off key(horribly flat). By yourself a pair of ears or stop talking about something you don't know!!

[vaughanhyman]

@vivegedda you must feel very proud that you have spread a little more ugliness, Clearly you are just an ugly person, whose only pleasure is in spreading your disease of ugliness. Ms. Norman's work speaks for itself. As one of the highest paid and celebrated singers in the world, Ms. Norman rose up against the formidable odds of the ugliness you represent. Because of the beauty, light and moral goodness she spreads, the world is a better place, even for "people" like you.

[SCCMMGT]

@vaughanhyman Well said!!!

[vaughanhyman]

@SCCMMGT, thanks. I am sure you agree that it's not by luck that Jesseye Norman became one of the highest paid and most revered singers in the world. It's through remarkable talent, dedication, and the relentless sublimation of natural human urges such as the need for intimacy, reproduction, and so on. As a result, she brings us spiritual upliftment and joy. It is therefore sacrilegious, even criminal, to express anything other than appreciation for her gifts.

[SCCMMGT]

@vaughanhyman Thanks!! I have had the pleasure of seeing her perform. She has such "presence". I appreciate her dedication to her vocation!! It is reflected in her performances. We must all remember to cherish and defend that which we have been blest with. Jesseye is an American Gem!!

[langleywil]

@vivegedda That's interesting that you would say this, because on the 200th Anniversary of the French Revolution, the organizers decided on Jessye Norman to sing the French National Anthem, and not any French opera singers. Seems that an entire country disagrees with you.  Sad, aint it?

[SCCMMGT]

@langleywil Once again the USA to the rescue of the French!!! She was splendid as usual for that event!!!

[SCCMMGT]

@vivegedda Why is it that the French are always so critical of those who saved their hides??? Take a trip to Normany and reflect that Jesse's and my ancestors lay there. She is better than anything you have to offer including your armies!!!

[1marcelo]

@vivegedda I understand your criticism of the technical issues with this performance but why do say that Norman does not understand what she is singing? She does sound convincing to most people.

[christiaandhooghe]

@1marcelo This performance is PERFECT! Jessye has a low soprano and high mezzo, and even able to sing contralto....Mahler 3. She does not even hint the chest voice, just all in the middle register. Not pushed, just legato....and as an EXTRA instrument to the orchestra..and she takes the tempo down....so sensual......and THE LOOK...4.45 min...making Dalilah such a TRAMP!!! Ha ha ha!!!! BRAVA Jessye.

[1marcelo]

@christiaandhooghe Thanks for the technical details. I also love this performance. I think only Jessye Norman makes a distinction between the things Dalilah says to herself and to Samson. The interpretation has different layers, in contrast to other singers that only show passion or whatever.

[Timmerjax]

Nothing better

[Aldobrandini]

The perfect voice singing this most perfect of arias. A voice in a million. And what interpretation she has on offer here! I don't believe she's ever recorded this aria commercially; a pity. In lieu of that, I can highly recommend her "Vier Letzte Lieder" and "Les Nuits d'Été" recordings; breathtakingly opulent, and the pinnacle of what is possible in the genre of the art song, esp. when blessed with a voice of that quality.

[DIVOTENOR]

Beautiful!! Just Beautiful!!

[jotaone]

This is one of the most interesting, enchanting and imppresive renditions of this aria. I always loved Ms. Norman, and here we can see her artistry. I can't stop listening to that beautiful piano in the second part of the aria and how easy she breaths and controls the phrasing masterfuly. This is a class of singing of the highest level. La Norman, a diva in the old style which is so hard to find today and most of us long for! Aguante la Norman!!

[RhodesianRidgebackD]

Wow! I was looking for this some months ago. Glad its back. Thanks!

[TheGabi1976]

BRAVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Amazing voice and amazing stage presence.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome!

[nycmusiclover32]

this phrasing is unbelievably done! Ms. Norman goes well beyond the character of this aria. She draws the audience in right away and makes us part of the scene with her.

this is a 5-6 minute aria and Norman turns it into a 9 minute aria by taking a more hear wrenching tempo. Her breath support is flawless!!

[SCCMMGT]

Thanks so much!! I missed this!!!

[rbpenelope2008]

GRAZIE per il post, l'ho ritrovato!!!! Una insuperata Dalila!!!

[musoph21]

i normally dont care for Norman's voice but this is gorgeous..and her timbre and vocal weight is so appropriate for this aria

[mc0558]

@musoph21 I love the way she totally enters into her character, Delilah, the woman with secret motives, the desire to control and to betray this man of power. She crafts the aria meticulously from within her character. And in the end she holds on to Delilah and experiences her complete triumph at the end.

Btw, I am surprised that you don't normally like her voice. It is such a magnificent voice and she is a fine artist. What is there about it that you don't like?

[musoph21]

@mc0558 i agree..she has dramatic intensity in her eyes from beginning to finish. She totally embodied the role rather than just sung it. Why i dont like her?..hmm sometimes i find that her voice is too far back and swallowed. I prefer a more forward voice...and other times.. I am going to get killed for this..but she can be underpitched and flat sometimes. Not because she is bad or anything but i think she tries to sing a lot of stuff that isnt for her voice.

[irontoolbox]

@musoph21 Hey Mc0558 you echo my sentiments about Jessye Norman's voice except for the "pitch" description (not my area of expertise). I go mainly by how the performance makes me feel. Consequently, this is the best performance of this aria I've hear. Gosh, she worked it! is all I could say. Maybe you're right about her choices but German (Wagner) operas are also so technical that one has to delight in torture to sit through them. I also think her "Ride on King Jesus" is the best I've hear.

[htshoward]

Speechless. Brava!

[jplaura02]

Beyond amazing! Gives one spinal chills!

[Amapola1964]

Sublime.... and who could resist that little smile at 4.48?

[SopranoLeggero]

Amazing!Fantastic!

[pavelrs17]

that`s ir an amazing song, just i`ts magic

and an amazing singer

O_O

[jcrogers14]

When she sang Samson at 8:10 she made me want to surrender AWESOME

[Liriki3]

Fabulosa e incomparável...

[VoiceVirtuoso]

AAAMMMAAAZZZIIINNNGGG!!!

[LeenaJ]

Thank you!

[oihanen]

4:45 HAhahahahaha...Bitch has got you now, Samson!

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

Thanks so much for bringing this back to us!!!

[darnmat]

Was waiting for this too!

[princesslehaha]

*GOOSEBUMPS*

[desiderius82]

And I must add how much I adore big diva hair!

[cycadheaven]

Thanks! Thanks! Thank you, for posting this splendid performance. I sure am happy it's available to us again.

[WilliamCarole1977]

Breathtaking.

[ephana1]

it´s the best performance i´ve hheard of that aria

Great!!!!

[Liwah]

One of the best operatic performances I have ever heard! Definitely in the top five!

[WoldUA]

..................... NO WORDS !!!

[0o0doir0o0]

where did this disappear to.. i've missed it!!! so glad its back!

[princesslehaha]

Me too, I love this!