Diana Damrau "Caro nome" Dresden 2008

[leaheileen]

@brookederosa, The pauses, if that is what you are referring to, are written in the music. Verdi was a master at writing expressively.

[SheenaBrnai]

She is singing in character. The breathiness is supposed to make it feel like a love crazed teenager. You wanna hear breath control, hear her version of Der Holle Roche. The triplet run at the end is ridiculous.

[brookederosa]

is it just me or does she have like zero breath control?

[arnbjorgmaria]

@brookederosa

it´s just you...

[deborabmota]

Bela voz e grande carisma. (Beautiful voice and great charisma.)

[brasilcarioka]

DIANA I LOVE YOU SO MUCH:)

[sttar1982]

SHES THE BEST

[etoiledelkirov]

stupendaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Transoxiana94]

Oh, my god, she`s fantastic!!!

[omtara]

Wonderful, as usual!

[imssolente1]

bravoooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooo

que maravillosa voz, ademas irradia feminidad e inocencia que es el espiritu del personaje gilda, bravaaaaaaaaaa

[amillia007]

The best Gilda I've ever heard!Thanks for this video:)

[VintageHussy13]

Jeez I know that you have to act in opera, but this is a biiiiit toooo much.....o_O

[aghi55]

Una voce davvero fantastica. Bravo Diana.

[DailyBrusher]

I listen to opera infrequently, but I like to think of myself as a perceptive listener. Generally I do not like sopranos; that range of the human voice is usually unpleasantly harsh for me. However, Damrau's voice is warm and maybe sweet, even in the highest notes.

Also, as for her acting -- these operas have been performed thousands of times, so why not have some performances that emphasize the dramatic aspect?

[SuperMarkova]

Come non ricordare gli anni 15-16... quando ogni movimento emozionale era per sempre, tanto profondo ed infinito... :-) sto piangendo:)... BELLO!

[CatalinaDM56]

I prefer her singing Mozart...I prefer her in the German and French literature, as well...I don't enjoy her Italian at all.

[seetsebea1]

well, a dramatic interpretation, wha not? and who dares to say she could not sing Mozart. Ignorants only

[grotsvita]

She "acts" too much and because of it her singing suffers. ça fait du mauvais goût un peu...

[ejrouge]

I loved the stars, ha ha.

[yomisma77]

Edita per sempre!!!!!!!!!!

geh wieder in die Schule, she should learn how to forget what she knows about acting...

my opinion of course...

[OlDoinyo]

She doesn't look like she is having much fun singing this. If you don't know what I mean, compare Laura Claycomb's version, which has much more of that weightless, walking-on-air feeling to it. More than competent technically, of course.

[BetuliaLiberata]

Everything she does is OVER ACTING! It's a great voice yes, but the histrionic behavior of her gestures is just a TURN OFF.

[tonyhan0903]

I can't agree with you any more. Her coloratura is exquisite for sure but her voice is not beefy enough to be dramatic coloratura and she is trying to compensate the lack of dramatic appeal in her voice with overbearing theatrics. That approach miserably failed in characterization of pure Gilda. She looks unctuous and hysterical. Her trill at the end is technically perfect but again, it's excessive and overbearing.

[volerougen]

but we're getting the close-up...if you were seeing this live, sitting way in the back, her gestures would be perfect. that's why they're called "theatrics"

[chanteurion]

Thank you! Somone who knows what they are talking about. Small gestures don't read in te back of the house or the second balcony. It's like looking at a recording of a live performance (which usually has lots of close up shots) then saying " the makeup is too heavy".

[tonyhan0903]

This shows even more clearly when you compare her Caro Nome to Edda Moser's or Renata Scotto's. Damrau is great at Mozart and Donizetti but her voice is not suited to Verdian roles.

[yomisma77]

she is not great at mozart...definitely not.

[tonyhan0903]

@yomisma77 Not even as a queen of the night? I thought her queen of the night was great.

[g4thz]

IMO, this could be a little more bel canto and a little less... I don't know, German?

[tonyhan0903]

That's exactly how I felt. More bel canto, less Handelic.

[tonyhan0903]

I love Damrau, too but, as I am watching this more and more, I almost feel disgusted by it. She's just not Gilda. Hervoice is not suited to the role and her interpretation's terrible. She's bringing what she's comfortable doing in Lucia to Rigoletto. Her facial expression doesn't look like innocent, young Gilda who's in love. She looks like a lunatic. It looks as if someone dubbed Caro Nome over mad scene from Lucia. This is the travesty of great Verdian opera.

