Marilyn Horne sings Carmen (vaimusic.com)

[JerryDWhite]

On my way to see Miss Horn at the University of Oklahoma...Master Class that she does here each year......can't wait....

[TheNautchdancer]

She's like listening to a mixture of liquid fire and velvet. Wonderful, wonderful.

[carlmike1231]

she has a very good voice..perfect..!

[Erero]

It amazes me to no end, how skilled and well-trained opera singers must be to perform such masterpiece.

[TheLuckyMadman]

I fuckin love her

[panenrico]

Outstanding! there is no other comment. Superior class.

[Ninoleta]

Brava!!!!!!!!! I feel so much pleasure listening to this!!!!!

[Hootie7741]

Not only that, it's brava, not bravo--she's a lady, after all...

[L3w11sS]

esta señora se parece a una maestra que yo tenia se llamava : ADELA

y tambien era una mezzo-soprano

[Platinum400]

@NewYork10009 She's a Mezzo-Soprano.

[theglitter04]

@NewYork10009 she is not a soprano.

[mkworkman]

4:03 YouTube video: Marilyn Horne sings Carmen "Habanera" (Bizet). The legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne is at her spectacular best in this 1986 live concert from the Lugano Festival, Switzerland. January 16, 1934: birth of Marilyn Horne, American opera singer.

[PurpleMaster958Two]

When you are Marilyn Horne, you need not breathe. Holy crap, she has amazing breath control!

[bobon47]

She is good Carmen as a singer, not as actress. She is too normal for Carmen.

See, for example, Gabriella Besanzoni, Anna Moffo, Emma Calve, Emmy Destinn, Rise Stevens, Anne Sophie von Otter, Oralia Dominguez, Maria Ewing, Tamara Sinjavskaja. And Maria Callas. Carmen needs wild temperament. I can`t name ideal Carmen, help me, please.

[ligth95]

@bobon47 can be Agnes Baltsa????

[bobon47]

@ligth95 Not Baltsa. For me: (equal estimate) Gabriella Besanzoni, Oxana Lazareva, Maria Riccarda Wesseling, Anna Moffo, Emma Calve, Emmy Destinn, Rise Stevens, Anne Sophie von Otter, Oralia Dominguez, Maria Eving, Maria Callas. All of them - from YouTube.

[arpeggio1358]

@bobon47 Von Otter, Ewing, both brilliant!

[ligth95]

@bobon47 or Elina Garanca

[arpeggio1358]

@bobon47 How about Elina Garanca or Rinat Shaham or Marina Domashenko?

[bobon47]

@arpeggio1358 Good, but not best.

[siuispacem]

Very good, but NOBODY has sung Carmen like TERESA BERGANZA.

[MIKEYMIKE4Reel]

i like different songs but this is my number 1 song i love opera

[Mikailnyc]

I think out all th different opera singers who sang this, I like her voice for some reason.

I know nothing about Opera or music, just something about her voice sends shivers down spine

[henrifrombarcelona]

horible

[133m4gg0t133]

FUCK YEAH this chick is from my home town. REPRESENTIN

[lenzesteb]

God, she's amazing!!!

[bigjoetube]

She is the only mezzo ever that could make you forget about sopranos. The best mezzo of all time.

[ArchiducDeBelgrade]

She has to be the best mezzo soprano.. and the best Carmen.

[chicagomarchingbands]

I like bumbry better. However this woman carries herself like a queen before her court lol. gotta love it! she is very...regal....

[missSharon1119]

It's a good song.I always listen to the radio at school during reading books.Awesome!

[jotiw1]

nice song

[immosm]

she did me!

[CountryBlondeGuy]

Just met her this past weekend! Love her.

[cwecub]

i did her!

[yoshimar7]

Si, la mejor!

[americangalbasseyfan]

Spectacular.

[Evapenunmbra]

wow!!! es la mejor intérprete que he escuchado para esta ópera

[americangalbasseyfan]

Classic. Good music never goes out of style. Much appreciated.

[siuispacem]

Nobody sings Carmen as Teresa Berganza

[americangalbasseyfan]

I agree. By the way, today (1/16) is Miss Horne's birthday.

[americangalbasseyfan]

@siuispacem That's open for discussion.

