Shirley Verrett as Lady Macbeth "Sleepwalking Scene"

[foropera]

Finally isn't it taken from the reprise of april 1979 at la Scala? I was told so....

[tourphil]

Shirley Verrett died last week. I especially appreciate this viedo because I saw her in this role at Kennedy Center (Washington DC) in 1976. La Scala Opera performed there as part of the Bicentennial celebration.

[tourphil]

Shirley Verrett died last week. I especially appreciate this viedo because I saw her in this role at Kennedy Center (Washington DC) in 1976. La Scala Opera performed there as part of the Bicentennial celebration.

[tourphil]

Shirley Verrett died last week. I especially appreciate this viedo because I saw her in this role at Kennedy Center (Washington DC) in 1976. La Scala Opera performed there as part of the Bicentennial celebration.

[pjdonagh]

If this were all she bequeathed to posterity it would be a legacy that any singer could be proud of.....but we know,of course,that this is just the tip of the iceberg!  Whilst the Lady is my own personal favourite role for Ms Verrett she has , happily, left us a rich catalogue of recorded delight, or even genius to enjoy.

R.I.P.

[Popoff22]

Beautiful. 1 of the many great Qeens of Opera

[ChristophePhilippe]

Hair raising.

[waltermontani]

IO c'ero.....fortunato  nimium!

[waltermontani]

IO c'ero.....fortunato nimium!

[sea1song]

If Aida can be considered as Price's musical legacy, Tosca and Norma as Callas', then Lady Macbeth is Shirley Verretts legacy to the music word. I cant imagine anything being more perfect than her portrayal. Simply amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS ART!!!!!!!

[jrtrmish]

I am so sick of you fatuous people who compare every soprano to Callas, whom you consider the greatest. She was a great singing actress, but her voice was at times downright ugly. Stop carrying on as if she was history's greatest gift to opera. She wasn't.

[Jakopsohn]

Damn! Very good. Overall she is an extremly good Lady, in the same league as Callas and Rysanek, but she doesn't beats Birgit Nilsson, certainly not in this aria. Nilssons voice is much more full of life and power. But Verett is my second choice after La Nilssons lady ;). Yes i know many of you prefere others than Nilsson, but one can only admit that she was the most pissed of, devilish Lady ever..and none of the other Lady's has got half of her power^^

[jaeteodosio]

foi talvez a opera que mais ouvi, e por causa desta senhora

[andretenor]

I agree Verrett is the best in the role.....

[anaclase67]

madame Verret vous etes fabuleuse,merci!!!!!!!

[goldenthroat86]

The usual great artistry from Verrett. That final high Db is OFF THE HOOK!!!

[MastersoftheOpera]

Shirley is MAGNIFICENT as Lady Macbeth...she IS Lady Macbeth...I've always loved her interpretation. She's as great as Callas and Rysanek...what torment in her Mad Scene!

[rhapsodyaaa]

pregunta ella es mezzo o soprano?

[raymzi]

onegin as much as i thank you for posting these videos i just wish you could have given us more of it...i.e. the curtain calls. or even the post-aria applause

[dermotafan]

I know, what you mean Operaddict, I've been just listeninig to Guleghina, finding her not too bad, by today standards. LOL.

[AGM1951]

Verrett is the greatest Lady Macbeth in my memory.....Breathtaking!

[yodavidnavarro]

Outstanding! Endless praise worth!

[edgarbiervliet]

This is really great great singing and acting. Blown away...

[Greatfan]

All great singers are....great singers. People should not take them as human contests. This is bad this is good, this wins,this loses. Verrett great, Callas great, etc. The speculations and arguments are just projections of weaker egos on these ladies overdevelopped ones. I discovered I did that many years ago. I felt " threatened " when THEY ( the other ' team ' ) criticized my phallic soprano. When I realized that my ego was not hers, all was solved !

[Operaddict]

What is so wonderful about Miss Verrett is that she SINGS the role...full out...completely dramatic...and yet always in control and with bel canto, unlike so many who only punch at this role, hoping that merely their volume and frantic acting will disguise their lack of vocal technique. Those of us who know the difference can't be fooled.

