Luciana Serra - Olympia - Les oiseaux dans la charmille (Doll's aria)

[jmiller05]

Nice, accurate and beautifully florid coloratura. Could have been more refined on the trills however, but a beautiful performance.

[SuperDiablid]

Me erize!

[OCEDNO]

MARAVILLOSA!!!

[augustethomas]

She certainly was feeling very hot ...

BUT, the voice.... AMAZING.

[gusmcleod922]

This video went viral on Swaziland 

[LadyKatherinHellsing]

I LOVE YOU LUCIANA!!! SOMEDAY I WILL SING LIKE YOU!!! >.< IS MY DREAM!

[llamala2010]

Beautiful. And I like that she still sounds good even when she is breaking down. Modern performers tend to go for a (misguided, in my opinion) realism and actually sound unpleasant, but Ms. Serra proves it is possible to convey what is happening perfectly well without sacrificing taste and purity of tone.

[Blix43]

@llamala2010 I agree, and another thing is her version is actually more realistic. If you think about one of those toys that walk when you wind them. They slow to a stop, they don't stop violently in a different motion than before. It makes more sence to fade out of power while keeping the same nice tone.

[VBF56PTDR]

c'est tres beau!

[gabrielebaldin]

è incredibile ... she's amazing !

[RoscioTube]

semplicemente meravigliosa.

i salti a 3:10 sono incredibili...

[jazmyn0549]

That was amazing. So effortless!

[uncieloimmenso]

Talmente perfetto per l'ampiezza l'estensione e l'incredibile agilità unita a purezza che sembra una magia.zombie85 devo già aver commentato questo suo video ma sono tornata a riascoltarlo!La ringrazio,oggi è il mio compleanno,ho quasi ottant'anni ascoltare ancora una volta una simile bravura è un regalo amico.Grazie,una carezza per lei.

[RickyMontara]

I love her pitch!! you can hear each note so clearly!!

[criceto2009]

GRANDISSIMAAAAA

[MsGin91]

è qualcosa di assolutamente indefinibile. la grazia, la maestria, le capacità interpretative..solo una parola: PERFETTA!

[PLAZOLAS1]

THE BEST OLYMPIA THAT I EVER HEARD!!! I

[berieferie]

La mejor......



[MARISOLDELMONACO]

Straordinaria, la migliore

[liopiko]

que bien canta tiene una voz perfecta

[terarbustums]

CHE MARVEGLIA (GRAZIE x)

[lovinglifelovinghim]

WOW!!!!!!!!! :D

[MultiRenata30]

MAGNIFICO!!!!!!!

[mephistophelico]

I don't understand, she doesn't use a microphone. There is no microphone. How could her voice be so clear, powerfule, amazing, without a microphone? If she is singing without a microphone, I probably think the theatre she was singing in was very small.

[gothicgrowler]

@mephistophelico it's opera.. their voces are powerful, and don't need a mic :)

[lalindabahiana]

@gothicgrowler I know it's opera, I know her voice is powerful, but this is unbelievable. I can't believe she can sing like that without a microphone

[gothicgrowler]

@lalindabahiana i have a friend that can sing that powerful, too (but not this aria :O)

[gothicgrowler]

@gothicgrowler I have one that can sing the Hölle Rache :0)

[Tomeres]

@lalindabahiana In real opera, there should never be microphones.

any good lyric soprano can do opera houses to at least 2000 (seats).

Dramatic is a whoooole different story, like, 3000-4000 (also seats).

[JenNOleinik]

P e r f e c t ! ♥

[AgnesRegina]

The best Doll EVER!!!

[kalusme]

EXC EXC EXC EXC !!!!! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

[cirej25]

Holy crap!!!! my jaw dropped! her voice does not sound human.

[basiltje100]

mijn echtgenoot zijn mama was een grote bewonderaar van deze grote DIVA en heeft haar optredens in Gent verschillende keren mogen meemaken,hij zegt ,als zijn mama over haar sprak dat ze de tranen in haar ogen kreeg.Jammer genoeg is dit allemaal verleden tijd en horen we nog zo weinig over zulk een GROOT VLAAMS TALENT

[mskelseypeters]

she really does use her voice as an instrument. the perfection of her technique and agility is so remarkably understated, in that she draws not attention to it.Simple the best!

