Leontyne Price sings "Summertime"

[1adrianmartinez]

that high note she nails gives me goosebumps.

[iwillliftupmyeyes]

I love this woman .She truly is one of the greatest singers .Brian

[magchristineschaefer]

She sings perfect. I really love her!

[AngelSingingTerry]

Love my auntie!!! I see where I get it from. :)

[MuseDuCafe]

Consummate artistry: had the privilege to hear her in Dialogue des Carmelites near the end of her career. What you can never hear from a recording, even at her quietest volume singing in a large opera house, the sound from her seemed to just eminate, not from her mouth - it was just completely 'in the hall'. Amazing. Those who don't know it, look for her singing Samuel Barber's Knoxville, summer of 1915, on Youtube. Think you'll be glad you did.

[dehueva18]

do you know where can i find the lyrics?

[krwoods125]

Stunning! amazing voice. No effort whatsoever.

[kimsimply]

effortlessly

[Hicksbosone]

goosebumps!

[malmalmal89]

i had chills for the whole song

[MirinaDragon]

So this is the 'Taste' of the summertime aria. Like it!! =)

It supose to be a lullaby and now it sound like one.

[rigokel]

this song is not jazz folks it is an aria!

[southprince69]

OMG 2:23 Just did it for me....

[MrNorm1949]

Price can sing absolutely ANYTHING!!!!!!

[thenextmezzo]

WOW!

[PRR5406]

Vocal perfection.

[kenpachioasis]

Wow...this is the highest octave I've ever seen this song being sang... this vid doesn't do it justice need to see it in real life

[lewlabird724]

i met her brother general price. great man

[RossiniSoprano]

Sing it, Mama!

[Buddhaxe]

Bad recording, nothing wrong with her voice...

[teahmik]

She sang this with such perfect confidence and authority......wow...........

[xxx777x99y]

very very ugly!

[hatdance9210]

love how she makes it the lullaby that it's intended to be. she has a huge voice, but she sings sweetly as if she is singing to a baby- beautiful.

[ShawDAMAN]

superb rendition.

[lasaboteuse]

Wish the audio quality was better...

[NubianConservatory1]

Dear Ms. Price, I have been a fan of yours dating back to my undergraduate days in the 1960s. My recording of you in the "Verdi Requiem" is one of my prize posessions. The Nubian Conservatory started classes in 1983. A note or a phone call from you could go a long ways in encourageing today's youth and help us keep our doors open. We have received some recognition from Pres.Obama. E.Harrison Gordon,President

[sjtherage]

fabulous

[sjtherage]

so, so, so beautiful!

[Lederius18]

Leontyne's floats are perfection!

[ReginaMuse93]

Excellently done Price! She put soul and opera and great feeling into this song.

[onyxbb1]

I'm looking because of the exam to Haha

[robinsings]

Wow.. is right! :) 

[minishi247]

WOW

[clarksta123]

I'm studying this for my music exam.

Comparing Leontyne Price and Billie Holliday.

I'm sorry, but when was something so awesome considered study?!?!

I love music :)

[Kirnus]

@clarksta123 Me to :P

[hotttbunny]

@clarksta123 omg same! the exam is tomorrow! goodluck

[clarksta123]

@hotttbunny hahaha thanks :)

you too!! :)

[simammo]

Beautiful voice!

[TheAaronfrankgrayson]

Simply Amazing... I love this lady!

[monkiebrane101]

bad quality sound & picture but her voice makes up for it :)

[niceguy6967]

Priceless!!!!

[ApparoDei]

The way she sang this makes the song more haunting...like a walk along the riverbank and watching the song go down from the great big yonder.

[menschlichetragodie]

Amazing voice. The only thing I don't like about watching live solo opera singers is the facial expressions they make. Lol, they get kinda creepy sometimes...

[ManWitFinalSay]

This is incredible, just incredible!!!!

[SondraHarnes]

Wonderful! Ms. Price possessed a golden voice of the ages. :-)

[meegann55]

Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's amazing!!

[Zottanna]

i love this opera and i love jazz its a great mix of my both favourites. 

[Liu666able]

This is singing!!!!

[paulostroff99]

awesome!  TY

[NigelAhmad]

I love this song because there are so many different interpretations of it- from Nina SImone, to Fantasia, to Leona Lewis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Price. Each make the song their own!

[Houzay168]

To be frankly honest, this is the style of Summertime I'm more used to. I heard a couple of versions of Summertime by different singers and didn't know why they sounded different, and now I realise they were Jazz versions.