Verrett had it all. What a great singing actress...the performance here is a document of a great artist.

[RVP57]

'Those of us who know the difference can't be fooled'...very insightful comment. Especially in light of the current crop of vocal frauds (Dessay is a glaring example...)..

[Hantiac]

Verrett is simply the BEST Lady Macbeth.

[LazarNewDeal]

There is always this special thing with Verret. Impossible to describe... Just this special thing that puts her apart from generic sopranos.

She is marvelous here.

[ZsaZsadoll]

fantastic

[TreblesBasses]

who is in the cast?

[waltermontani]

cappuccilli,ghiaurov,lucchetti­,

[JuillHope17]

this is one thing i love about this performance: usually the audience goes apeshit over this song the second she finishes and it's "screw the ending bars" but the audience is so enamored with her performance not only vocally but dramatically that they are quiet and respectful right to the end... only callas could achieve this of the famous lady macbeths of lascala... maybe guleghina because they were thinking "who the fuck cast this donkey of a lady macbeth?"

yes, donkey :)

[JuillHope17]

eff you to whoever thumbed me down. it's true: no one likes ghuleghina's lady macbeth. it's a mess, and she shouldn't sing it. be enough of a man (or woman) to actually comment me back, not just thumb me down.

[sirenadellopera]

LOLOL. I love Ghuleghina in other things, but not in the Lady. I agree. But, don't call her a donkey! It's not nice!

[JuillHope17]

i like her in everything but singing :X

[JuillHope17]

this is in reference to ghuleghina.

[sirenadellopera]

lolol

[FoggyRoad81]

I 100% agree with you. Guleghina has a big booming voice, but only a fool thinks thats all you need for this role. Verrett gives every Lady Macbeth an acting and singing lesson.

[Tsaravitch]

A live well lived. Flawless.

[Tsaravitch]

Excuse me. A life well lived.

[TreblesBasses]

AWESOME VOCE VERRETT!

[giandoroma]

Madame Verrett, I miss you SO much...

[waterfordwinstons]

Un fil di Voce!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have jet to hear any other singer Out sing this............ Brava Diva.... thank you for your hart work and respecting the composers Shakespeare and Verdi. This is just THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[neronnenn]

Si commenta da sé, con Callas è stata la più grande Lady della Soria

[agnellodei]

WOW that's a lot of bass!!! anyways, beautiful performance.

[midas45]

I never get tired of watching this performance. Verrett, Cappuccilli, and Ghiaurov OWN this opera. This is the BEST reading of this opera I've ever heard. A truly legendary performance.

[waterfordwinstons]

I just love this.... Yes one would want to bite my head of....... but i feel that miss Verrett just has this Opera.... I like Callas alot..... but not more than Verrett...Waw Wawwawwaw... what more does one want after verrett sings .. Nothing and No one.

[mm9913]

Amen.

[sonqualnave]

Most of the sopranos run out in the curtains to do this D Flat pianissimo but verrett do it on the stage and succeed wonderfuly to do it as verdi ask it on the score: Un fil di voce! i love it!!

[brighitta17]

la verret è sicuramente la migliore lady macbeth che si possa immaginare, fredda, diabolica...allucinata! Ha la voce perfetta per qusto ruolo!

[linocogo]

Non essagerare!. La Verret é una ottima Lady ma isnieme a lei ci sono in primis La Sass e poi tante altre brave artiste.

JD

[raycanto76]

Verrett sings the D-flat at the end of this aria masterfully!! Brava....A true prima donna in Mezzo and Soprano Rep.

[midas45]

This entire performance by all involved is a miracle ! This amazingly talented group make the best case for this opera you will ever see. Verrett, Cappuccilli, Ghiaurov, and Abbado are at the top of their game here .... BRAVI !

[Greatfan]

I dare say that she is in almost every respect ( except for italian pronounciation which is faulty ) THE BEST LADY MACBETH. In Verrett's voice the Lady sounds...EASY. One is never nervouus or fearing " Will she do this ? " Her control is amazing. Brava !

