Leontyne Price "Final Scene" Salome by Strauss

[drtmuir]

But she sings this so EASILY. Maybe some people need to see or hear effort-- for me, it is eye and ear-opening-- and awe-inspring-- to hear someone sing this monster with such ease. There are no lost notes here-- and I've heard this sung convincingly, dropping a note here or there. But the notes are All. Here. Incredible.

[Chasson0318]

It's just absolute greatness.

[metropolitan1966]

Sublime! The only singer I have ever enjoyed in this piece!.  Sorry Birgit, you know I love ya, but Lee is the girl for me. She's even sporting green, just as Wilde originally planned. I believe he said "Salome should be in green just like a curious lizard." Or something to that effect. That soaring voice rides the climaxes without crushing the orchestra and makes this piece twice as thrilling. She may not have had the "biggest" voice, but baby she sang "BIG." That is what matters!

[operafy]

@metropolitan1966 L Price , not a big voice? ....

[clearday101]

Thank you Ms Price!

[magymae]

Flipping Fab!

[megashoo]

You can feel there is great chemistry between the singer and the conductor, he obviously loves what he's hearing and it shows!

[Hailstormand]

Call me an ignoramus, call me a musical heretic, but I think Leontyne's voice is a in this character. She sounds every bit like the character Salome itself. Wasn't Salome mad with joy when she finally had Jokanaan's head in her arms? This sounds like that 'twisted joy' I've been yearning for.

[arnovick]

What words are here possible? MIraculous. Incandescent. A voice beyond mortals.

[johndlabella]

Boy that voice just never stopped. I heard a recital in Boston's Symphony Hall at 62 that floored me for the sheer luxuriousness, legato, line (which is different than legato), spin, diction....Plus she so obviously enjoys singing at a level that I suspect most singers never get to. Her infectious joy is wonderful. Count me in her ardent fan base.

[sirmercutio99]

I would loved of seen her as Salome. Too bad.

[mountainlinx]

Just Majestic!!!!! Love you Miss Leontyne Price!! God Bless You!!! But I guess he did already a long time ago!!!!!!

[aagjmb]

Who can compare? Seriously? Birgit Nilsson could crush Price with her Amazon-like opera powers.

[balletgirl64]

What a performance. Who can compare with Leontyne Price anyway. No-one can. I have never heard her singing Salome before and have never seen her in performance either (being from Down Under) but her priceless recordings have been a joy and a delight all these years. Dont criticise.......... just enjoy the sublime and glorious voice of the Diva

[brolobear]

I remember watching this concert on PBS...had a stereo simulcast on the radio that I recorded. I was completely undone by her performance and the power and beauty of the music (I hadn't heard any Salome before). I'm still amazed after all these years. And Mehta? Just as amazing as Price...such pasion he shows at the end! Brilliant!

[brodsky96]

...Leontyne and "THIN".... common!!!!... listen to more Strauss opera and than maybe you will notice that she sings this like a VEIL covering the orchestral explosion... no vibrato in the voice... just a permanent transparent veil sustained by the full orchestral profiles... a MASTERPEACE of LEONTYNE and MEHTA.....

[brodsky96]

this world is kind of miserable: some germans cannot accept the simple fact that a coloured artist is singing Strauss better than all german singers together... other people try to put LEONTYNE in a drawer.... "lyrical"... "dramatic"... "spinto"... WAKE UP "BOYS"!!!! there is LEONTYNE PRICE AND THAT'S IT!!!!

[whatever456]

3 years before retirement she was magnificent. Yes the upper voice against the massive orchestration goes a bit white and Yes this wasn't her fach AND... WHO THE FUCK CARES except for a couple of jaded know it all bitches?

She approached this as she approached everything --as a lyric soprano. --. She never pretended to be anything else, and puts her indelible mark on this bit of Salome as a lyric. That is artistry.

I'd sure rather here her sing this whatever shortcomings than Matilla.

[sorobji]

Thank you thank you thank you for whoever sent this video. I had no idea she had ever sung Salome. What a lesson in vocal technique and pure artistic expression! Those "suoni fissi" she used for the quasi reciative near the end. That glorious Bflat that belies her 58 years of age?!?! No, there is absolutely nothing to criticize here, guys. It's a completely different conception from nillson and gang, but of the highest qualtiy nonetheless. WHAT AN ARTIST!!!!!!!!

