What red blooded man wouldn't fall for either of them, straight that is, so nice to see these superstars in the rehearsal process vulnerable and working it all out a rare treat!
So brilliant. What a wonderful collaberation. One of my very favorite YouTube clips. Voice virtuosos - indeed. And love the way Levine strokes the egos of the divias. (a deleted version of this clip shows his complement to Battle at the beginning of her rehersal.) As another comment says - James knows how to make things work.
This is a wonderful video. I love to see artist in this somewhat vulnerable stage. Everyone's a critic of Ms. Battle, but I see her as a technical artist, which means she's probably hard on herself and possibly insecure. This could be off putting to others. I've never met her, so I won't judge her. I think James, Jessye and Kathleen are three that are unmatched in their abilities and I love all three of them. James knows how to make things work. Jessye is simply beautiful in every way.
@pheelme I just love Jessye more than Kathy. I love how sincerely Jessye says to Levine "I wish we could be this together on stage" and he replies "we are". Jessye seems more into providing audiences with all herself to deliver emotional truth and art. Kathy is too obsessed with technique and sounding beautiful. She was too much of a perfectionist and that's what ruined her.
This was in '89. Battle was fired from the Met not long after this for unprofessional behavior. For having such a small voice, she was a big spoiled diva. Jessye Norman, on the contrary, whose voice was bigger than puny Kathy, behaved far more professionally. She never attracted so much bad publicity. You can tell from this video too that Kathy walked all over poor Levine who is always saying "am I doing what you want?" Levine was far too nice letting the singers do whatever they wished.
Thank you for posting this!!! It's great to see professional in their workplace/home and communicate so well with such a great Maestro as Maestro Levine! Please tell me that there are more videos out there of these rehearsals?
would it be correct to say that these singers (Norman and Battle) are "marking" during the rehearsal? Can anyone explain what the difference between "marking" and using their "full" voice is? One uses more support than the other, I suppose?? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
@MusicismyheartXO They are marking in parts. Marking is used to save the voice...some will sing the notes but at almost a whisper...others wll bring everthing into the middle voice...dropping things in the upper register down the octave...bringing low notes up. I don't require any less support though. In my opinion, for some voices it takes more support to mark than it does to sing out.
Hearing 'Ein schoenes war' sung so intimately - literally hearing Madame Norman's vocal cords- is such a present. Thank you for putting this up. She is glorious.
few comments: Funny how Levine is in looooooooooove with Norman and how you can sense the "I am walking on eggs" with battle. But also how Norman looks like a giggling school girl with her tutorial teacher, I looooved it, so touching!!!! And battle OMG!!! She looks like she could be Halle Berry's sister. So beautiful and she was 40 there? Wow... Overall James Levine is a genius! Brillant Video
@minkoss I didnt sense that - if anything I felt that you could see more blatantly the familiarity between Levine and Norman. I feel like maybe Batlle and Levine weren't as close as Norman and Levine - besides that, I feel that the interactions between Battle and Levine were both cordial and lighthearted.
this is so wonderful! we don't often get a chance to see these divas and divos in their true element. i love process, rehearsal, and critique! they work with one another with such a respect to individual talent and value. AND the orchestra is absolutely fantastic. heavenly!
@couturesixfour i know its rehearsal it was just funny to me my god!! u guys making it a big thing... it was just funny to me nothing more nothing less dont over do it!!!
Thanks so much for adding this! I always so much enjoy a behind the scenes look of what the preparation for a performance of the Met's caliber is like.
Ah Norman what a singer and unusually gifted in her musical intelligence! Ms. Battle difficult artist but what a singer! Lovely to watch it is rare for such musical talent and beauty to be in a single individual. Thanks for posting this video it is wonderful to observe these great singer prepare for a real performance :). I send my kind and warm regards :).
@VoiceVirtuoso i enjoy watching the physical approaches and the differences in how jessye and kathleen attack their notes. how wonderfully different are we all in our gifts and talents and abilities and understandings!!! this goes to show you that the perfect lines of theory are only the outline for excellent performance of this magnitude. you must make it your own!!!
