Kathleen Battle - Ah Tardai Troppo - O Luce di Quest'anima - Donizetti - Linda di Chamounix

[noeldunsky]

Look at how James Levine is elated with joy! This says it all...She was astounding here, beautiful and elegant like no other...:)

[96HannahRose]

Ummmm, that was so close to perfect it's not even funny. My ears are enjoying themselves.

[Hyacinth600]

i would like to hear her non-opera voice!

[enbunoverna]

I want this video on my 6130 phone.

[carlafierro7]

why did 4 people press the dislike button? was it a mistake or are they just ignorant peasants? we forgive them for being morons ..

[RickayRicky]

How can anyone claim themselves singers compared to her? (except some really good opera singers, just like herself <3)

[amesavis]

What a lady she is! What a dress and no one has ever matched her voice in sweetness, roundness, or passion! She breathes life into these antique songs and inspired a whole generation of singers like me.  Brava Diva!

[noeldunsky]

@amesavis So true! She was the world's best lyric soprano for 10 years and gave us priceless moments that we shall forever cherish...:)

[eddyallen615]

This video went viral on South Carolina

[QueenOfTheNight2313]

she s pretty good but she has to stretch a hell of a lot to grab that c and d... is she really a coloratura? maria callas wasn't even a coloratura and she could hit an e... then again she was maria callas, comparing any singer to her is unfair

[mmeetoilenoir]

@QueenOfTheNight2313 Hey, Queenie, where's your Grammy? Oh...that's right...YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ONE. La Battle does - FOR THIS VERY PERFORMANCE. Haters to the left.

[tommyams]

@mmeetoilenoir Please keep your comments civilized. There's enough bitching going on on the internet. There is room for criticism and discussion but I won't tolerate infantile catfighting.

[ifluvinguiswrong]

@QueenOfTheNight2313 Ms. Queen, if you're not a fan why do you waste your time and post ridiculous comments about Ms. Battle who has done nothing to you? And to answer your question, yes she REALLY is a coloratura. Learn something about music. You know, I don't much care for John McEnroe and I'm a tennis fan and player. Since I don't care for him I don't watch his videos. If you don't care for someone why watch the videos. I'll never understand people like you.

[8filhadalua8]

Q voz maravilhosa, q coisa lida, cheguei a chorar

[SuperLmer]

I wish she didn't have a mean streak.......that's why she was fired from the met. I wonder if will ever come out with a new recording. I miss her very much!!

[aquarely]

MAGNIFICO!!!!! QUE CANTANTE TAN MAS EXCELENTE.

[timdivine]

Problem is no matter what people say, her talent just soars above it all which is why we are all here watching her over and over again!

[acitipo]

No Faltan los comentarios malignos, como el señor orfeo, que dice que como es esposa de Lavine..... que significa eso? entonces le han dado oportunidad para cantar.....que pena que gente destile ese veneno.... La Battle es una autentica soprano ligera y estas clases de arias son exactamente para su voz ligerisima.

[acitipo]

Tiene un magnetismo que envuelve a TODOS, su voz aterciopelada, y autentica soprano ligera la hace optima para un aria dificilisima como esta BRAVISIMA!!!!!!

[tervine18]

elegance !!! what else can one say... Perfect

[MrAndredekock]

The only other American coloratura besides Ms Sills that could truly sing this! Bravissima!

[tklogan111809]

@MrAndredekock please, I guess you never heard of June Anderson, or Ruth Ann Swenson, both superior coloraturas to Battle and her tiny little instrument.

[davehshs]

@tklogan111809 Your reference to her "tiny little instrument" reveals your obsession with volume and power in a voice. You're obviously insensitive to sheer beauty of sound.

[tklogan111809]

@davehshs what's wrong with volume and power? This is opera, forgot? where mikes aren't allowed? Volume and power are very important, one doesn't have to be obsessed to conclude that. Yes sure, I know nothing about sheer beauty, that's why I think Joan Sutherland wipes the floor with K Battle in Linda, Lucia and everything else she sang, and I'm talking about volume, power AND sheer beauty.

[davehshs]

@tklogan111809 Of course, Sutherland has a much bigger, more powerful voice than Battle, and it is indeed quite beautiful. It is rich, full, and deeper. But Battle's voice has its own lilting, silvery, gossamer beauty. It's a matter of taste. I happen to appreciate both voices for different reasons. Don't put down Battle's voice because it isn't like Sutherland's. You probably don't appreciate the great baroque soprano Emma Kirkby, either. Many opera power buffs don't.