[liedersanger1]

@sorobji She was 55 1/2, but who's counting.

[Oberon90]

@liedersanger1 I think it´s Zubin Metha.

[alithecrab]

@Oberon90 It is.

[desiderius82]

Yeah, her 'Ich habe deinen Mund gekusst' gave me goosebumps too. However, I can't help noticing that her voice does sound somewhat 'thin' for the role. She was clearly not an ideal Salome, lacking the ringing big voice that's necessary for Strauss. Sorry Leontyne fans, I love her as Aida, but not as Salome. In few words: beautiful, but inadequate.

[goodandplenty508]

@desiderius82 Yes. I agree. her voice is great but thin. Nevertheless, she's great for a lyric soprano. This is a very difficult role for any soprano.

[MissFireMagic]

WOW! I've got goosebumps all over. Thank you for sharing this!

[thallocub]

I'm definitely moved, she's wonderful. THAT's singing!

She's singing Salome just the way everyone'd sing Rosenkavalier or Vier letzte Lieder.

It's a masterpiece of legato, Jochanaan HAD to lose his head for such a voice...

and Mehta is great, the orchestra is perfect, harmonically, too. Listen the long sung notes, there are continuous changes of chords and the voice of Leontyne simply sits on them. She's enjoying the stream ... 7.33 , she's smiling her joy

[Operanut9]

This misses all the earmarks of an "acceptable" Salome both vocally and dramatically. She is obviously pushing her limits to get through.

[pilhamu]

This is very moving and spine-chilling even without the play on stage. Both L. Price and Zubin Mehta are doing an awesome job.

[JessyeNormanFan]

Ms. Price did not have a big enough voice for this role! I'd love to hear your performance, JeeRant. This is a vocally stunning performance from dear Leontyne. One of the best.

[JeeRant]

I love Ms Price, but this isn't really her 'thing' and it shows. She just doesn't have a big enough voice to sing Salome.

[gimmeachallenge]

Holy God. . . Is there any vocal feat this woman could not achieve?!

[swiftsboy]

Thank You so much for your answer,

That is what I feared.What a shame.

I have the final scene on CD,so will have to be content with that.

What a Salome on the stage she would have been!

[swiftsboy]

Can anyone tell me if the Divine Ms Price sang Salome in a staged production, also is there a complete recording of Salome with her on CD?

[MastersoftheOpera]

There are many reasons why you have to love Leontyne singing this great aria from the finale of Salome. She studied for it well and did an amazing job...how exotic and dramatic she sounds! it was rare in Leontyne's day (the '60's & 70's) to see a black soprano singing Salome. Grace Bumbry was the first to sing Venus from Wagner's Tannhauser at Bayreuth and other black divas like Jessye Norman in the '80's sang German/Wagner/Strauss roles (Bumbry & Jessye also sang Salome to great success

[gimmeachallenge]

Bumbry sang Salome?? I didn't know that-- and that she sang that role surprises me. I was never entirely convinced by her soprano. However, as a mezzo I did, and still do, adore her.

[volk410]

6:00 to 6:16 ... absolutely chilling!

[Rephrat]

Zubin melech Israel.

[petereuropa]

...and Mrs Nilsson was Mrs Nilsson, not Ms Nilsson.

Leontyne Price has a great voice.

[84333]

OK... Salome was a country bumpkin. After all, Rome was the centre of the

World and where was Judea? Ergo... country bumpkins with spirit need only apply. I love them all...

[tenorismo]

Compared to Neilson , Leontyne is a country bumpkin who just fell off the hay wagon

[rkrealtorva]

Ms. Price is a..."country bumpkin"? Hmmm...let me cool down a bit before I respond to this obviously mean-spirtied, unfounded--if not downright confused--comment.

While I agree that Birgit Nilsson was an AMAZING talent, Ms. Price is an AMAZING talent in her own right! Her Salome here is absolutely transcendant!

BTW: Ms. Nilsson's last name is spelled "Nilsson"; not "Neilson."

[BeauTenor]

That's fucking stupid. Especially since Nilsson was the one who was really a country bumpkin. She grew up on a farm in Sweden, and she was very proud of it.