[Excellounge24]

I think she's doing a fine job here. Maybe not the most innocent girl you would find. But I heard her once say that she believes everybody has a strong inner self and takes that to the roles. I think you can see that here too. A strong(er) attitude like Come on, I'll go for it and the other moment she's being very shy and innocent like What thought has come to me. I kind of like that approach.

[brunnhildeH]

Well, actually she is the first Gilda who is a real teenage girl, who would like to get free from the prison hes father created for her.

I like this performance, really. Gilda is sweet little girl but just in the age when would like to have her own life and does not understand, why is prohibited from everything.

From this point of view Damrau is doing a perfect job.

[BimmelBimmel]

@brunnhildeH I like her singing, but it's a bit too naive, i think!! A sweet little girl would never sacrifice herself for the man she loves! It's not her character! For my taste it's a bit too much sweet and innocent. Her acting is not real. Just my opinion :-)

[luvbucket]

@BimmelBimmel Tell that to Verdi. That's how he wrote it. Of course, the view of women was a bit more 2 dimensional in the 1850's. Then again, he made up for it with La Traviata.

[arpeggio1358]

@luvbucket I agree with you. That's how Verdi wrote it! One has to look at it in the context of the 1850s.

[SuperMarkova]

@BimmelBimmel First - excuse please my english... second :-) I am 36 years old - but I didn´t forget all my emotions of the age of Gilda - I´m sweet and naive and innocent, but I exaggerate, everything is real, I do sacrifice me!!! This Gilda - it´s me more then 20 years ago ;)))) I thing Gilda is born on May... Taurus ;-) :-DDD

[raymzi]

hmm i can see where youre going with this. but if you understand her take on gilda, on her investigation of the role in several of her interviews, you'll get a clearer understanding as to why she interprets gilda this way.

innocent doesnt always mean girly you know. she portrays gilda here as a strong woman, because she is. She is her father's daughter! :)

[tonyhan0903]

If you just mute this video, she looks like a crazy woman singing the mad scene from Lucia. Damrau is just not ready to perform Gilda. Her interpretation is way over the top, and doesn't do any justice to portray pure, innocent Gilda. Trill-not vibrato at the end, my bad- is excessive and over the top.

[Andromeda12349]

She is just TOO CUTE. Love her.

[thomastmwc]

as super as Dessay, singing while making wtever pose she wants

[tonyhan0903]

To me Damrau is great for Mozart and Donizetti but not so great for Verdi.

[Caredhel]

I think she'll be a fabulous Gilda after she lives with it for a bit longer! She's a wonderful actress in the part--I think any vocal excesses stem from interpretation of the character.

[pureffm]

lives with it for a bit longer? She has been singing Gilda for a very long time, as far back as 2003. She was great back then, too, with Philipe Rouillon as the Baritone. I am not a fan of her acting, but the vocal delivery is excellent.

[tonyhan0903]

I love Damrau, too. I just can't see her as Gilda. She has a beautiful coloratura voice but she doesn't have the "spinto" needed to perform dramatic verdi role. Her interpretation of Caro Nome seems quite bland to me and I don't like the excessive vibrato at the end. Am I the only one who feels this way?

[ursus1302]

sorry...but gilda is not a "dramatic verdi role" ...that`s nonsense

[tonyhan0903]

Gilda is not the "dramatic role of all the Verdi roles", but it is definitely more dramatic than many of the Mozart or Donizetti roles. That's what I meant.

[raymzi]

actually not really. of all the verdi roles, gilda is one of the most lyrically sung.

it is dramatic yes. But you cant say its more dramatic than Lucia, Anna Bolena, Stuarda, or Borgia

[tenormcgee]

I believe that's the trill, not excess vibrato.

[sevoflurane]

the aria ends with a long trill lol! and she does a good job!

[rrrrrrrrrrrrrrroo]

Looks like you are the only one who feels that way ;) Diana is amazing in every aspect of her performances. I think people get used to hearing or seeing a role performed by a certain performer and that will be there benchmark for others, nothing wrong with that, but to me Diana is just on another level. I just cant fault her in any way.

[edengirl17]

She is just amazing, amazing amazing.Grande voce!!!

[ComaLies225]

This is the second time this happened to me...I fell in love with an Aria I didn't care for, but somehow Diana Damrau has some mystical power to draw me in...It's amazing. This woman is amazing. She's not playing the character, she IS the character. I love how she fits so well in each of her roles.

[operadoc]

agree- better at lucia and gilda than netrebko. Of course netrebko gets the broadcast as well as the DVD in romeo and juliette over Natalie Dessay- apparently style can win out over substance

[operastarz]

Wow, I love this rendition! What is it from? Is it like a special broadcast or Rigoletto, because if it is. I want to see the rest of it! :D

[jocmuc]

outstanding singer, outstanding actress.

maybe the best we have in our times.