[tklogan111809]

@davehshs I wasn't putting her down I just said the truth, her instrument is tiny, little. And to say that after Sills she's the only American coloratura is misinformed.

[davehshs]

@tklogan111809 Forgive me if I misinterpreted as pejorative your reference to her "tiny little instrument" and your very unfavorable comparison of her voice to others'. Of course, there are very many people who would not agree that her voice is tiny, but that is a subjective evaluation.

[Erickfrancois12]

SIMPLY FANTASTIC !

[NovaScotiaChick]

Anyone who is a Kathleen Battle or opera expert, can you tell me what she is singing on the clip with Alicia Keyes and Queen Latifah. I would love to hear that in its entirety. watch?v=g6gfCnGMIiE

[chriswalburn]

She is from my home town. So I of course idolize this woman.

[checkerboardkid]

i will stand by the statement, even though i do not tolerate any of the rumors surrounding this great ARTIST of our time (and i say artist before i say woman), but who else EVER sounded this way? tell me. and in telling me, undo the greatness of a single person who managed to exist as a nexus of ultimate possibility for as long as they were able-even today, you know that voice while so many others sound so much the same (with the exception of bartoli) ask yourself, who else sounds like this?

[disneylandman66]

I would gladly have her treat me like dirt, throw hissy fits, and toss my things out of the Prima Donna's dressing room if she would only just never stop making art like this.

[MrJeffreydunson]

@disneylandman66 I'd let her throw eggs & tomatoes, at the backstage hands, if she'd go on stage and perform, as she did just now, and of sent her the dozen, or so roses at the close of the gala, just for her to continue to create the art as you said. We'd put up with much more from the "prima donnas" in Hollywood for decades ~~ costing millions !!!

[noeldunsky]

A rare moment in musical history...Oh Katleen, if only you had stayed on at the Met and bestowed upon us more of your splendid magic...:)

[orfeo1993]

Lo siento pero no es una voz para este repertorio. En otros repertorios está muy bien. Por muy esposa que sea de Levin

[MrBonnetbolt]

What more is there to say. A masterclass for any budding lyric soprano!

[babs22hh]

SHES ELEGANT i LOVE HOW SHE ACCEPTS THE APPLAUSE!

receives kisses from Hampson and other luminaries... and turns and heads for center stage for more adulation!!!! CLASS AND GRACE!

[noeldunsky]

This is pure magic. I don't need too many frills or ornamentation here, because this lady has got soul in her opera...!!! Sutherland and Sills give amazingly impressive renditions of this eternal aria, but it is this down-to-earth yet heavenly performance which actually moves me and sends shivers down my spine...:) Here's a huge BRAVA from Tel Aviv...:)

[Winterbyte]

she looks tiny in that huge dress

[chicagomarchingbands]

she contorts her mouth a lot

[gclef2288]

Something really strange happens around 5:23

[babs22hh]

@gclef2288 what is this strange thing that happens?

[gclef2288]

@babs22hh she tries to ornament, but just ends up fishing for a note....

[wellasang]

There are two categories that we need to separate in looking at an artist: pure talent and pure attitude. It is one way to say that she is an exceptionally gifted artist, and it is one way to say that she is primadonna: the former is objective and the latter can be subjectivized. For me, what appears to me is that she has a gift and uses this gift to be a means of the beauty of music. A talent that is superior in many respects.

[skitzo429]

I just saw her in recital, she still has her high notes

[uniquebfly]

@skitzo429 Really? Where did you see her at? What is she doing these days? I'd die to see her live!!!



[skitzo429]

@uniquebfly I go to Florida State University, she sang a recital at FAMU, which is a historical black college in the same city. The program was almost all spirituals, she sang a few things from porgy and bess and something from Joplin's opera Treemonisha, but no "real" opera, she certainly wasnt singing any coloratura arias. Shes still a diva even at her age, she turned her back to the audience and refused to sing until a photographer was escorted out of the hall by security.

[musikenergy]

@skitzo429 Kathleen doesn't like for that kind of attention during performances. Its distracting. I wasn't there, but I do know she doesn't like that. Alot of artists don't like that during recitals.