[osvaldito55]

Her Italian is faultless... Where exactly is it faulty?

[Greatfan]

I will write you tomorrow for I am busy. I am of Italian family Osvaldito, and speak and sing in Italian. I speak it quite fluently and has been praised for it. Miss Verrett's Italian is NOT perfect, maybe beter than other singers but definitely not perfect. A great actress. There are many spots which I will point tomorrow.

[osvaldito55]

Caro amico, nessuno parla alla perfezione una lingua, molto più di meno nella lirica, in palcoscenico. Sono italiano nato à Firenze, dunque non ha bisogno commenti sulla pronuncia. Ho conosciuto alla Verrett 10 anni fa e noi abbiamo avuto una breve ed amichevole conversazione in italiano. Lo parla molto bene, ma con un leggerissimo accento che nessuno denominerebbero "difettoso." Ti ringrazio per la risposta tua; siamo d'accordo che La Verrett è una grandissima artista. Saluti di GianCarlo.

[Greatfan]

Io trovo che parecchie consonanti suonano un po come in inglese. La parola 'guerrier' non si capisce bene, e qualche ' O ' e troppo aperta ( forse per ragioni d ' interpetazione, quello non so ) e c'e un paio di E tropo chiuse, quasi vicine a la " I ". Ma se si compara con altre dive...La Verrett ha una dizione stupenda. Forse tu non m' hai capito: e la perfezione como atricce e cantante e musica quello che mette in primo piano i piccoli difetti.

[osvaldito55]

Non t'ho capito la prima volta, ma mi pare ch'hai ragione dopo sgiegarmi meglio. Il suo francese, invece, è un'altra storia come si dice in America. Saluti, GC.

[Greatfan]

Ell'e una grande artista, per questo ogni piccolo difetto risalta più. Alla luce della sua perfezione una pronuncia un po strana si sente di più. Quello e tutto. Grazie per rispondere. Un cordiale sluto. Riccardo.

[osvaldito55]

Ciao Riccardo... I piccoli difetti risaltano moltissimo in mezzo della perfezione. Questo mi accade à me stesso... Parlo di mia faccia. :)

[Greatfan]

Sei un Franco Nero che una piccola macchia nella pelle risalta come un orrendo difetto comparato colla sua romana perfezione ? Ha, ha !!!! Sei molto simpatico. Il caso e che noi due amiamo la Verrett, con o senza dei piccoli difetti. Un grande abbraccio.

[osvaldito55]

Mi fai ridere... Franco Nero? No! Forse Marcello Mastroiani da vecchio, quasi nella tomba. Ma, grazie tante.

[Greatfan]

Ma guarda Osvaldito55, non essere si duro con te stesso ! Sicuro che hai incanto e suggestione !!!! Che nella tomba ? Sicuro che sei pieno di vita !!!!

[silvr94]

credo che sia il problema che si dove cantare E pronunciare bene. qualche volta è difficile dire la parola correttamente (cantando!!!). se il cantante ha questo problema, lui deve decidersi: la pronuncia o il suono della musica. e credo che la maggiorità dei cantanti direbbero che il suono è più importante delle parole. ma ogni situazione è differente.

[silvr94]

scusami: "la maggiorità dei cantanti direbbe..."

[tenornmd]

"Faulty" Italian obviously wasn't enough to diminish the adulation of her Italian, most of whom ONLY spoke Italian.

[tenornmd]

.....Basically what I mean is that her Italian sounds very comfortable, and to even bring it up is to misplace our artistic priorities.

[mm9913]

Verrett's Lady MacBeth, two words.Fearless, peerless.

[sschimel]

I know that this will sound really b&$^#@ but she looks dreadful with long hair, and she's such a beautiful woman. I can't decide whether she looks more like Cicely Tyson or Dionne Warwick. But this is so exquisitely sung. To me, she was one of the most successful mezzo to soprano transformations ever.