[GhostofaSiren]

Amazing! 

[aj92507]

marvelous and the young Placido...awesome...I think that moment at 2.26 fueled her fire!!! fierce!!!!

[barochial]

such incredible charm!

[ArgonautaPalermo]

She's MORE THAN PERFECT!

Amazing performance from Luciana Serra, her voice is like poetry.

[stevendkim1990]

Laura Claycomb is better!!!

[mephistophelico]

@stevendkim1990 not true, Luciana Serra is the best of all times. Luciana Serra is absolutely unsurpassable.

[ijdoti]

that Eb at 2'26".... oh dear. but otherwise this performance is beyond extraordinary!

[Broadica]

@ijdoti Yes, no one is perfect.....luckily she makes up for it with her absolutely stunning melismas....I've never heard anything like it. Amazing. I do like Laura Claycombs timbre and vibrato better though....Just imagine if Laura had Luciana's clear melismas. Would be something.....

[GalaxyWraith]

@Radetzky19 Look how much this angel is wearing. If I was in that dress I'll melt in a second !

[80Mrmirko]

Brava la Serra al di la di tutti i commenti tecnici da fare sicuramente eccellenti, rimane l'unica a essere una vera bambola

[roddavids]

Esto si es pureza y refinamiento musical, una delicia!!! Para mi es la mejor Olympia

[LoganSrbin]

She's really starting to grow on me :) Effortless, precise but still very natural. Great!

[lancetop]

Well I adore Lucianna!  Love you always supreme coloratura!

[saturnvideo7]

Da brividi!! veramente incredubilmente perfetta!

[Radetzky19]

OMG look how sweaty she is!

[LindsayCSoprano]

@Radetzky19 lol I thought so too, but then remembered she is supposed to be a doll, they probably did it to make her skin look shiny-like porcelain or plastic- its not sweat. If it were sweat it wouldn't be down her forearms in the same way :)

[86chicca86]

PERFETTA!!!!!!!!!! 

[psfox4]

My favorite by far of all Olympias - purity and agility!

[AccidentalTouch]

But her voice sounds rather french!

[skitzo429]

her french isnt very good

[flowersings]

Another brilliant performance from another brilliant singer. Sumi Jo brings to the aria her wonderful tone and coloratura. Serra brings to the aria her effortlessness and wonderful light lyric voice. Who could choose?!!!

[leprincebeaumont]

@flowersings La tua definizione della voce della Serra è perfetta! Chi come me l'ha ascoltata a teatro può testinmoniare che, nonostante la coloratura incredibile e il colore di voce infantile, la Serra dispiegava una bellissima voce lirica, molto più ampia di quella di una comune coloratura! Grazie!

[grobprandl73]

@leprincebeaumont la voce della Serra si sentiva perfettamente all arena di Verona perche è impostata bene . è una delle ultime grandi cantanti. la Dessay e la Cedolins non le senti neanche in prima fila in un salotto col pianoforte

[caroljuly]

I love her voice but she is a bit ugly doll

[muffystjohn86]

171 cultured people liked this vid, me bringit to 172. and 8 Lady Gaga fans disliked this video

[eks357]

WOOOW

[Numeria]

@eks357 i love Lady Gaga and I love this video too. I wouldn't say that.

[MilDarkAngel]

Is the one on greay suit Placido Domingo?

[tildakovach]

how anyone not like this?????

fantastic!!!

[mephistophelico]

She is absolutely the best soprano in the world, and for this role she's absolutely amazing. But, I don't understand, is this live or she's lip singing? Because I see the other characters in the background singing along.

[MilDarkAngel]

@mephistophelico DO u have any idea about opera?? How can she be lip singing ??!!

[mephistophelico]

@MilDarkAngel you are an idiot. If you look carefully at the video, it seems like the voice is not in sync with the images, so the singing might have been added separately. You are so stupid, I don't even should waste my time talking to you.

[MilDarkAngel]

@mephistophelico Why r u insulting me?? Cause i can see things that u dont?? If the images are in a diff time than the time is because is recorded in a bad quality tape and it looks like that they are lip singing...