[yodavidnavarro]

I totally prefer Bumbry! Try her!

[mariasarda]

Elle coupe trop souvent la phrase "et c'est bien en vain qu'on l'appelle s'il lui convient de refuser...".

C'est pas très beau.

Par contre, quelle interprétation, mazette : magistrale (à part ces respirations inopinées).

[tcradical]

A true masterpiece:)

[arturobuklaw]

Great Marilyn!

[swaingles]

I have found no other better Carmen for this role.  She has the perfect voice for the character. How old is Mrs. Horne nowadays?

[Loismustdie26]

She's about to celebrate her 76th birthday

[bassfanne45]

@swaingles She was born in 1934 so she will turn 76 tis year. You're right, she's brilliant! One of the ten best opera singers of the 20th century.

[bruckner0001]

@swaingles She was born in 1934, so she will be 76 this year.

[allbe1726]

@swaingles

now she is 76!

[crazycellist973]

@swaingles I totally agree! I think she is like 76 - and still doing masterclasses!

[tCrOMez1990]

@swaingles she is 76, this was 20 years ago

[arpeggio1358]

@swaingles She was born in 1934, so she will be 77 this year.

[KeptUnderLockAndKey]

@swaingles 77 as of January

[firewalled1951]

@swaingles

she is 77 . Jan.16th 1934 from Bradford Pennsylvania

[tissetatten]

@swaingles have you litend to rosa ponselle?

[horselovereao]

Marilyn Horne is my best friend Daisy's Grandma. It's so awesome! She visits all the time and always brings me gifts as well. She even thinks that I have a nice voice. Quite the honor.

[MrDanil33]

The high feelings of a big mama preparing a Cornish hen in an Anglo kitchen.

Some singers must be not allowed to sing about what they do not understand.

[Tenorosa]

I don't know if I'm just totally illiterate in opera, but I like Filippa Giordanos version of this song better...

[MrOpera777]

those two versions are so different you can't really compare. Fillipa takes the song and turns it into something you cant consider opera. Personally I enjoy merilyn much more but everyone is entitled to their own opinion and not everyone has to love opera.

[xafnndapp]

definitely you are an illiterate in opera...

but you are entitled to your own taste!

:)

[sagagossard]

Whats wrong with you? how can you even compare the cheap version of Giordano with one of the best mezzos of the 20 century

you have worst taste of the world, dont write nonsense please .

[Scrumpybumps]

For me, Selendomono and Honken make a really great point. It is these special people who draw us "average" listeners into the opera world. For me it was Pavarotti and Agnes Baltsa and then you find voices like Horne as well. They are sooo different. Even as a total non-compentent musically, I could regognise these three voices anywhere whereas some of the other mainstream talents aren't necessarily that distinctive to my ears, albeit superb at what they do.

[Telltaleheart79]

Awesome indeed! Anyone who knows about opera will tell you that Marilyn Horne deserves a great deal of respect. She is extremely talented and always a complete professional.

[shnooger]

This gives me chills!! Awesome!!!

[elsejf]

I'm looking for CD, on which Marylin sings Arditti's "Leggero invisible", who knows this?

[autumnrain3]

you'll find it on "coloratura spectacular" , Decca's homage to Joan Sutherland, Sumi Jo and Marilyn...hopefully u'll spot it online...her rendition of Arditi's Bolero is amazing...

[WhiteChameleon98]

Excellent... Her singing is pretty impressive.

[Selendomono]

take this from someone who has a general dislike of opera, SHE IS GREAT!

[LilMack549]

Haha that qualifying statement doesn't exactly boost your credibility. :)

[Selendomono]

well perhaps not but if her great voice sounds great to a non opera lover than she must be extra special

[Honken]

I agree with both of you, even though opera is something that you appreciate the more you know about it, some people just have such beautiful instruments that they appeal to anyone. Golden example would be Pavarotti.

[12DNWM]

She is a wonderful singer - of anything.

When she was adjudicating in the Cardiff Singer of the World ' competition one year,

I don't know whether she had learnt the Welsh Anthem 'phonetically'-but she sang itwith the rest of those on the stage. 'Callon Lan".

[gris0408]

exelente me sorprendio...muy bien...

[Mikailnyc]

Isn't this Italian??

