Peters was an intelligent, well trained,singer who kneww exactly what her voice was capable of and never pushed it beyond it's capabilities thus a stellar 35 year career and a voice that was fresh and lovely till the end. She has always been one of my favorite coloraturas.
@mrrk That is surely a little harsh, you may not like her voice but the Met audiences certainly did. She is 64 years old here singing an aria not associated with her repertoire. Which light soprano could deliver this aria so well in their prime? I know very few sopranos over 60 who sound so young. It just shows how well Roberta new her voice and how well she treated it.
This woman is AMAZING! Whether you like her voice or not, she must be given much credit for lasting through the years starting at age 18 as a regular at THE MET! She is a wonderful example of a fine soprano who knew how to preserve her talented instument through the years. BRAVA Roberta! GOOD for YOU!
Good vocal technique and wise vocal choices result in vocal longevity, and even though Norma is for bigger voices...Ms. Peters can really pull it off in a concert setting at the end of his really long career....
I heard her sing this the year before, 1993 in Grant Park, Chicago, it was opening the season with a very long concert and she sang everything from this to operetta, it was amazing and her voice sounded years younger and held up perfectly on a cold foggy Chicago evening but she gave and gave and tough arias she would never have sung in house that would be for a lyric Spinto mixed with her great roles. Mimi from Boheme etc. and of course music from her own well known roles.
Roberta Peters was a very wise and intelligent artist. She sang many roles, but only those within her voice's capacity. As a result, she sustained a 35 year career at the Metropolitan Opera. She gave wonderful recitals and concerts besides. She continued to sing long after her 1985 Met retirement, and continued to give much joy. She was a highly attractive and wonderful artist, and she ENDURED! Best wishes to her for a wonderful career and life.
She doesn't have the voice to tackle this, but I've heard LOTS worse. AND, yes, her voice held up quite well -- speaks to proper training. Unlike Marian Anderson's, for example, -- not trained properly and she really lost it toward the end. I cried.
Listen to Rosa Ponselle sing this (or anything)-- the greatest voice of this (and probably any) century.
WOW...She is wonderful. One of a kind! She really was one of the best sopranos in this world.. Great!! She had it all, beauty, voice, and a wonderful actress! Love her voice and the way she sings Casta Diva. Love it.Thanks for sharing it.
She came to Lakeland, FL in the early 1990s and did a recital and Florida Southern College. I was there, and she sang Casta Diva....it was quite beautiful. She was never a real favorite of mine, but nevertheless a very nice voice.
Miss Peters sings this difficult aria as a solo piece - quite removed from the complete opera, which she could never have sung in a mission years. She sings it pretty well, considering her age, etc. The uppermost notes are not consistently steady, but she manages to bring it off. The original Norma voice in Belllini's time was the legendary Giuditta Pasts, who had a much heavier and dramatic voice than Peters. Pasta's closest replica was probably Maria Callas, who was also a soprano sfogato.
For a recital piece, this Casta Diva is very good. This is from '94 and Roberta Peters was over 60, so it's really saying something. Her small voice is not suited to the entire role of Norma, which calls for a bigger dramatic soprano like Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and Montserrat Caballe. This aria is still sung in recitals by lyric sopranos who couldn't handle the whole Norma - i.e. Netrebko and Fleming, but we have lost the true Norma voices of the early to mid 20th century.
Thanks for this miracle video...Roberta is at her usual best, never intending to compete at her age with any other diva, but doing it a lot better than expected from a true coloratura (my nbr 1) as she was JRT
Absolutely amazing! Without stepping on anyones toes i would venture to say that historically that this type voice is probably closer to what was heard signing Norma in Bellini's time rather than the type we've heard in recent times. Brava Peters!
OMG. The tempi, the line , the diction the tone everything is here. I am really impressed. I had no idea she sang this aria. I knew she did tour of Traviata circa 88/89 or something...but this is the real deal. She NAILED the tempo and the line prefectly. I almost cried it was so lovely. Such an amazing find this. I know she lives in Florida these days and perhaps this was performed there. EXTRAODINARY. And I love how the voice darkened and became "more" than it was in her youth timbre wise.
Great singer and great performance of an aria you do not associate with a light coloratura and certainly not with a light colorature who is over 60 years old. So often these voices start to sound ugly and tired but Ms Peters voice sounds warm, fresh and in control. Great Artist, a little overshadowed by the other great coloraturas of her time perhaps?