But stil..i dont see the need to insult me...You'r the stupid for asking the question...

[mephistophelico]

@MilDarkAngel you could have said things nicely but you were confrontational and obnoxious. There was no need to argue.

[MilDarkAngel]

@mephistophelico I was not..but i cant believe that someone would think that she's doing lip singing...someone with ther talent..i know there's a lot of crapy singer that does..but not her...

I'm sory if i was agresive..i wasnt my intention...

[mephistophelico]

@MilDarkAngel I am the first to say that she's great. Actually, great is an understatement. I think she is the best coloratura soprano who ever existed.

[lu10ism]

ESTE PAPEL LE QUEDA PERFECTO A LUCIANA SERRA, IMPECABLE, ES LA MEJOR DOLL ARIA QUE HE VISTO

[mephistophelico]

@lu10ism es perfecta, adorable, increíble, la mejor doll

[anoperamusician]

Fabulous, easily one of the best Olympias ever!

I worked with her many time from 1989, and I can say some things:

her voice was particular, not everibody liked it;

she had a surprising volume (due to flawless vocal tecnique) even in low notes, which where not easily covered by orchestral sound;

in late years,she alternated amazing performances with others in which her voice tended to raise too much above pitch,sometimes in a painful way;

her talent for comic Rossini roles was OUTSTANDING.

[mephistophelico]

@anoperamusician does she still sing? As far as I know she teaches and holds courses all over the world. I would love to see her live.

[anoperamusician]

@mephistophelico , Too bad, I think she has almost quitted her activity...

[Vanchy58]

Extraordinaria interpretación ! Luciana es toda una muñeca y que voz de coloratura santo dios ! El montaje es divinamente precioso de acuerdo a la coreografía original pensada por el propio Offenbach. Vale la pena tener esta version en DVD o BlueRay. Placido Domingo como siempre un gran galan en escena !

[lalindabahiana]

she is the best soprano in the universe. No doubt about it. Her voice is so pure, it doesn't sound like a human voice but an angelical voice.

[NeoNesscom]

THE-BEST-OF-THE-BEST-DOLL!!!!

[parpaillot1957]

Voix magnifique mais la prononciation française est exécrable.

[eliana64077]

magistral interpretação !!!!!!!!!

[CateSoprano]

BEST DOLL EVER, BEST!

[luvxl]

hahaha the most ridiculous set ever and by far the uggliest Olympia. But Serra has the precision of a laser :)

[contratenorbass]

beautyfull doll....

Nice song!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Viesra]

La cuna Noble, Noble esperanza...

MAGNIFIQUE!

[pepedugarcia]

ole, ole y ole desde Granada, España

[varadero1839]

Don't suspect that Placido was more than 23 in this clip! By the way, our heroine is superb! Thank you for posting!!

[coOkie2cull]

simplemente Genial

[Chimier]

My fav part has to be 00:51-00:54. The way she uses her pianissimi, decreasing her volume, yet maintaining resonance. I love that. So thrilling!

[amoxi]

Bravo!

[KarineRibbens]

Her French are completely wrong and even missing a few words notes and pitch also:( especially for such a professional production)

But what a lovely voice...!!!!

[80Mrmirko]

Ascoltando le altre devo dire che pur essendo brave preferisco la Lucianona

[80Mrmirko]

Devo dire veramente Brava in questa esecuzione..

[cogitoergoboh]

grande LUCIANA

[cogitoergoboh]

che dire......grande luciana

[gjksuyfh]

the best

[krilovae]

Фантастически! Великолепно!

[CateSoprano]

FANTASTICAAAA!

[kinkyfan]

just divina

[fairlytaleofnewyork]

Outstanding olympia, singing and acting, so wonderful!

Keep watching it again and again.

Thank you for posting.

[Tosycyzkiewicy]

@fairlytaleofnewyork

I don't like acting in this rendition of aria. The voice is of course bright and beautiful, but for me the staging is too static and monotonous. The version with Dessay has much better staging sparkling with joy. 

[ManuelRochaCR]

Me encanta!!!!!

[LeCoconut]

it's definitely a flawed performance french-wise and in just a few spots pitch-wise....but her voice is PERFECT for this role! it's so cute!