[AmericanEvita]

I love hearing anything she sung...she tried out various repertoires...Her Salome is more exotic, sensual, passionate and regal, qualities the Princess should have but she does not bring ou the "madness" and sexual "evil" she's also supposed to have...still I love hearing her and this as a concert aria which Leontyne Price was always the queen of....I love her so much...I wish she had sung for the Obama Inauguration..I haven't forgotten how she made me love opera ! she is thrilling!

[giandoroma]

amazing - stunning - not so idiomatic? who cares... je suis certain que Strauss aurait adoré la voix, l'engagement, la projection, l'autorité royale, absolue - Madame Price is just electrifyng: à genoux! et la honte à ses détracteurs

[DivaDeb1234]

To all the critics....

When you can stand there and sing this

(even on bar or this) any where close

to Price......then maybe you will have room

to be the critic. Until then....please find nice things to say..

[blackaristo]

Brava!

[nohpiano]

she is SMART AS HELL the way she does this to fit her voice.

[pasfresh123]

what do you mean? what does she do?

[BeauTenor]

What he means is that she doesn't manipulate her voice to sing the scene. She sings with HER voice, and she, as always, sings on the interest. She ALWAYS had reserves when she sang. She sings this heavier rep with the SAME voice she sings Mozart or Verdi with.

[wotanman]

Of course this wasn't her "born to sing" role, but nevertheless a stunningly good performance. Secure enough to say that she was "in fach". If a singer keeps their voice in shape then their "fach" changes! Salome is a lyric-dramatic role that is lyric enough for a spinto or "italian dramatic" soprano to perform from time to time. I still have yet to hear a mezza di voce like La Price- 7:30-7:45 is textbook! Mehta is such a BLAZING queen- he is phenomenal in this genre of classical!

[dlagrua]

Leontyne Price was a giant and an absolute genius in the opera world. Among the greatest female opera singers of all time. WOW!

[Upears]

As for Miss Price - wow! What a talented genius! As for Zubin Meta - he is glorious! Now I will try to get my breath.

[Chasson0318]

This was a match made in heaven!  Why do people like to compare Nilson and Price?...there is NO comparison.

[Operanut9]

Price is not in Nilsson's category!

[yodavidnavarro]

I think Nilsson is not in Price's league! The only equal to Price is Callas!

[benzylalk]

Sorry ,but to me that souds terrible!

[portoxali]

Agree. very mechanistic singing, far from the character contemplation, where is the mood of desire, despare, histeria that are immanent features of this final scene? There is a feeling if it was some ordinary love lieder and not the climax of this opera.

[yodavidnavarro]

And you comment is so sadly wrong. And verging on embarrasment!

[paulprocopolis]

Glorious singing - a wonderful performance that delivers all the necessary thrills. Thankyou Leontyne!

[Lindow]

I am from Germany and must say apart from the fact that her rendition ranks up there with the best of all times her German was impeccable! I understood every word and I am far from familiar with the libretto of this opera. Bravissima!

[yodavidnavarro]

She can speak fluently all languages in which opera was written. And play piano. And I think she can sing also! I guess!

[Liwah]

Veluto!

[AmericanEvita]

WOW! Leontyne always amazes me. She isn't really a definitive Salome drama-wise but vocally she captures the exotic qualities of the pagan princess but Leontyne is too regal and too noble for a part that calls for "evil", albeit a beautiful evil. But this is amazing and Zubin Mehta is on fire as a conductor, turning me with his energy lol

[GoldenAgeSunshine]

Not in the correct repertoire, but still, what a glorious, superb and intense singing. A passionate Salomé, thrillingly sexy and voluptuous to the last. In fact, a bit exotic! What a great rendition (on a pure vocal point of view with splendid tonal beauty.) Of course, the enunciation isn't crystal clear and it lacks, somehow, the appropriate balance between prosody and projection. But still, far better than so many other Salomés! Thumbs up! A top interpretation by a Legend! Blessings.