[mellomusiclover]

Absolutely Stunning! Such style and grace in an era that is all but gone. Am in the process of introducing Ms. Price and all the wonderful divas! Beautiful tones, a joy to listen to!

[zabou1030]

amazing!

[patinielsen]

Beautiful! Gives you chills.

[gggreggg]

@patinielsen so true. other interpretations loose that chill generating quality.

[orovalleydude]

Astounding, thank you very much for posting.

[Epogdous]

Unbelievable

[choralman8009]

TRULY - one of the greatest sounds God ever put in a throat!

[shdia101]

Legend



[jcsiegelman]

I think this is my favorite operatic version of "Summertime."

[hawkwind999]

Very well sang. There are too many "experts" on you tube saying this is better that is better etc, just enjoy an artiste for what they are, pleny to go rond with diversifications

to suit every taste.

[JTinJA]

@hawkwind999 couldn"t agree with you more!!!

[musikenergy]

She gives me Chills....Whoever said its not good must be musically retarded.

[grenadian11]

The best of the best!

[Randymanme1]

Can and will someone tell me the songs Ms. Price sang before this one and the one she sang afterwards and where I can download them?

[leeleefromthed]

GO HEAD WOMAN!!!!

[chicagomarchingbands]

Has she been Ft. in opera houses outside of the US?

[chicagomarchingbands]

So why do Opera singer walk to the back....then come back out like she did at the end? I'm really starting to get into opera

[shinglebob1]

@chicagomarchingbands She's walking to the back because it's the end of the performance. Actually, this song was an encore itself. Then the clapping and cheering of the audience implies that they want an(other iin this case) encore. They also do that sometimes within concerts to get water and just regroup so their voices are 100% on stage. Most classical singers have a water bottle right offstage during concerts for this.

[musicaltheatrestar]

@chicagomarchingbands its recital etiquette. When opera singers are performing in Recitals, they walk off @ the end of a song (or a song cycle).

[ardeladimwit]

lovely lady

[outstep37]

Wow! Damn! What pipes!

[saxonfield]

magnificent!!!

[MegaRossiter]

I believe she is probably descended from Africans...and she sings like that.

[souldisciple]

Forget Being accepted, she sang like this because she had skill.

[ladybluerose]

I don't care why she sings like this as long i can listen to it. in my mind her voice is heaven on earth

[DarrylCUR]

god she sound like a bird!

[bdienstag]

see how Ella does it!

[dgllamas]

WOW!!!!!! Now THAT'S how it's done!!!!!

[vivomusique]

Beautiful...just beautiful.

[chasatlanta]

mdooms76, you must not know she originated this role and this is exactly how it was written and originally performed. She is exquisite!

[diarci]

Perhaps you meant to say that she originated it in the 1953 evival? The original Bess was Anne Browne - when Leontyne was 7 years old.

[brandname87]

Little known fact, Bess wasn't origionally the character that sang this song. So although Anne Browne was the original Bess, she was not the first person to sing this song. It was given to Bess later in the run because of the song's popularity.

[brandname87]

She actually didn't origionate the role but she was one of the earlier performers to take the role.

And you're very correct. This is EXACTLY how Gershwin intended it to be performed. All the other performers who've sang it outside of the classical voice have taken artistic liberty way beyond what Gershwin intended.

[diarci]

Altho there is room to quibble Gershwin was in the studio supervising when the very first recording (excerpts) of "Porgy" was made with Lawrence Tibbett and Helen Jepson. Jepson's voice is certainly not equal to Price, but surely if Gershwin had a complaint with her interpretation, he could have altered it.

[mdooms76]

I didn't care for this performance. The opera style of singing blurs out the words and you can't understand her half the time.

[Gandanga]

breathtaking

[Royalorgans]

why do you have to be so ignorant. She did wonderful on this peice while putting the original accents and charecter in the the piece

[jmi199]

that's called music dude

[d4322fc4]

Interesantes Video

[sweetsoprano1211]

I can't even IMAGINE what this would have sounded like live. Amazing.

[katiesings4u]

OMG....she is my vision of a heavenly angel! This is one of my favorite songs to sing and to hear.. Her voice is "other wordly". Full of soul....just beautiful! It leaves me breathless.

[gzaenker]

I .love her. She is wahnsinnig. To sing this song. like that. And the marvelous beauty of her, breaks out in her face and the whole stucture of her body. I have never seen anything so tender and beautiful as this song., truly expressed by a beautiful soul

[immature0916]

grow up

[strongf]

wow this was really amazing! but it wasnt really the version i was looking for.

