25. Canzonetta sull'aria - Kathleen Battle & Carol Vaness (Le nozze di Figaro Met'85)

[VoiceVirtuoso]

Kathleen Battle IS the STAR of this show and every other show she was ever a part of. I don't know if some people have no appreciation for fine singing, if they're racist or what the issue is, but if you can't see/hear the beauty that Miss Battle produces, both visually and sound, you have no soul. Shut up about things that happened almost two decades ago and get a life! Kathleen Battle could sing circles around any of the sopranos performing today, and that's the truth!

[Carlthestinker]

The lead in this opera is Figaro, THEN the COUNTESS who he has known LONGER than Susanna, then the maid. Susanna. a done deal according to Da Ponte...

[HeidelbergSoprano]

Dislike Battle LOVE Carol :D

[nodross7777]

I absolutely love this version:)

[Mickybunch]

It seems that everyone wanted to work with Vaness & no-one wanted to work with Battle. The operative words are "work with". What a criminal waste of talent, but Ms Battle only has herself to blame. Carlo Vaness continues to be liked & highly respected by those fortunate to work with her. One of the greatest of Mozart (& whatever else she did) sopranos. 

[Lassannn]

I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't wanna know. Some things are best left unsaid. I like to think it was something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. It tell you, those voiced soared higher and farther than a person in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage, and every last prisoner in Shawshank felt free.

[hellesterne]

Kathleen Battle captured my heart as Susanna! Indeed, as a soprano generally, she is supreme. She sings a song by Dowland that always brings tears to my eyes, “Come again, sweet love doth now invite" in which her effortless top notes send a “frisson" down my cheek. Incredibly good!

[PatriciaPaulAZ]

A wonderful performance!

[85xAntonello]

MOZART..........

[v21e]

all I can say is "beautiful".

[Alexesandryne]

Wowissime, Battle est sublime, souplesse, couleurs, lyrisme velouté.. submergeante !

[MastersoftheOpera]

Ah, this must be the infamous Met Figaro from the 80's ('85) which caused conflict btwn Carol and Kathy. Kathy took over Carol's dressing room and humiliated Carol multiple times. Kathy was a self-centered diva and Carol a serious student of music. I don't recall but I think it was these difficulties that caused Kathy to be fired from the Met. Levine tolerated her lack of professionalism and her diva attitudes for too long.

[karen09231]

Wow! I read the comments for this video. When will the racism end and when will the back stage battles be kept back stage with the people who start them?

What's important here? Whether Vaness & Battle created what Mozart the composer intented for opera. Period.

[redbonemix84]

@karen09231 I agree that the focus should be the singing, but call it what it is. Racism is not what these comments are. The truth is the truth no matter who tells it. Granted, there's a time and place for everything, but let's be fair with the labeling.

[suzanneetmoi]

You are so right, lareto, and for anyone to use racism as an excuse for Ms.Battle's nasty actions and vicious tongue is absurd. urgrad03, I DO know people who sang with her, and I am not speculating nor am I an "old queen". I find it interesting that you feel it's fine to use a slur when referring to a gay man, but you're quick to wave the banner of color when it suits you. Grow up please and learn some manners.

[gwright199]

no mystery here....the soubrette overshadows the grande dame. Vaness is already showing signs of wear and tear. She, like Studer, did everything until the voice frayed. Here, she has no warmth, her mid register is hollow/hooty...listen to Te Kanawa and then this....absolutely no comparison. Battle might have been batty, but this really is her role and she outshines the Countess.

[Bahia82]

actually that was the sanfrancisco when they created the T-shirts no the MET

[suzanneetmoi]

These two ladies ended their performing together on a very sour note when Ms.Vaness instructed her manager, in public and right after a performance, to NEVER book her on the same stage with Ms. Battle again! You have got to know Ms.Battle was universally disliked when her firing from the Met was announced and a cheer went up from those rehearsing on stage! They immediately had T-Shirts printed up which said, "I survived the Battle Ax".

[lllmozartlll]

Wonderful recording, magnifcent interpretation. Brilliant.

[moghedien13]

I dont care if battle is a crazy bitch or not.  she can sing and is awesome! i love vaness just as much as well.

[Bahia82]

of all the duets on this aria on youtube, I actually like this one the best, even better than Te Kanawa & Cotrubras

[goto41]

If there is any "lead character"/main role in this opera, it's Susanna.

[antmusique]

I agree! The first time I saw it it seemed very clear to me that it's her who drives the plot forward, so I was very surprised to read some summaries who present Figaro as the main "schemer", so to speak.

[goto41]

Yes, everything centers around her.....You can tell that Mozart felt the female characters were the center in his operas because he always gave them the best music.

[antmusique]

Even the minor ones, such as Barbarina. Her little aria is one of the most beautiful parts of this opera, which is saying quite a lot.

[goto41]

I'm glad you reminded me of that aria, I agree with you, that's a very special moment.