[fantasual]

Everyone is entitled to their likes and opinions but for someone to say that they don't think anyone has equaled this is surely drinking bland tea. It is very good and i myself like verrett here in this role. But i must say the best Lady Macbeth and uneqalled is Callas's Lady Macbethh,she was the best Dark Sorceress in this role.

[royalbattle]

Can someone please let Callas rest in piece. Callas took up this role for a couple of weeks and never touched it again. You are the one drinking bland tea to think that Callas was better than Verrett. Callas is great and iconic. That can never be taken away from her but she cannot always be the best and when it comes to the BEST Lady Macbeth she has to give that title to Verrett. Go get some fresh tea leaves and I am sure it would say VERRETT

[BeauTenor]

THANK YOU...finally. I totally agree with you. Verrett had the fire to sing this better than anyone I can think of, Callas included, and that takes NOTHING away from Callas.

[benderpm]

Shirley's Lady Macbeth is truly one of her Greatest roles.

[SIT805]

Thank you so much, in the name of all those who were not present that night...I own Abbado's recording, it will always stand as an unreachable highlight in opera. A milestone! Ofcourse it won't come out on DVD as long as la Scala keeps sleepwalking...What a shame! We all have to admit that Strehler's production seems quite outdated though. Damiani's sets and costumes are still very impressive, but it is just static and it lacks a director's personal and unique interpretation.

[InformedListener]

We are so fortunate to be able to experience this amazing performance, even if only on video. Thanks for posting. Shirley is fierce in this role...I don't think anyone has equalled her in this part.

[courtneybaritone01]

I'm not so sure about that! You should check out Grace Bumbry, Sherrill Milnes and Franco Corelli from 1972. THAT'S a recording that will have you jumping for days! Not on video though- what a shame. But you're right, this is an AMAZING performance!

[foropera]

I've heard some Live of Bumbry in Macbeth. She's exceptional, her timbre is real flash, but for the agilities, the inner spirit, the insinuating legato lines, plaintive madness of the somnambulism scene, I prefer this kind of interpretation than a strong, more monochromatic one like Bumbry's.

[courtneybaritone01]

Ok, fine! But hey, just tell me where you got that recording of Bumbry as Norma from Covent Garden. I have one from two nights before w/ her and Caballe. I want the one of her as Norma as you have.

[ChuckNYC71]

wow... enough said.

[erin129]

breathtaking. i scarcely believe my ears. this is also from a time when conductors worked with singers and not against them in order to serve the music and not their egos.

[primadiva]

Great singing. A great mezzo with a fabulous extention. Lady Macbeth is a role that can be done by dramatic soprano or high dramatic mezzo. Brava!

[royalbattle]

Yes she was great in mezzo-soprano roles but however I would be leary to say she was a mezzo-soprano as mezzos don't usually have High D's and Verrett herself has stated that she was trained as a soprano. All I would say on the matter is that she was a GREAT OPERA SINGER who brought an abundance of rich vocal qualities to the roles she preferred.

[mm9913]

Thanks for setting the record straight, folks are still trying to categorize Verette, years after her retirement from public singing, that is what she was and is, a fierce singer.

[drdre333]

They NEED to release this on DVD!!!

[royalbattle]

Yeah I know. This is the best Macbeth ever.

[jdxavier]

Onegin65, thank you so much for all the videos you had shared with us this past year, Happy New Year.

[pfeliks]

and who said she couldn't sing the soprano repetoire/ What a beautiful d flat at the end!

[Chasson0318]

Good God! Simply perfection. Thank you Onegin65 Happy New Year dear friend. If you find a video of Leontyne, Bergonzi and Verrett doing the trio from Un Ballo, they can carry me away right now! lol

[royalbattle]

I agree with you. That was one of the most heavenly musical experience ever. However, unfortunately such a video does not exist for Ulrica was a role that Verrett was never really a fan of but she recorded it partly because of Price insisting. Grist was also on the recording so it was the first and perhaps the only time 3 African Americans recorded an opera together and they were the best.