Ewa Podleś - Eccomi alfine in Babilonia...Ah! quel giorno

[bbbartolo]

what's sad is that she's alive and I may never hear her in person. :-(

but thanks so much for these consolation prizes!

[lastupendaboy]

Interesting voice...sounds often Baroquey(castrati?),and lacks amplitude at times(mostly at the top,and some pitch issues)but exciting to hear!Lacks freedom in the voice sometimes,a little tight,unlike Horne...This recording is loud,so hard to know how it projects live...Very impressive!I look forward to discovering more!!

[Snutih]

@lastupendaboy Lacks amplitude at the top ?? A contralto who can sing a high D lacks amplitude at the top ?Haha

I ve heard her live in Tancredi , her voice is even more amazing in reality and it projects extremly well , this is an old VHS tape , the quality isn't great sadly but I'm glad we have traces of these documents at least !!

[2007jabez]

She is heavenly great. That makes my believe in god deeper.

[tomclaudetom]

ECOUTEZ L ENREGISTREMENT DE TANCREDI AVEC SUMI JO ELLE EST ABSOLUMENT PARFAITE SUBLIME....

[tomclaudetom]

LA PLUS GRANDE MEZZO SUPERBE ARSACE J ADORE BRAVA BRAVA....

[WotansSpeer]

Horne, Powdles, Manca di Nissa and Valtenini-Terrani are the greatest mezzos!!!

[LiberiCantanti]

¡¡¡IMPRESIONANTE!!!

[lalagonegaga]

The greatest contralto in history and one of the greatest singers who ever lived. End of discussion. :)))

[manrico60]

Have you ever heard Katheryn Ferrier?

This "greatest contralto of all times"of yours is nothing next to her.

End of discussion....

[lalagonegaga]

I have heard of Kathleen Ferrier. First learn to spell her name right, then feel free to annoy me with your ridiculous comments. :)

[manrico60]

Spelling or not she was the best,not this piece of crap that does not even know how to speak in Italian or any language.

get a pair of new ears you serbian dumb ass before writting such stupid comments.

"Banned from your videos"...who gives a fuck!!

[lalagonegaga]

This avalanche of insults is a clear indicator of your intelectual merit. I have no intention of continuing a discussion with a person who hasen't even been taught proper manners by his parents. Good bye.

[manrico60]

"A person who has not been taught proper manners"not "A person that hasent't been taught proper manners"...it is you that should correct your spelling.

Prefer to be ill mannered than being such an ignorant arrogant in musical matters like you.

Good bye for good!

[manrico60]

What a preposterous statement,ignorance is the mother of all faults!!

[meltzerboy]

Perhaps the greatest contralto in the history of recordings. But there were other contraltos before the advent of records, such as Marietta Alboni, who contemporary critics regarded as superlative. And, in recorded history, contraltos such as Clara Butt, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and Sigrid Onegin cannot be dismissed lightly.

[lalagonegaga]

Ah, yes, Clara Butt is most certainly among my favourites too, that voice, wow... But I have never heard of Sigrid Onegin, I will definitely have to check out some of her recordings. Thanks.

[donalfonsotube]

with horne valentini terrani

[lalagonegaga]

@donalfonsotube Technically, those were the greatest mezzos in history. :D

[magicmonkichi]

@lalagonegaga

no question, you should watch the interviews/discussions she gave at University of Toronto, their on here somewhere~.

[lalagonegaga]

@magicmonkichi Oh yes, I've watched those for sure. Apart from being such a great singer, she also seems to be a genuinely nice and funny lady.

[AulicExclusiva]

This is a truly FABULOUS performance. I mean Alboni-Scalchi-Guerrina Fabbri-Marilyn Horne type fabulous.

WHERE ARE HER COMMERCIAL RECORDINGS???

[meltzerboy]

There are a handful of commercial recordings, mainly song recitals and some Rossini, but far too few. Although Podles' voice is criticized by some as woolly, I do not agree. On the contrary, I think her tone is highly focused with a true contralto timbre. Having a coloratura contralto in our midst is quite a rarity; now, if we could only have a coloratura basso like Plancon, and a time machine enabling us to hear the great contralto, Alboni, and Scalchi (regarded by Herman Klein as a mezzo)!

[AulicExclusiva]

I think modern taste knows nothing about the contralto voice. They are used to short-ranged sopranos. Powdles' voice is very impressive.

I have since found out that there is Rossini recital on....Naxos! So much for the ci-devant "majors"!

[WynnCreasyFineArt]

There are way too few real contraltos in the world. Most are pushed up to being Mezzos and loss the richness of their lower voices. Brava Podles!

[WloScielaneve]

Bravissima!!!!!

[Gigglingatagas]

I kept retyping my comment; I couldn't seem to find one complimentary enough. So, I'll simply say: perfection!!!

[clashguy]

*****!!!!!!!!! no doubt!

[ettorebariton]

cutremuratoare voce; expresia fortei, a fortei invingatoare a celei mai frumoase arte, arta cantului, a canto-ului clasic

ciprian romania

[Steena212]

So inspirational.. what an incredible , unique voice

[carjav1904]

podles is amazing - this is a real contralto

voice with a lot of agility - brava podles

[bobopera]

Georgeo said it all 9 mos ago - "perfection, amazing; She is out of this world." I've seen her in TANCREDI, RODELINDA, TROVATORE, and two recitals. She is one of our great singers. Always worth seeking out. Brava Podles.

[georgeo]

This is simply perfection. There is nobody that sings this tasking aria as amazingly as she does. She is out of this world! Thanks for posting this jewel.

[syrinx79]

I love the sound of a contralto. She has such rich low notes, and her agility is exceptionally good.

[kenndogg]

wow!! she isnew to me, but she is great!! her low tones are absolutely dumbfounding!!! then when she took it up to a strong mezzo range, i was in awe!!! great voice!!!

[Asterionu]

The video's quality is poor, but she is so amazing!

[drdre333]

I give 6 stars for the singing and 2 for the wacked out recording, for an average of 4. Thanks for at least giving us something by the amazing Podles!