[operalover9001]

But I always thought that the countess kind of drove the whole plot forward. Like she's the one who comes up with the whole garden scheme, for example. Susanna sings more, but I think in terms of plot, I always considered the countess more important. Just my opinion. :) They sings amazingly though.

[antmusique]

I was just rereading the libretto, and it's actually Figaro who comes up with the garden scheme. In the recitative following the Countess' "Porgi amor", he instructs Susanna to tell the Count to wait for her in the garden and explains they're going to send Cherubino dressed as a woman instead. When the Cherubino plot fails, the Countess decides she'll go in the boy's place and dictates the famous letter to Susanna.

What a confusing plot.

[wanzenettl]

Susanna is in every scene of the entire four-act opera, something that isn't seen in any other opera ever written in history. The role of Susanna is a monumental role and takes a singer with tremendous ability and stamina to carry it off. Nancy Storace, the singer for whom Mozart and da Ponte created this role must have been a remarkable performer.

[serRudyll]

I think it's important to realise that there is no lead character in this opera, there are four of them, or at least three.

[BrettFavre310894]

@goto41 And Contessa

[candidnt]

Part of what makes Kathleen Battle so loathsome to me is that she has (had? I haven't heard her since she stopped performing) an absolutely lovely, delightful voice. I feel that someone so blessed should be above such terrible behavior.

[stingabe]

Carol really does look like a Bro!

[yesblanche]

Kathleen Battle is fabulous; Vaness isn't my cup of tea. As for the whole dressing room story from the Volpe book wasn't Battle the bigger star at this point so shouldn't she have the 'star dressing room'? I know opera has its traditions but I work in television and that's the way it goes a great artist must be placated if you want to count on the money their name brings in. I think as an artist of color Battle had to be prickly to protect her interests would a white singer have been dismissed?

[bygojohn]

Yesblanche, in Opera the lead character gets the larger dressing room. In this case Vaness' role was more superior to Ms Battle's. Miss Battle should not have made a fuss, she knows the rules. I love Ms Battle but I will not condone her childish acts.

[stingabe]

not so. the bigger star gets the larger dressing room.

[bcom11]

no, the bigger star gets the larger dressing room. and what do you mean "she should not have made a fuss, she knows the rules"? what rules? to be Black and sub-servant and stay in her place? ..hmm, the rules seem to suck.

[KatherineXIX]

And it doesn't matter, because in the real world, you do what you're told. If the director/stage manager/whoever tells singers who gets what dressing room, they damn well better listen, because believe it or not, singers are dime a dozen in this business. They should have fired Battle that instant instead of letting it go on for nine more years...I mean, were they expecting it to stop if they just kept putting up with her?

[Bahia82]

they let it go on for 9 years because though "singers are a dime a dozen" Great Opera Performers are NOT! People like James Levine know talent when they see it, Kathleen sold out opera shows in secondary roles that usually dont get attention, and became a star off them, something other sobrette arent able to do. she was indeed a special talent, if you dont like her fine, but dont let your disdain for her blind you to her talent which was immense

[KatherineXIX]

If no one can stand to work with you, all the talent in the world won't get you anywhere. And besides, she's having trouble with simple counting in this video. Again, if you can't do that...

[yesblanche]

You're just a bitter loser...Kathleen Battle had/has more talent in her pinky than you can ever dream of.

[KatherineXIX]

Yes, she has a more beautiful voice than I can ever dream of, but I can count a simple lilting 6/8 melody, and it would appear that she cannot. Also, I guarantee that IF I were blessed with such a gorgeous voice, I'd be thankful and humble and at least attempt to show a nice attitude towards the people that hired me. It just seems like basic human decency, in my opinion.

[bcom11]

you are bitter and jealous of something you will never be. when you meet her personally, come back and write an opinion.

[KatherineXIX]

Clearly, you're the one with a problem if you feel the need to dominate this page with comments every two minutes!

[bcom11]

actually, i responded to several comments all within the same 5 minutes that I was on this page. but please, attack my character more rather than responding with a reply that doesn't make you look like an idiot :)

[KatherineXIX]

Yawn. Go away. You're boring me.

[bcom11]

my point proven, exactly :)

[Bahia82]

@KatherineXIX

Sorry but people like you are fighting the wrong battle, Vanessa has always said that was blown up way more than what it needed to be. Vanessa as well as those in the Opera said everyone respected everyone and dressing rooms weren't that big of a deal. That rumor has just grown and taken on a life of its own, but in reality their was actually no big issue

[couturesixfour]

@Bahia82 this is in itself the most honest opinion of battle that i have read on youtube thus far! so true...thank you Bahia82!!

[Iareto]

I don't think it was a matter of color and I hate it when people try to suggest it is. And I'm a minority. Miss Battle was simply rude and unprofessional. I hope I never have to work with someone like that on stage, beautiful voice or not.

[urgrad03]

@Iareto: @Iareto: Well, if you're a minority then you'll know how incredibly easy it would have been for Battle to be painted a "bitch" or rude for simply standing up for her principles of musicality and never accepting less than equal treatment in an opera house - which at that time and previously - had not been exceptionally friendly to minority singers.