[portoxali]

It seems to me that the sensual and mysterious style of Richard Strauss requires more refined and lyrical interpretation, something different from this rough and tumultuous singing style of Price..Her singing reminds me of errupted volcano, which makes you conceive the ennormous force of the nature, the force that happens to be so destructive..especially for the very delicate vocal parts

[liedersanger1]

Portaxali,

Listen to the phrase at 0:50-0:53, which rises into the upper register and comes off ppp. I think that's refinement. :-)

[portoxali]

Indeed her singing is masterful, however I meant in my previous comment that as a whole she seems not to get sifficiently into the character, drama and depth of the repertoire

[wotansings]

Well, her german is really bad, but there is one thing that often the "dramatic" salomés do not have : sensuality. Leontyne feline voice fits quiet well to the part, even if it's unusual and her german lacks. (her recording of the final scene with Leinsdorf is a must) No need to be a "Hochdramatische" to sing this.

[bcom11]

I am from Germany. Her German is flawless. I can understand everything she is saying perfectly...

[wotansings]

Nee, bcom nun mal ehrlich, die Aussprache ist schon Mittelmass!

[Hervinbalfour]

Thats funny you say her German is "bad" because my co-worker Hans who is from germany just commented on how perfetc her German was. There is always a hater some where in the world.

[wotansings]

Her pronunciation is not good, sorry. You can say many good things, but to say her german is "flawless" is just totally wrong. Nothing to do with hate! "so ein quatsch!" (ask yu co-worker was that means) And if you read my comments you should know that i love her salomé! anyway, even with that approximate german....:)

[bigassbob1]

love it!!!!

[niallguinan]

Just look at the awe in Mehta's eyes as he conducts. Leontyne sings beautifully but I do prefer Nilsson.

[LeeVita19]

BREATHTAKING!!!

[Laeliapurpurata]

When hear Strauss... I think we're having sex.

[meriomeri]

Love her but Birgit is peerless as Salome.

[meinfb]

The lady delivers the goods.

[Gigglingatagas]

I rather think that the role of Salome should be sung by a soprano with a bit more veluto in the sound. Remember - the only reason that she gets Johnny's kopf is because she's so beautiful, and I think the voice should reflect that. I love Nilsson, but the voice is just a bit steely for this role, in my opinion. Now, her Elektra on the other hand...

[birgitnilsson]

Steely? maybe. But glorious.And what a rendering!!!!

[operaoaf]

Who needs the biggest voice in the world when this golden one is delivering such shimmering tones with so many colorful nuances. Price really delivers the obsession and the passion of Salome. And the legato and breath control at the climax is simply sublime. Although I have Nilsson's famous studio recording, I can never remember being as moved as I am now with Price's priceless rendition. It is so "soulful."

[mtrav95]

And La Nilsson's voice, to me, also lack character and warmth. I'll take Price over her just about any time. I weary of the icy blasted notes. That's easy. But giving them depth and color, that takes work. Price, Caballe, Rysanek they did this with Strauss. Nilsson, while a great singer, just never did it for me.

[hypnotizeed]

I will tell you who do this better. Birgit Nilsson of course!! Love Mrs Price but everyone knows that La Nilsson is the greatest dramatic soprano through history, no one does Elektra,Salome and Die Frau ohne Schatten better, because nilssons voice is pure steal, glorious high notes that no one can matches..and no one will ever have such a BIG voice as La Nilsson

[cek1111]

Totally agree! Brava price but love you nilson

[BeauTenor]

Actually, MANY sopranos have bigger voices than Nilsson. Rysanek had a bigger voice, so did Jones. Nilsson though had the steely timbre that let her cut through the orchestra.

[Andante735]

No thumbs down, he's right. She had the size sure, but it was like a laser beam that cut through everything. Rysanek is the Salome of death, and so is Nilsson, just different voices. Price is not the voice to be singing this, but it's well done considering.

[jetnantes]

many younger sopranos can resign ! her voice is pure velvet and fits with the gorgeous New York Philharmonic conducted by maestro Mehta.

[jetnantes]

Outstanding performance ! She was one of the greatest voices of the century. I totally agree with nichtsleeszy; ma

[nichtsleezy]

Who can sing like this today? Who has the color? Who has the EASE with the upper register as she? I understood some of the words, also. Leontyne, you are priceless!!

[fballiache]

She was very good, but the great Maestro Metha made the orchestra sounds like pure MAGIC as always...

[ultanmusic]

This is amazing!

[lungdoc]

She was 55 in 1982!!! Thanks Onegin.