[higharch]

There is none better.

[christianperri]

Breath taking!

[enorodod]

I think it's a shame that nowadays people stand after every performance - The local nutcracker or their child's piano recital. A standing ovation's for a perfect proformance such as this and nothing less. That last note... So beautiful <3

[BaroquePearl419]

Does anyone have her recording of "Ah! Perfido Op.65" by Beethoven?

[xolilbraxo1993]

while I did hear Ella's version first and still prefer it.. i must say this lady is AMAZING! and this performance is just mindblowing as well

[hauteboy69]

I can see hwy Leona was influenced by her.

[gershwinrocks]

No ornaments, here. Performed as written. Brilliant.

[cantodolce]

Thank you, Leontyne, for singing!

[BrentAudi]

This is great!

I remember this so well because I could not wait for this to air on PBS. I also recorded it. I think that I was about the age of 19 when I saw it.

Leontyne was so young here and her voice was not matched by any peer at the time. Most singers that were her peers were starting to sound wobbly and older.

I was just so proud of her! I still am. She was an American treasure then, and will always remain so!

Thanks for posting!

Brent

[BrentAudi]

I also wanted to add that Leontyne was close to 60 years of age here.

The reason for me that it was such a treat was that she was not singing as much. Anytime Leontyne sang you really wanted to be there.  Here voice was still so fantastic.

What a treasure!

Brent

[liedersanger1]

To be exact, she was 54 years old.

[liedersanger1]

She wasn't that young here--54. though she sounds it.

[gzaenker]

she is so beautiful. In her soul she was borne to sing this song for us to hear, And we give thanks.

[BrentAudi]

I would love to hear what most singers sound like at 54.

She does not sound 54! She sounds closer to 24.

Her voice was amazing until the end of her career. And still amazing at her age if you ask me.

She was a gift.

No need to judge!

Brent

[shelly121089]

24-32 love it

[fluffynamedkimba]

price is a legend and she could sing the crap out of jazz or opera, pop, baby songs, whatever. she is an amazing amazing amazing singer with the voice of a century.

[organman52]

Leontyne's singing is GLORIOUS. No one else should sing this aria.

[donaldrose]

I have loved Price since the early 60's when I wore out a copy of Verdi's Requiem listening to her. Here she shows how to combine that glorious voice and great interpretation; and all so naturally.

[altonfraiser]

cheater!  She took a breath before the high note at the end!

[shelly121089]

haha, you do it better?

[EvelynZiegler]

ich stimme zu: klasse - direkt Gänsehaut bekommen

[smcdon817]

you can not be serious....

[FoggyRoad81]

What planet are you on? This is brilliant

[narutoheroclixlover]

seriously this is fuckin horrible

[pechorin1841]

what is horrible about it? the song is an opera aria. she sang it as was originally written. I hope you are not one of those people who heard it as a jazz standard first and judge this based on your knowledge of its jazz version.

If you are know this: jazz and opera a two totally different things. judge them on their own merits but do not compare them to each other.

[pechorin1841]

well, she did add some ornaments of her own and they were all fantastic

[AltDPT13]

@pechorin1841 is there a love button??

[Monica8Montero]

@pechorin1841

yes, is a a diferent things! But that is cool!! Open idea!

[menschlichetragodie]

@pechorin1841 agreed! comparing jazz and opera is like apples and oranges. This is an amazing rendition! making #3 that I enjoy. Also try Janis Joplin Cheap thrills sessions, and Mica Paris.

[shittypuzzle]

@pechorin1841 just try to enjoy the damn music. this not a damn opera contest.ppl have to put a little twist on things sometimes. but i do understand what ur saying about the music

[SiEtIn1]

lol what an igno

[ubelein1973]

Amazing!

[gzaenker]

uebelein I agree, it is amazing! And wonderful.

[nailycai]

Such a goddess!

[KeenandNifty]

I love the way her voice caresses each note. It gives me shivers. And as a side note, did John Williams EVER have hair on his head?

[drdeik]

I Love 2:33-2:35, YOU ROCK!!!!

[MGAZ123]

incredible- it was written for her

[nickditoro]

Sorry, but "Summertime" was not written for Leontyne Price. The opera premiered in 1935, with Anne Wiggins Brown as Bess. Price was only 8 years old at the time. Leontyne starred in the 1952 London revival.

[mrdrodrigues]

That's not what he meant, person. He meant that she sings it so naturally that one can easily believe the song itself could've been inspired on her very own voice. And, indeed, it was written for her. It's indisputable she owns it.