[urgrad03]

If you're a minority then you'll clearly understand that to disseminate the Battle = Bitch stereotype is harmful. Obviously if youve not sang with her personally, then youd never want to admonish her for actions which have, up to this point, lived only in speculation and back-stage banter amongst bitter old queens.

[KatherineXIX]

Okay, if she thought they were being racist for not giving her the Super Extra Special Gold Star Dressing Room (or whatever), she should have complained to the higher-ups and retained some dignity rather than throw out all of Carol Vaness's stuff and insult her personally. Who does that, past the age of seven? It really shows her true colors.

[urgrad03]

@KatherineXIX: But what's your beef with her... your personal beef? What did she do to you?

[bcom11]

you are 100% correct.

[bcom11]

i agree with upgrad03. even today, opera houses are less friendly to singers of color than they were in the 70s-90s. and i know that as a male singer of color. racism doesnt have to be calling someone the N word...it can be "under the skin" underlying racism as well that you DO notice even though it may not be obvious to others not in your shoes. all i'm saying is, NOTHING is that black and white. No one knows her personally, so just appreciate her brilliant artistry and perfection.

[operanurse]

Obviously Vaness was the lead in this opera. Battle could not even keep accurate tempo and was self absorbed instead of being a "team member". Opera casts are families and must respect each other as such.

[Bahia82]

battle might be a diva, but her performance was grand and right on target, you might not have to like her, but be honest about her talent and the beauty that comes out her mouth

[romarius2005]

yeah, this is the Opera that made Vaness Hate Battle to the core! From what I heard, she threw her stuff out of the 1st dressing room, and the said that she looked like a man.

[stingabe]

What are you talking about....back to Opera 101!

[hillevifan]

Okay I am going to start a whole discussion about this- we've all heard about the whole Vaness v. Battle divablast thing where Battle wanted the main dressing room- whose side do u take? Im on vaness's cause she obviously is the nicer of the two and never had any diva moments before!

[romarius2005]

My opinion is, that when Battle starting performing leading roles like Adina, and Rosina, it bothered her to not be the star role in operas that she performed in. Yes, Susanna has more parts, and is basically the main role, some beg to differ.

[stingabe]

This has nothing to do with niceness. Carol should have known her place, and stayed in it, as a beginner.

[KatherineXIX]

Bullshit. Carol's voice DWARFS Kathleen's, any day.

[allstatebass]

yea, with it ugliness.

[KatherineXIX]

You've got to be joking. Besides, the prettiest voice in the world can't make up for a shitty attitude AND inability to sing in rhythm...

[bcom11]

actually, the prettiest voice in the world CAN make up for AN ALLEGED shitty attitude. Get over it. It is what it is. She was brilliant then, and judging from the Carnegie Hall recital I saw her in two nights ago, SHE STILL IS.

[KatherineXIX]

It's Battle's fault because she didn't do what she was told.

[bcom11]

how do you know? have you met Ms. Battle? I doubt it. you're simply judging her on speculation and rumors. People are such followers.

[hillevifan]

No, but i HAVE met Ms. Vaness and judging from her demeanor she is extremely humble. Battle may have been the "bigger" star, but Vaness is obviously the best singer of the two.

[bcom11]

i highly disagree. ms battle in almost always technically and in my opinion, musically perfect...even today, in her 60s (i just saw her in recital on monday). i have met ms. battle three times after recital and she was very loving and generous to her fans. however, you are entitled to your opinion about who is the better singer :D

[stingabe]

Bravo Kathleen!

[moderndivo]

ahaha this is the performance that made Vaness hate battle ahaha

[Bahia82]

why do you say that, lol

[moderndivo]

this is the opera where battle wanted the main dressing room so she threw out all of Vaness' stuff in the hall an took it... opera legend!lol

[romarius2005]

yes indeed she did lol

[Iareto]

Wow. Vaness is officially one of my favorite Countess's now. She's absolutely wonderful. I've always loved her voice as Donna Anna and Tosca, but she's exceptional as the Countess as well.

[svaljr]

Their voices blend and complement each other beautifully. Vaness' bright and rich instrument and Battle's plangent,silvery tones dance together in a harmonious way in one of opera's most poignant duets made famous in the Morgan Freeman movie, The Shawshank Redemption.

[prisoner24601]

It was made famous in the Mozart opera "Le Nozze di Figaro." It may have been introduced to a lot of people in this century who wouldn't have known it otherwise by "The Shawshank Redemption," but you can't credit that movie with making it 'famous.'

[blichilde]

Alas,I'm afraid svaljr is right,and this is not a good thing...

[prisoner24601]

I think you're missing my point. When Mozart wrote Nozze it was a huge success. I don't remember the exact quote but Mozart wrote to his Father when visiting Prague that all anyone sang or talked about was Figaro. It was plenty famous. It REGAINED it's fame from the movie, sure, but the movei did not make it famous.