[tenor185]

French. Carmen by Georges Bizet

[karlerikprimeau]

Wow !

[iusedtobethere]

I'm a novice and know nothing about opera but do know that this sounds wonderful...I don't speak French either so can't tell nor do I care if her accent is off...her singing is superb.

[stacynewyork]

i agree!!

[Lamirroirmagique]

That was absolutely fantastic, wow. SUCH control, yet so effortless!

[kettycity]

son français est parfaitement compréhensible. Bravo

[klickenpod]

I love her voice, but her french pronunciation is surprisingly off.. I know that when you sing you make sacrifices at times, and with french it's no exception, but this is ridiculous.

Like I said, it's not like I could sing better than she ever could, it's just that pronunciation. She should know better.

[skilnesness]

So what? It still sounds amazing.

[klickenpod]

Not to a fluent french speaker who happens to study vocal technique and perform in operas. But hey, that's you, enjoy!

[skilnesness]

you're a stupid head.

[togo002]

Who cares I can't understand french anyway :)

[Spiceofmadrid]

I know what she's saying, I just can't translate it word for word. I don't know that much French :(

[Juwalee]

Beautiful

[kellyforbus]

excellent

[Johnnydeppritus]

Last week, I had a two hour voice lesson with her. It was amazing how much she got out of me! She was really lovely too! A sweet woman! I felt honored to meet her!

[alexandriusgirl]

Wow... You're so lucky :)

[Ayzcrava]

She´s definatly my favorite mezzo, I like how deep and dark her voice sounds on the low notes, nearly masculine sounding.. its absolutely amazing.

[Spiceofmadrid]

Me too! I lov eher lower register! Beautiful voice.

[sweetdee9]

so amazing..

[iStageMom]

My dd actually has a lesson with her next week. Can you believe she's so generous she's actually still teaching? What a master! I'll have her ask what Marilyn's range was for you, RAS. ;) Or we could all just look it up...google has everything.

[trekkie2006]

she definitely has a piercing voice. her tone is extremely unique. i love her!

[elsejf]

hallo, I'm looking for Marylin's recording of Arditti's Bolero, its better than Habanera:-))It was with Richard Bening as a conductor, if I remember.Who knows it?

[VoyArrasando]

the tempo is so fast on this

[shapzv]

AMAZINGGGGGGGGG

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Centerfold Netrebko should learn from her. Really...

[sefo68]

superba

[trekkie2006]

her use of resonance is superb!! it's absolutely stunning!! and her diction is amazing!! I love Marilyn!! Superb rendition of one of the most recognizable operatic arias!

[RAS3227]

Does anyone know what her range was?

[eme3891]

She was a Mezzo

[lpw0021]

To me, this is THE female voice. Her incredibly accessible chest voice is untouchable.  Not to mention, her high is better than a lot of sopranos. 1:30 is one of my favorite musical passages EVER. BRAVA!

[tenor220]

she actually didnt use a chest voice that often there's a video of her with pavarotti and dame joan talking on belcanto in which she has abit of a rant on the use of chest voice

[Oprabaritone624]

Beautiful voice...clearly one of the greatest mezzos that ever was. A true diva to the operatic stage :-)

However, I will say in response to some of the comments, it is apparent that now acting is much more important in opera as well as physical appearence. As a conservatory student, I know that is what is being taught. However, la Horn still remains one of the greatest mezzos that ever lived in my opinion! BRAVA

[EHAbello]

Yo popertop....this is not an Ingmar Bergman movie!!!!!

[purewhitepiano]

marilyn horn's voice is so rare: shes a mezzo soprano and a contralto. she has a huge range.

[lynntwill06]

Yes she does I love her voice

[Caoilfhoinn]

Amazing! I've always adored Marilyn...and this clip reminds me why. I believe she currently teaches in Santa Barbara.

Oh, and popertop, she's an OPERA SINGER. Everything in opera is SUPPOSED to be dramatic and, sometimes, overblown. It's part of what makes opera so moving and wonderful. "Real actors" know that their entire body, their being, is an instrument to be used to convey their roles.

What kind of actor freezes everything but their "eyes, voice, and face"? One that gets laughed at.

[corallinoide]

Sweet

[godivapaw]

You cannot expect people to just stand still while singing, especially if they are used to being on the opera stage. She is fabulous!