She's so adorable it's just so hard to imagine she was such a nightmare behind closed doors.....
winrx 3 days ago
Goddesses!
susuemikado 5 days ago
Wish Battle didn't go crazy - that's how almost everyone remembers her =[
TheDeutschSoprano 1 week ago
1:40...so true! I'm learning this and I think that's probably the hardest part of the whole piece note wise. It really is like the lottery hahaha
LeCoconut 4 months ago
Comment removed
tristan1865 4 months ago
What red blooded man wouldn't fall for either of them, straight that is, so nice to see these superstars in the rehearsal process vulnerable and working it all out a rare treat!
timdivine 5 months ago
So brilliant. What a wonderful collaberation. One of my very favorite YouTube clips. Voice virtuosos - indeed. And love the way Levine strokes the egos of the divias. (a deleted version of this clip shows his complement to Battle at the beginning of her rehersal.) As another comment says - James knows how to make things work.
bigapplebucky 5 months ago
In love with Norman, Amazed by Battle
underkelis 6 months ago
What is the aria that jessye Norman is working on here?
musicalopera93 6 months ago
@musicalopera93 "Ein Schönes war"
Seasass 3 months ago
This is a wonderful video. I love to see artist in this somewhat vulnerable stage. Everyone's a critic of Ms. Battle, but I see her as a technical artist, which means she's probably hard on herself and possibly insecure. This could be off putting to others. I've never met her, so I won't judge her. I think James, Jessye and Kathleen are three that are unmatched in their abilities and I love all three of them. James knows how to make things work. Jessye is simply beautiful in every way.
pheelme 6 months ago
@pheelme I just love Jessye more than Kathy. I love how sincerely Jessye says to Levine "I wish we could be this together on stage" and he replies "we are". Jessye seems more into providing audiences with all herself to deliver emotional truth and art. Kathy is too obsessed with technique and sounding beautiful. She was too much of a perfectionist and that's what ruined her.
OperaMystery80 6 months ago
@OperaMystery80 I won't argue with you there.
pheelme 5 months ago
This was in '89. Battle was fired from the Met not long after this for unprofessional behavior. For having such a small voice, she was a big spoiled diva. Jessye Norman, on the contrary, whose voice was bigger than puny Kathy, behaved far more professionally. She never attracted so much bad publicity. You can tell from this video too that Kathy walked all over poor Levine who is always saying "am I doing what you want?" Levine was far too nice letting the singers do whatever they wished.
OperaMystery80 6 months ago
Thank you for posting this!!! It's great to see professional in their workplace/home and communicate so well with such a great Maestro as Maestro Levine! Please tell me that there are more videos out there of these rehearsals?
Darknight1989 6 months ago
Comment removed
taxicab629 7 months ago
would it be correct to say that these singers (Norman and Battle) are "marking" during the rehearsal? Can anyone explain what the difference between "marking" and using their "full" voice is? One uses more support than the other, I suppose?? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
MusicismyheartXO 11 months ago
@MusicismyheartXO They are marking in parts. Marking is used to save the voice...some will sing the notes but at almost a whisper...others wll bring everthing into the middle voice...dropping things in the upper register down the octave...bringing low notes up. I don't require any less support though. In my opinion, for some voices it takes more support to mark than it does to sing out.