[1archer1]

fantastic. finally, after wading through several slideshows masquerading as vids, i find an actual video of damrau. and an amazing vid it is.

much gratitude

[ecobon999]

She is the best actress I've ever seen do this piece. Every single note has purpose and emotion. I absolutely adore her.

[LjubljanaSI]

I suggest also to hear soprano Petya Ivanova and her "Caro nome".

[cptnunderwhere]

Wow she looks so much like Meryl Streep right at the beginning. Well, they are both masters of their craft too!

[1laboheme]

Nothing against Anna, but the way Diana treats the role is absolutely stunning. Her technique aided for a seemingly flawless vocal adaptation of the greatest Bel Canto "Diva" role opera has. IMHO the audience should have been going nuts with her performance like they do all of Anna's

[1laboheme]

She should have gotten the Lucia broadcast...

[Satirike]

that's what all us youtubers are saying xDDDDD

i'm going to see netrebko anyways..oh well..

[soaringsound]

A perfect combination of gorgeous, effortless singing and acting melding into one interpretation - a Lucia that really thinks/feels like she's written. All the coloratura comes from the character's emotions - not stopping and showing off technique, as in the past. Love this performance!!!! Outstanding actor/singer who's only concerned, on stage, with living the character's life. Great preparation before, then let go and be Lucia....that's the way it's done! Brava!!!!

[cgczf76777]

i dont like her natural timbre because of her kind of spinto head voice, but i love her technique

[MisterSoprano]

She's great! Seen her once as Gilda in Vienna and was superb! Btw. love the staging of Rigoletto here!

[tphowle]

Nice to hear a real coloratura sing this aria...I get tired of hearing lyric sopranos in this role.

[rubberduckie5]

I hate the "Modern" interpertation but I adore her voice. She sounds best while singing German, but thats only natural because shes German and of course her diction would be best in her native language. Never the less, her high notes are glorius and she is a pleasure to listen to.

You should all check out the video of her recording her Mozart, Saleri album. Its out of this world!!!!!!

[rmtenorlirico]

The best Gilda I ever heard and see!!! Wonderfull, amazing voice and interpretencion!

[applebmme]

I like her acting on this one. =)

[operagirl529]

ahhh! my friend went and saw her tonight as Lucia and got me her autograph! she's absolutely fantastic!

[LaMostraESopra]

Aw she's so cute!

I can't wait for her Lucia!

[Satirike]

Haha can't wait to see her Gilda live. Annd can't wait for October so people can put up her Lucia on youtube XD

[hwhap13]

Oh yes, she's the best Gilda ever. She's cute, young and sings like an angel. A nice dose of class, fragility and naivete. LOVE HER

[maricusausa]

she is sooooooooo exaggerated. PUR VERDI IF HE HEAR THIS ..........

[Satirike]

She is a little flowery and over does it. But still has a great voice.

Lol, I hate the "modern" production though.

[maricusausa]

She should be singing german repertuare. Im sorry......

[albertogrilo]

She is good. But she is not Gilda, I think. Florez is not Duka too. I'm waiting for the big Dramatic Belcanto (coloratura) roles from Damrau... I hope she don't get lost in other roles...

[maggeo78]

Non è Gilda??? Florez non è il duca??? Ma quando li hai sentiti l'audio era acceso???

[happyactor6]

Queen of the Night not big enough for you, or are you waiting for a Lucia. I'm not sure if she is right for those light coloratura roles.

[laurakml]

the role of gilda needs a kind of voice like more leggero and lyrical with a long breath,good pianissimo, crystaline legato...

Her gilda is just disgusting....sup.

It seems that the Konigin sings "caro nome"

runing out of the Zauberflote

Not good as expected

[laurakml]

She perfectly spots on the other works like demanding dramatic & agile roles.But here, Her interpretation is definitely exaggerated.

Though her voice is so sparkling, powerful, agile etc.. that kind of a healty and strong colored breathing is not fit to express the emotion of a pure gilda

[laurakml]

hm.. what a disappointment it is..Ms.Damrau is so splendid dramatic coloratura..but in this piece she just shows abruptly expressed gilda..(over-expressed face,insufficient breath control, some off-tuned notes,her trade marking trills are also over-used for portraiting poor gilda)

[hwhap13]

Brilliant! The beauty and the power of her voice are astonishing. Plus that impeccable phrasing.

[grubiforever]

tutta esterierorità ePOCA POCA precisione stilistica QUESTO NON è VERDI

[maggeo78]

Non è Verdi??? E allora chi è???? E' assolutamente geniale! Voce cristallina e precisissima!

[leporello89]

She's the best Gilda! Thanks for post it =)

[maggeo78]

She's the best in everything.....