[asjoma]

A good singer ALLWAYS tells a story! And Marilyn gives it all. I love her magnificent chestvoice, always spinning and rich of colours. Perfect diction. She is giving this aria real character. BRAVO.

[8melanie8]

I agree with suncollection....if you knew ANYTHING about opera, you would know that she is just acting the part. She's telling a story people; I personally hate it when people tell stories looking me blank in the eye with no movement.

[suncollection]

hey dumasses who know zero about opera. one of the greatest mazzos, if not the greatest mezzo ever. ever!!!

[victor63]

Absolute perfection !!!!! Brava

[andrewoconnorblue]

just listen to that chest voice!

hot!

[malesoprano]

BRAVAAAAA la HORN

[ARoundOfApplause]

What Can I Say?

[wwffcc]

Bravo.

[billyguns2]

Please post this duo's fabulous rendition of Rossini's Canzona Spagnuolo from this same concert; truly great singing and conducting!

[willthrillws]

what a beatiful voice and excellent technique! But I would never want to see her onstage she has no prescence no sex appeal and her eyes are dead! Horne is just like Sutherland and Pavarotti A SINGING STATUE! They have beautiful voices but no prescence no emotion and are just plain boring to watch!! When it comes to beautiful voices a little goes a long way!

[croon4u]

My singing teacher, explaining the thinking behind the vocal production, made me realise you can't really get a voice of this magnitude without a stance of this nature. Everything is directed toward supporting the column of air from the diaphragm to top of the skull-fully open. If it is contorted (through acting/dancing)then you compensate performance some other way (doesn't mean it will sound bad, simply won't be optimum). He told me to listen to this singer...now I know why.

[ImNotOneToJudge]

croon4u Jane (Marilyn) was trained, in part, in Southern California- at U.S.C. She worked with Joseph Kline who wrote "Singing Technique"--great reading!!

[ImNotOneToJudge]

willthrillws You crash the three most reveared Voices, EVER?Pity. I think your appraisal is a bit sour grapes, YES?

[willthrillws]

No I only speak what I know to be the truth. They all know that they are not actors just terrific singers. I love to listen but not watch. Obviously I'm a Callas fan!!!

[ImNotOneToJudge]

willthrillws One should consider- this was a CONCERT. Had La Horne been in an Opera, [she] would be in make-up and dress; then you would see her POWER as well, HEARD IT! Conversely, MANY performers, no names please, lacking vocal capacity-prance about the stage, working with dancers and EFFECTS to wow the audiences as compansation. La Horne is not in need. Marilyn is the most deliciously rich MEZZO to ever grace a stage. A TREASURE!

[willthrillws]

No one is knoking La Horne's singing ability I am simply saying she is not an ACTRESS. I also urge you to watch Maria Callas sing this same aria in concert (minus dancers, effects etc...)

[collettestevie]

Maria Callas could sing. However, I discredit her greatly for lack of love, and gross disrespecc towards her own mother. Ponder that! She is a horror.

[raigekimaru]

her mother deserved it! she forced Maria to sing from the age of five and to date german soldiers for money!! how could anyone respect that?!

[popertop]

real actors don't need to move around to convey emotion.

real acting is all eyes, voice, and face.

[tubeninja1]

One of the most ignorant comments ever posted on youtube popertop. Dont knock other peoples gifts and abilities. You know nothing of opera and even less of acting.

[MBWoland]

Have to agree... The generation of Sutherland and Horne and Pavarotti didn't have to act as much as the stars of today do.

Will even add one more grievance... the open vowels. Can hardly tell one word from another! Splendid voice, though.

[bplatt1069]

One would have to be nearly deaf not to understand Horne's diction; watch her lips, teeth, and tongue. Everything is perfectly in place--vowels (nasals and non-nasals) and consonants. Additionally, her expression and interpretation are just right for both concert and operatic stage. Besides, for masterful proponents of bel canto, such as Ms. Horne, there's only one guiding principle in opera--la VOCE!

[lipera]

Absolutamente fabulosa, Horne é um exemplo de força vocal e interpretativa, uma mezzo que sempre terá seu luagr entre os grandes nomes da ópera no mundo!

Brava Horne!