June Anderson - D'amore al dolce impero

[MisterSoprano]

2nd best! Just after Callas.

[males64]

true Rossini style.

[ChristophePhilippe]

I try to hold back from being negative in comments on YouTube, but Renee Fleming should watch this and learn. It's about what's inside the music, the subtext, Renee, not what's on sheaves of music paper. That's why singers embellish--to find ever more appropriate ways of bringing out the meaning behind the text. One thing about Anderson: she NEVER skims her way through the music. You can hear dedication to textual intent in each note and phrase.

[sutherland4l]

What a wonderful performance from Anderson! While I love her singing, I certainly didn't expect a performance as dramatically relevant as this! A delightful surprise to see a portrayal nearly as exciting as the massive voice. A delightful surprise made unquestionably more sublime when she pulls off the vocal run at 6:01 that stifled Scotto in 1975.

[skitzo429]

not really a role for june, Armida is more of an assoluta role, and her low stuff has always sounded awkward and uncomfortable. Fleming does a much better job, in spite of the fact that her coloratura is far inferior to junes.

[rexeterna]

will you marry me, june?

[marioj34]

Comme d'habitude absolument parfaite. Si certains critiquent, qu'ils me disent qui, dans les années 80 (voire 90 ou 2000) pouvaient chanter cet air mieux? Depuis Callas... personne !

[pweny]

I guess if this is so easy, more sopranos (and some mezzos) would be singing it...So, I think June is pretty damn good here!

[agnellodei]

Great high notes, love June Anderson!

[skitzo429]

@agnellodei unfortuntaely, this role is really about the low notes, not the high notes.

[Lohengrin]

Decent top register, totaly unsuported to non-existing lower register... this aria contains low contralto Gs!!! I really dont understand why a singer sings a role when she does not have the notes...

[primohomme]

@Lohengrin

Coz she a dellusional idiot.

[skitzo429]

@Lohengrin i agree, shes definitely a higher coloratura without the bottom for this role. assoluta roles are difficult to cast, nowdays we have mezzos like oyce didonato who have the full range and the coloratura chops for this kind of role, but at the time they probably chose andersons colroatura over her bottom register (which sucks). I wonder why Baltsa never sang this, but its an obscure work, the MET just did it for the first time

[saverioorlando]

Good,but not exceptionnal rendition.Armida-Colbran at Rossini is darker.

[Liwah]

Surely, you mean Callas? Unless, of course, you have a rare tape of Colbran that the rest of the opera world is not privy to. :P

[saverioorlando]

history of opera,Stendhal,no fantasy.

[Rukasepar]

A lot of careful singing, never spectacular, never exciting let alone seductive, nice timbre but really nothing to take home with. Does she comprehend what Armida wishes to achieve in this scene?

[nickbigd]

(Begin heavy sarcasm) Rukasepar: In answer to your rather rude question: No, I'm sure she has no clue what she is singing. I doubt she did any preparation on the state of mind of the character because June Anderson is not known for portraying emotional characters. (End heavy sarcasm)

[mariogorga]

Although I am not a Callas fan she was better in this role my other favorite Armide is Cristina Deutekom.With June I always find her correct with out been exciting,mind you,this is one of Rossini's most difficult arias to sing!!

[Gualtiero]

I was here and I saw her twice. Incredible she was! And again, she's absolutely the same, almost twenty years after. Even if Callas is the best in this role.

[jmahlon]

my only issue with Anderson is her scoopage to her top notes.  Shes not doing it as much here as she does later in her career. Drives me crazy when she does it.

[Grandtenore]

Yes ma'am miss anderson!!!

[stomachpunch]

nice -but once again Callas reigns

[birgitnilsson]

there can be no doubt about that! Callas reigns supreme.

[birgitnilsson]

there can be no doubt about that! Callas reigns supreme.

[VerdianoBR]

Callas is still the most perfect interpreter of this role, because she was a true dramatic coloratura. But I can't but say Anderson is also impressive! Her high notes bloom wonderfully in comparison to her middle range, and her voice is extremely brilliant and flows well through the enormous vocal range that is required in this aria! Brava to her! ;-D

[Leanrosso]

I´m totally agree with you on that, VerdianoBR.June Anderson has a great voice.

[operadude32]

Just fabulous! Brava June!

[angelus2002]

Superb Rossini singing. June was born to sing the Colbran roles.

[stuarda]

Bravissima!

[fabiantenor]

OH GOD!!!! I WANT TO DIE!!!

[trrill]

She has that effect on people!