So she is 64 years old here, amazing and the year before in 1993 she opened the grant park season in Chicago and sang this at age 63 and was easily as good. I had a cassette tape of it and lost it in a move, sorry that happened and she sang a long great concert that cold foggy night. Like some others she held up so well, sang only what was best for her. She also sang a recital in 1988, Skokie IL. where she sang for several hours, perhaps the longest recital I ever heard and stayed fresh always
I had her on long lost 78s--Boheme-- Robert Merrill w/ Beecham I think it was--I was in a music store in San Francisco late afternoon when the new came in over the radio that Sir Thomas had died--I still get tears in my eyes--
Peters voice holds up REMARKABLY well (Sutherland had retired before this age and Sills retired in her early 50s). Edita Gruberova is another example of a singer specializing in lyric colorature roles who has had an equally long career (and recently took on Norma) About 1996-97, I had the pleasure of hearing Peterssing as a soloist at the church where I was singing in Palm Beach, FL. She sang the Gounod Ave Maria and did a very fine job, but this exceprt is even better.
She was a great singer...and she probably is still singing today...but she always does something strange with her mouth in this and other videos I've seen.
I must admit that I am a little stunned that she could pull this off so well. I never even imagined her attempting this aria. she is actually quite artistic and sustains the high legato admirably! I am a Sills fan, but give great credit to Peters on this. she took wonderful care of her voice!
It never ceases to amaze me what funny little oddities you find on YT. I would never have thought of Peters singng this...and she doesn't do too bad. She's rock solid tonally, and her line is still impressive, especially given her age. Her voice held up VERY well.
I couldn´t agree more. Never would have thought she could nail this aria so well. And at age 64 !!! And looking great! I feel ashamed I had her put down as a soubrette - she obviously has much more potential.
however Galli-Curci steadfastly refused, thinking it inappropriate for her voice. With regard to this video featuring Roberta Peters, considering she is 63/64, she handles the demanding aria competently and certainly does not make a fool of herself. Callas she is not and never was; however, her artistry enables her to rise nobly to the challenge.
or the boredom associated with singing the same arias over and over again. Whatever the reason, for the audience the issue is whether the singer can do justice to the role or the aria she is performing. In this case, "Casta Diva" has a long tradition of being sung as a concert piece by artists who never performed the role in the opera house: Marcella Sembrich, Grace Moore, and Marian Anderson are names that come to mind. Compton MacKenzie had urged Galli-Curci to sing the aria at her recitals...
You know, Roberta is 64 here, and I have to say she sounds wonderful, the voice still retaining so much of its beauty and tone. Her coloratura always was remarkable, and she certainly took care of her voice, unlike many other singer. No wobble, wonderful tone. Brava.
Why divas decide to tackle certain roles and arias they have never sung before remains one of the eternal mysteries of life. Pons, for instance, late in her career (past 50) scheduled the Mad Scene from Hamlet on her recital programs, and sang the role of Traviata for the first time. Sutherland, also in her 50's, recorded a disc of arias from bel canto operas, half of which she had never sung on stage or in the studio. Perhaps it is the desire to expand one's repertoire....
bravo!!!!
Awoken33 1 week ago
This is what good technique and no how will get you. Very nice.
Nozzari 2 months ago
She is 64 here? AMAZING - magnificent voice! Loved her.
Barbara Todres/NYC
lovingee1 2 months ago
Peters was an intelligent, well trained,singer who kneww exactly what her voice was capable of and never pushed it beyond it's capabilities thus a stellar 35 year career and a voice that was fresh and lovely till the end. She has always been one of my favorite coloraturas.
intelegentable 6 months ago
One thing she said that bothered her was that she was never asked to sing at La Scala. She has held up very nicely considering she is 64 here.
hazelssister 7 months ago
@hazelssister and with a voice like hers why would La Scala want her? Why was she so big in the US? Terrible singer.
mrrk 4 months ago
@mrrk That is surely a little harsh, you may not like her voice but the Met audiences certainly did. She is 64 years old here singing an aria not associated with her repertoire. Which light soprano could deliver this aria so well in their prime? I know very few sopranos over 60 who sound so young. It just shows how well Roberta new her voice and how well she treated it.
robertdonkers 1 month ago
This woman is AMAZING! Whether you like her voice or not, she must be given much credit for lasting through the years starting at age 18 as a regular at THE MET! She is a wonderful example of a fine soprano who knew how to preserve her talented instument through the years. BRAVA Roberta! GOOD for YOU!
kasha1932 7 months ago
Good vocal technique and wise vocal choices result in vocal longevity, and even though Norma is for bigger voices...Ms. Peters can really pull it off in a concert setting at the end of his really long career....
rrgallo 9 months ago
I heard her sing this the year before, 1993 in Grant Park, Chicago, it was opening the season with a very long concert and she sang everything from this to operetta, it was amazing and her voice sounded years younger and held up perfectly on a cold foggy Chicago evening but she gave and gave and tough arias she would never have sung in house that would be for a lyric Spinto mixed with her great roles. Mimi from Boheme etc. and of course music from her own well known roles.
