Wow! How fortunate are the students of UBC! As for the sour grapes comments from others I can only say that the fact that Miss Hermiston is a well-known well-respected artist throughout the world speaks for itself. Who are you again?
This is the sort of singing that makes people hate opera. Scoopy, shrill and pitchy with a huge, meaningless vibrato. (Ouch, the tuning hurts!) The acting contains nothing natural or authentic, just a lot of grimacing and mugging and over-gesturing that perpetuates the idea that singers can't act. Not sure if some notes are vibrato-laden or badly trilled or just out of tune. And in the end I don't really care because with so many other great performances why listen to someone like this?
She absolutely had some great success with students. Also she has been successful with blackmailing people and threatening students, but let's not allow that to take away from her awful performance.
So true. If she had some more technique herself, maybe she'd be able to pull this aria off and stop infecting our ears with such utter drivel... vibrato is so wide you could drive a truck through it! And those disgusting scoops she does, trying to sound Gruberova-esque!
Her voice sounds a bit ill-tuned and generally out of sorts. Passable, of course, but not a great instrument. I don't care for her overly stock character. Not very interesting. 2.5/2.5
I was curious to hear her sing and watch her act... Not going to bash.. But not going to applaude either.
divadivo84 1 year ago
As much as I love hearing a younger voice in this role - even a soubrette coloratura - this is a lovely voice with excellent technique.
Nicrhind 2 years ago
Wow! How fortunate are the students of UBC! As for the sour grapes comments from others I can only say that the fact that Miss Hermiston is a well-known well-respected artist throughout the world speaks for itself. Who are you again?
Robbie0Music0Critic 2 years ago 4
Ouch ouch ouch. From 1'03" through 1'27" I was making faces. I am going back to the sublime Battle performance now.
MrsMusicScene 2 years ago 4
WOW! Nancy Hermiston in her early years...what would the UBC opera program be without her??? She's done wonders with her students!
janjanthebasswoman 3 years ago 2
A lot of music "experts" below...
u all suck ! :)
Beautiful singing btw
4/5
avizmal2112 3 years ago
Yuck yuck yuck. I'm going back to the Beverly Sills one!
japansingerblue 3 years ago 4
yikes, I can't even get through this painful "performance"...my ears and ears are under full assault - make her stop 2/2!
gwright199 3 years ago 4
5/5
moderndivo 4 years ago
WOW! I had No Idea Nancy was on youtube... :O I LOVE IT!!!!
moderndivo 4 years ago
This is the sort of singing that makes people hate opera. Scoopy, shrill and pitchy with a huge, meaningless vibrato. (Ouch, the tuning hurts!) The acting contains nothing natural or authentic, just a lot of grimacing and mugging and over-gesturing that perpetuates the idea that singers can't act. Not sure if some notes are vibrato-laden or badly trilled or just out of tune. And in the end I don't really care because with so many other great performances why listen to someone like this?
MusicFanCanuck 4 years ago 2
I forgot to score... 1/5
MusicFanCanuck 4 years ago
I was wondering where this performance was, i go to ubc where nancy hermiston is the opera head so it was interesting for me to see this,
RAATCC36 4 years ago
It's in Toronto, when Nancy was with the COC as a full time resident artist, back in the 80s.
IlTenore300 4 years ago
totally out of control vibrato, and clearly no breath control. A real shame that she's on faulty trying to teach young singers. A real disgrace
canadianbaritone84 4 years ago 4
Comment removed
selinak0 4 years ago
Comment removed
MrsMusicScene 2 years ago
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She absolutely had some great success with students. Also she has been successful with blackmailing people and threatening students, but let's not allow that to take away from her awful performance.
MrsMusicScene 2 years ago
So true. If she had some more technique herself, maybe she'd be able to pull this aria off and stop infecting our ears with such utter drivel... vibrato is so wide you could drive a truck through it! And those disgusting scoops she does, trying to sound Gruberova-esque!
rlee1976 2 years ago 2
the voice is slightly metalish in the heights and not nicely warm. although i like her interpretation. 2.5/4
justTgerman 4 years ago
Competent, but nothing distinctive about her performance. 3.5/3.5
rawdonqueen 4 years ago
1/2 terrible
Orfeus80 4 years ago 3
You could drive a truck through her vibrato. 2/2. And serve ice cream with her scoop.
sschimel 4 years ago 5
Her voice sounds a bit ill-tuned and generally out of sorts. Passable, of course, but not a great instrument. I don't care for her overly stock character. Not very interesting. 2.5/2.5
songbirdwatcher 4 years ago
3/4.5. Not my favorite.
Iareto 4 years ago
I've never heard of this soprano. 3.5/4.5
patjan92 4 years ago