[skitzo429]

@musikenergy haha of course not, no one does, there was just someone who had a camera and she had a tantrum. Her behaviour always was, and still is, very unprofessional. Shes a great singer, but having seen her do this kind of stuff live (and very recently) I dont doubt a word of the things that allegedly went down when she was throwing tantrums and being outrageous in the 90s. shes extremely paranoid, she demaded that the house lights be left on so that she could "keep and eye on the audienc

[RoOodOoOloOmeg]

I have to say that the crystal of her high notes is beatiful, but her cadenzzas are like if the didn't have any attractive, that's where I like Sills the most. If I make my choice because of the beatiful of embelishments, I would chose the other one, but her voice is so pure and like crystal.

[carusoclarinet]

she glances at the 'diva' not giving her a standing o and thinks "bitch stand up! you know that was AMAZING!!!" haha!!!!!

[hugothebear]

What a wonderful charming, thrilling rendition of this aria, KB was always a delightful performer and it is such a joy to hear a singer comfortable to share the sheer joy of her art... perhaps one day I will read a thread about her which leaves the old rumours of her off stage antics well behind, I for one couldn't care less about them I heard her a number of times and she always delivered the goods to her audiences...

[znamoperu]

LOVE this! One of my childhood memories...

[checkerboardkid]

@znamoperu me too....i actually remember seeing this performace at 16!!!! i loved it then and i love it even more now!!!!!!!

[orvtimlaw]

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Who cares about the press. This woman is an INCREDIBLE ARTIST and nothing can take that away from her. BRAVISSIMO!

[fgattorno]

She is amazing! great performance, standing ovation

[zegermans750]

Hermann Prey looks like he'd seen better days

[skitzo429]

this definitely proves that she had trills, but she often chose not to use them, she never sang the trills in Zerbinetta

[Churchbaby1984]

GORGE!! Dropped Jaw!

[Otellogv]

Wow! I know that she has had a lot of negative press but just listen to this performance. What a voice! What style! Noone can take away that fact that she is a most accomplished musician, producing a heavenly sound. Her live account of 'Deh vieni non tardar' is also ravishing ... in fact, probably one of my personal favourites of the aria.

Brava, Ms Battle!!

[desariofan]

btw - the announcer -- was it a he or she...?

[desariofan]

what a heavenly sound... WOW

[acitipo]

Kathleen es Kathleen, linda voz en plena facultad de su hermoso timbre y su emision purisima. bravisima!!!!!!

[tristan01101]

Oh my Gosh... this makes my spine tingle

[javoiles42]

Beverly Sills is much better!

[gramana]

Really  beautiful <3

[TheWisemonkey8]

1:24 now thats lovely phrasing... gosh...

[Gav640]

I guess June Anderson was NOT impressed LOL. Neither of them saw fit to acknowledge the other. Oh well, can't always be best buddies.

[checkerboardkid]

@Gav640 what are you talking about.....june gives kathleen a nod of the head when kathleen turns around the first time......

[Platynumlove]

I have said it before....all those negative words about her are second and third accounts.....what you see on the screen is FIRST HAND, FIRST RATE, and FIRST CLASS! No matter what they say about Ms Battle...she IS an exceptional artist and performer. NOTHING will change that! Kathleen...I will see u at the Meyerhoff...I love your work sooooooo very much!!

[musikenergy]

@Platynumlove AMEN!

[musicmaze]

@Platynumlove ~ Agreed. Not to mention that she wasn't 'raised' to be an Opera singer! Being a Natural seems to ruffles more than enough feathers in the arts, it seems. Sounds as if a few of her peers are a bit envious over her pure talent maybe because she she is not Italian.

But We are the ones that manner in the long run, the public.

[TheReturnOfStephan1]

I haven't seen this clip since I was a kid!

Thank you for posting a really clear video.:)

[Sergeigay]

Kathleen Battle won the Emmy for "Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Performance" for the Metropolitan Opera Silver Anniversary Gala, 1992 (this performance). The only singer among this star-studded cast of singers to receive the honor.

[Dadak]

And the presenter seems to be a very young Anne Sofie Von Otter

[wellasang]

i like this very much!

[TheAleph74]

Bravisima!

[FoggyRoad81]

YAY! I'm so excited that the whole aria is posted. Particularly because I think when you just compare the coloratura part at the end to other sopranos she comes up short, but no one, not Sumi Jo, Joan Sutherland or Dessai sings the Ah Tardai Troppo part as beautifully as this.

[JasRichlovesLA]

Thank you so much for posting this!

I hope they do release this again.

I want a copy of it!

Thanks again!

What a treat!

[VoiceVirtuoso]

I've been looking all over for this video!! Thank you so much for posting it! Quite an amazing performance! The purity and beauty of Kathleen's voice truly shines in this clip! Sublime!