[nickditoro]

Well, person, he should have said: "It could have been written for her."

[SiEtIn1]

easy on the accuracy, "person"

[KeenandNifty]

Thank you for schooling that rude boy.

[H2obearer]

incredible! its official...SUMMERTIME is here.

[trinasp]

At a competition I did about 20 years ago, one of the judges commented that I was like a young Leontyne Price. As a young singer, that was the best compliment someone could give me. As an adult, I think the man may have been deaf. There is only one Leontyne Price.

[tiernan87]

haha. i had a similar experience, being compared to josh groban once at a competition. although, now, i'm not so sure i'd consider that a compliment.....

[BeckyPantz]

golly gosh! That's absolutly amazing. what a voice. She makes it look effortless!

[mmb1998]

2:20

Ahmazing

[karrieannbean]

wow! amazing voice~

[laffytaffygreen]

I'm not a singer, but I think Jonita Lattimore comes close and Audra McDonald.

[gzaenker]

wow, guys, I am at loss to understand what you mean by 'comes close' 'these three people sing "better"' and so on. How do you measure that, is it with a yardstick or what? When I listen to this, I close my eyes and then my whole body listens (try this, feel her voice coming in through your legs). And then it is, and my soul knows, that Leontyne Price was born to sing this song.

[laffytaffygreen]

I don't know who else you are talking about, or what other comments. All I said was that Jonita Lattimore and Audra McDonald come close to the level of Leontyne Price.

[laffytaffygreen]

Somebody was asking who can do what Leontyne Price does today. There is also Denyse Graves and Kathleen Battle.

[FoggyRoad81]

Graves and Battle are great singers, they can not touch Ms. Price and both would agree.

[laffytaffygreen]

You know Denyce Graves and Kathleen Battle?

[markhh]

@laffytaffygreen Leontyne Price is 84 today and retired. She is still seen occasionally at galas and award presentations. She can still knock out a pretty awesome high B.

[eze102]

heavenly floating notes. Who can do that today? not even renee

[Babs22h]

what is the note at( 2:28) she hits clear as a bell?

[DubhHer0]

That is high C and with vibrato bcbcbcbcbcb then gliss on down.

Wow, what a presence.

[lolatmarshall]

crap

[aseretkavon]

If you mean the quality of the tape, agreed.

If you mean her, then name 3 people (with video proof) that can sing better than Leontyne Price.

[lolatmarshall]

no disrespect to you or her but i think these 3 people sing better .alexandra burke - hallelujah ,leona lewis,laurane hill,whitney,

[Alluponit31]

I am a fan of all the one's you named however...You cannot compare an aria singer to r&b singers. And for the record, none of the women you metioned has an upper register such as Leontyne Price.

[lolatmarshall]

i think leona could hit that note.

[sweetkaiser]

she certainly can

[hairwire]

Not like that, and she'd yodel unnecessarily when she did it as well. I like Leona Lewis, but she would NOT be able to sing this aria (because it is originally an aria and NOT a jazz piece) the way Leontyne sings here.

You cannot compare Classical/Opera singers to RnB artists.

[dungaboyd1]

leona is an opera singer or shes trained in it

[hairwire]

Well, I have to say I didn't believe you, but apparently I stand corrected! Hard to imagine her singing opera.

[pechorin1841]

you have to remember that this song was originally an opera aria. the versions that the singers you mentioned sing are all jazz and r&b arrangements of this piece.

I have found that the version of a song or aria that you hear first is generally the one that you like best and all others will somehow always come short .

and for the record, leontyne price is light years ahead of all three of the singers you listed.

[brchans]

Best female voice I ever heard!!!

[aGwEENapple]

The day that God's angels come and speak to you is when you'll realize that THIS is what they sound like.

[htshoward]

She is my Prima Donna Assoluta, and she sounds resplendent here! Brava, Leontyne! You are the greatest of all time.

[trimmedlamp]

Leontyne Price. Incomparable.

[OoMASEoO]

look at the audience. a female african-american singing for a a whole venue of white people during those times... quite a feat.

[robinorene]

a feat in 81?

[OoMASEoO]

gosh i wish i had an opera ear

:S

i just can't get into it

[Psyckedell]

Best black singer of all time.

[Dr33ka]

Best Classical singer of all time!!

[LeeVita19]

Yes "Black" African-American, BUT Talent and Beauty does Not have color. The Best Singer and Talent of All Time is simply Leontyne Price!!!