SHICOFF1 10 months ago
A real Diva. Thanks for posting.
AnoMundi 11 months ago
Roberta Peters was a very wise and intelligent artist. She sang many roles, but only those within her voice's capacity. As a result, she sustained a 35 year career at the Metropolitan Opera. She gave wonderful recitals and concerts besides. She continued to sing long after her 1985 Met retirement, and continued to give much joy. She was a highly attractive and wonderful artist, and she ENDURED! Best wishes to her for a wonderful career and life.
Zva26 11 months ago
She doesn't have the voice to tackle this, but I've heard LOTS worse. AND, yes, her voice held up quite well -- speaks to proper training. Unlike Marian Anderson's, for example, -- not trained properly and she really lost it toward the end. I cried.
Listen to Rosa Ponselle sing this (or anything)-- the greatest voice of this (and probably any) century.
AnnieLaurieScottie 11 months ago
Apparently, she still occasionally sings in public and has taken very good care of her instrument.
baritonebynight 11 months ago
Бриллиантовое сопрано!
ndariusking 1 year ago
Бриллиантовое сопрано!
ndariusking 1 year ago
SHE IS 64 !!
solideogloriavoice 1 year ago
SHE IS 64 OLD
solideogloriavoice 1 year ago
My god!!!! At that age singing like this? Brava!!!! Very rare recording!!
cacancellara 1 year ago
imprecionanate!!!!!!!!
martindogo 1 year ago
very good
Serinia4melodic 1 year ago
Brava!! Perhaps at the limits of her possibilities, but considering the age she mastered her task remarkably well!!
geigestimme 1 year ago
WOW...She is wonderful. One of a kind! She really was one of the best sopranos in this world.. Great!! She had it all, beauty, voice, and a wonderful actress! Love her voice and the way she sings Casta Diva. Love it.Thanks for sharing it.
Tenorbravo 1 year ago
She came to Lakeland, FL in the early 1990s and did a recital and Florida Southern College. I was there, and she sang Casta Diva....it was quite beautiful. She was never a real favorite of mine, but nevertheless a very nice voice.
htshoward 1 year ago
Miss Peters sings this difficult aria as a solo piece - quite removed from the complete opera, which she could never have sung in a mission years. She sings it pretty well, considering her age, etc. The uppermost notes are not consistently steady, but she manages to bring it off. The original Norma voice in Belllini's time was the legendary Giuditta Pasts, who had a much heavier and dramatic voice than Peters. Pasta's closest replica was probably Maria Callas, who was also a soprano sfogato.
Zva26 1 year ago
For a recital piece, this Casta Diva is very good. This is from '94 and Roberta Peters was over 60, so it's really saying something. Her small voice is not suited to the entire role of Norma, which calls for a bigger dramatic soprano like Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and Montserrat Caballe. This aria is still sung in recitals by lyric sopranos who couldn't handle the whole Norma - i.e. Netrebko and Fleming, but we have lost the true Norma voices of the early to mid 20th century.
AmericanEvita 1 year ago
Wow!!! Roberta Peters is truly a national treasure. This is gorgeous--up there with Callas' rendition. Totally inspiring!
marywardify 1 year ago
Thanks for this miracle video...Roberta is at her usual best, never intending to compete at her age with any other diva, but doing it a lot better than expected from a true coloratura (my nbr 1) as she was JRT
josemuso1 1 year ago
Absolutely amazing! Without stepping on anyones toes i would venture to say that historically that this type voice is probably closer to what was heard signing Norma in Bellini's time rather than the type we've heard in recent times. Brava Peters!
organdude44 2 years ago
Wow. All I can say is Wow.
A stellar performance
strauss1987 2 years ago
OMG. The tempi, the line , the diction the tone everything is here. I am really impressed. I had no idea she sang this aria. I knew she did tour of Traviata circa 88/89 or something...but this is the real deal. She NAILED the tempo and the line prefectly. I almost cried it was so lovely. Such an amazing find this. I know she lives in Florida these days and perhaps this was performed there. EXTRAODINARY. And I love how the voice darkened and became "more" than it was in her youth timbre wise.