LimmieP 11 months ago
Hearing 'Ein schoenes war' sung so intimately - literally hearing Madame Norman's vocal cords- is such a present. Thank you for putting this up. She is glorious.
voceangelo 1 year ago
few comments: Funny how Levine is in looooooooooove with Norman and how you can sense the "I am walking on eggs" with battle. But also how Norman looks like a giggling school girl with her tutorial teacher, I looooved it, so touching!!!! And battle OMG!!! She looks like she could be Halle Berry's sister. So beautiful and she was 40 there? Wow... Overall James Levine is a genius! Brillant Video
minkoss 1 year ago 3
@minkoss I didnt sense that - if anything I felt that you could see more blatantly the familiarity between Levine and Norman. I feel like maybe Batlle and Levine weren't as close as Norman and Levine - besides that, I feel that the interactions between Battle and Levine were both cordial and lighthearted.
ecksodhus 9 months ago 5
@ecksodhus in actuality Battle and Levine were CLOSER than Norman and Levine because Levine DISCOVERED her and brought her to the MET
musicalopera93 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@musicalopera93 hmm I didnt know that!
ecksodhus 3 months ago
My God, none of this looks easy. Makes you appreciate artists of this level.
Loumademe 1 year ago
Does anyone realise how small her voice is??? Look how big of pit she has to go over and then that cave of a house.
Operaman41 1 year ago
i LOVE kath's shoulder pads!!!
couturesixfour 1 year ago
this is so wonderful! we don't often get a chance to see these divas and divos in their true element. i love process, rehearsal, and critique! they work with one another with such a respect to individual talent and value. AND the orchestra is absolutely fantastic. heavenly!
couturesixfour 1 year ago
Ms. Norman is a force of nature.
dennisdeemii 1 year ago
@dennisdeemii i agree
immature0916 1 year ago
kathleen was so flat @0:59 so funny to me lolol
immature0916 1 year ago
@immature0916: she was a semitone sharp, actually.
dennisdeemii 1 year ago
@dennisdeemii regardless it wasnt the note lolol
immature0916 1 year ago
@immature0916 rehearsal...lol
couturesixfour 1 year ago
@couturesixfour i know its rehearsal it was just funny to me my god!! u guys making it a big thing... it was just funny to me nothing more nothing less dont over do it!!!
immature0916 1 year ago
@immature0916 i said lol...as did you! what are you talking about? don't you overdo it!! tahtah!!
couturesixfour 1 year ago
i can see straight down jessye's throat lolol!!! what amazing breathe control
immature0916 1 year ago
@immature0916 she is a wonderfully large and unstoppable force!!!
couturesixfour 1 year ago
@couturesixfour I agree!!!
immature0916 1 year ago
9:36～ very touching
hirokamimieko 1 year ago
I know this has nothing to do with anything, but can someone confirm this for me: Kathleen Battle was 39 in this footage????
tneprescintr 1 year ago
@tneprescintr She was 40 or going on 41..Her birthday date is August 13,1948
CincinnatiTenor 1 year ago
omg... what breath control.... go jessye...... I dont care what nobody says she's Ariadne
TerrancePogue 1 year ago
Norman's speaking voice is just as elegant as her singing.
tneprescintr 1 year ago
Thank you for sharing this video!
What a treat this is!
Thanks!
JasRichlovesLA 1 year ago
Here Battle is ; Brilliant, magnificent, sexy, gorgeous a masterclass!!!!!!!!!!
AbeokutaCity1 2 years ago
Thanks so much for adding this! I always so much enjoy a behind the scenes look of what the preparation for a performance of the Met's caliber is like.
clarksc1988 2 years ago
thanks for adding this to YT again. I've been looking for these clips since forever!
monicalvr36 2 years ago
Ah Norman what a singer and unusually gifted in her musical intelligence! Ms. Battle difficult artist but what a singer! Lovely to watch it is rare for such musical talent and beauty to be in a single individual. Thanks for posting this video it is wonderful to observe these great singer prepare for a real performance :). I send my kind and warm regards :).
TheWisemonkey8 2 years ago 2
@TheWisemonkey8 Thank you for your kind response. I'm glad you enjoy the postings.
VoiceVirtuoso 2 years ago 2
@VoiceVirtuoso i enjoy watching the physical approaches and the differences in how jessye and kathleen attack their notes. how wonderfully different are we all in our gifts and talents and abilities and understandings!!! this goes to show you that the perfect lines of theory are only the outline for excellent performance of this magnitude. you must make it your own!!!
couturesixfour 1 year ago