Tristiano 2 years ago
Great singer and great performance of an aria you do not associate with a light coloratura and certainly not with a light colorature who is over 60 years old. So often these voices start to sound ugly and tired but Ms Peters voice sounds warm, fresh and in control. Great Artist, a little overshadowed by the other great coloraturas of her time perhaps?
robertdonkers 2 years ago 5
Brava!
mrantiquedealer 2 years ago
I'm used to hearing her 40 years earlier so this is a real treat. Thanks for uploading!
VinylToVideo 2 years ago
Perhaps her mentor Jan Peerce gave her some tips on vocal longevit!
VinylToVideo 2 years ago
So she is 64 years old here, amazing and the year before in 1993 she opened the grant park season in Chicago and sang this at age 63 and was easily as good. I had a cassette tape of it and lost it in a move, sorry that happened and she sang a long great concert that cold foggy night. Like some others she held up so well, sang only what was best for her. She also sang a recital in 1988, Skokie IL. where she sang for several hours, perhaps the longest recital I ever heard and stayed fresh always
halavey 2 years ago
This is awesome!
I agree that her voice did hold up so well!
I love Roberta!
This is what a life of drinking Maxwell Coffee will do for you! : )
Thanks for posting!
Brent
BrentAudi 2 years ago
No cigars and cheap whiskey?
I had her on long lost 78s--Boheme-- Robert Merrill w/ Beecham I think it was--I was in a music store in San Francisco late afternoon when the new came in over the radio that Sir Thomas had died--I still get tears in my eyes--
8cccpeevostokzempf 2 years ago
Peters voice holds up REMARKABLY well (Sutherland had retired before this age and Sills retired in her early 50s). Edita Gruberova is another example of a singer specializing in lyric colorature roles who has had an equally long career (and recently took on Norma) About 1996-97, I had the pleasure of hearing Peterssing as a soloist at the church where I was singing in Palm Beach, FL. She sang the Gounod Ave Maria and did a very fine job, but this exceprt is even better.
mjmacmtenor 2 years ago 2
She was a great singer...and she probably is still singing today...but she always does something strange with her mouth in this and other videos I've seen.
Bigman240 2 years ago 2
I must admit that I am a little stunned that she could pull this off so well. I never even imagined her attempting this aria. she is actually quite artistic and sustains the high legato admirably! I am a Sills fan, but give great credit to Peters on this. she took wonderful care of her voice!
datidy22
datidy22 2 years ago
It never ceases to amaze me what funny little oddities you find on YT. I would never have thought of Peters singng this...and she doesn't do too bad. She's rock solid tonally, and her line is still impressive, especially given her age. Her voice held up VERY well.
BeauTenor 2 years ago 6
hahahaha... if you like this you should see the rest of the concert...
coloraturafan 2 years ago
I'd love to...Have you got it?
Bigman240 2 years ago
@coloraturafan можете написать биографию этой великой певицы?
ndariusking 1 year ago
@coloraturafan можете написать биографию этой великой певицы?
ndariusking 1 year ago
@BeauTenor
I couldn´t agree more. Never would have thought she could nail this aria so well. And at age 64 !!! And looking great! I feel ashamed I had her put down as a soubrette - she obviously has much more potential.
gestas60323 1 year ago
She sounds wonderful...
doperasinger 2 years ago
however Galli-Curci steadfastly refused, thinking it inappropriate for her voice. With regard to this video featuring Roberta Peters, considering she is 63/64, she handles the demanding aria competently and certainly does not make a fool of herself. Callas she is not and never was; however, her artistry enables her to rise nobly to the challenge.
meltzerboy 2 years ago
or the boredom associated with singing the same arias over and over again. Whatever the reason, for the audience the issue is whether the singer can do justice to the role or the aria she is performing. In this case, "Casta Diva" has a long tradition of being sung as a concert piece by artists who never performed the role in the opera house: Marcella Sembrich, Grace Moore, and Marian Anderson are names that come to mind. Compton MacKenzie had urged Galli-Curci to sing the aria at her recitals...
meltzerboy 2 years ago
You know, Roberta is 64 here, and I have to say she sounds wonderful, the voice still retaining so much of its beauty and tone. Her coloratura always was remarkable, and she certainly took care of her voice, unlike many other singer. No wobble, wonderful tone. Brava.
htshoward 2 years ago
Why divas decide to tackle certain roles and arias they have never sung before remains one of the eternal mysteries of life. Pons, for instance, late in her career (past 50) scheduled the Mad Scene from Hamlet on her recital programs, and sang the role of Traviata for the first time. Sutherland, also in her 50's, recorded a disc of arias from bel canto operas, half of which she had never sung on stage or in the studio. Perhaps it is the desire to expand one's repertoire....
meltzerboy 2 years ago