[KarineRibbens]

@LeCoconut

[KarineRibbens]

@LeCoconut

[Liilliithh]

BRAVISIMA!!!!!!!!

[PMfoncK]

que señorona!!!!!

[azanettsakura]

exelenteeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!1

[walchiria08]

fenomenale!!! bravissima

[chrisdb666]

what is the name exactly of the song!?

[NoleiaAbraham]

@chrisdb666 Les oiseaux dans la charmille,de Los Cuentos de Hoffman

[gondorado1]

Lo ue la afea es una espalda triple ancho, como la de Victoria de los Angeles.

[Jarodael]

such a pure voice ! She uses it as an instrument. So effortless with the highest notes ! Love it !!

[isabelle070209]

Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[papidou1934]

...excellentes mimiques en particulier celles de Domingo..

[bedlambegius]

luciana serra divina!

[Momopera]

estupenda, pero prefiero las versiones de sumi jo y una grabación de Dessay

[karloqg]

La voz de Sumi Jo no se aprecia como debería al cantar esta aria. Podría aprovecharla más.

Y aunque no tenga tanta relevancia al cantar fuera de un contexto teatral, no se mueve mucho como una muñeca de cuerda. Tal vez sea porque en occidente interpretamos los movimientos de "muñecos" de manera diferente que en China.

[13Val16]

INCREIBLE SU VOZ!!

He estado comparando esta canción con otras cantantes, pero no hay como Luciana Serra.

[acitipo]

te invito a ver a Julia Novikova en esta misma aria, hace sobreagudos escalofriantes que no hace la Serra , aunque esta no deja de ser una gran cantante.

[acitipo]

@13Val16 Te recomiend a observar a Milagros Poblador hace el La bemol sobre agudo que no he visto otrs soprano hacer hasta ahora, me ha recomendado ver a Julia Novikova

[ferbrinner]

Natalie Dessay lo hizo por años (y de hecho, tuvo q operarse las cuerdas por eso) Tienes un ejemplo aqui en el youtube, de una produccion en la Opera de Lyon

[LjubljanaSI]

this is brilliant !!!!

[theblueangel28]

yeah

that was pretty much perfect

[Chimier]

This is one of the best performances of this aria. Her clarity, beauty of tone, intonation, trills, staccati, and timing are wonderful. However her diction does suffer a bit, especially when she sings the word "chanson".

[Kievest]

Spectacular performance. Bravo and

Thank you!!!

[arpiruk]

Such a lovely voice and wonderful performance!

[joanabanyeres]

The best contes d' Hoffman. Lucia a real doll,  Wonderful is Ileana Cotrubas.

[Sakuzo]

I think this is best performance of "Les oiseaux dans la charmille" ever...

[Dogaradodia]

Certified Intergalactic!

[MissGalCherie]

love her!!!! i wish i sang like her!!! Luciana is so amazing!!

[frustrado]

She have not only a wonderful voice but a perfect technic and soul... well, maybe not in this role ;D

[dks880]

Wondrous music and singing! TY

[latraviata1853]

I wish at least once she would pronounce "chanson" correctly.

[salphonso]

What is wrong about this pronunciation? In the given range and space, it is the most practical and the placement is forward, as it should be for sound to carry and fill such a large place. Traditional and normal French pronunciation cannot be employed on the stage. And the same goes for every language.

[latraviata1853]

This is all very correct, but the fact remains that the "n" at the end of "chanson," the most important word in the aria, is not pronounced; it's only there to indicate the nasal sound needed in the "on."

Nonetheless, she sings the aria very well - one of my favorite performances of this period.

[blichilde]

The Great Luciana Serra...

[Pacoval27]

The best Olympia ever

[Ulrica75]

La scorsa domenica ho avuto l'onore e il piacere di conoscerla, è una persona meravigliosa oltre ad essere un'artista con la A maiuscola,e la sua voce è immutata nel tempo!!!! Grande!!!!

[Rebhappy]

OH MY GOSH--AMAZING! ....her tone changes like a trumpet......an amazing trumpet. Wow, beautiful...

[bigdigger87]

OMG!!! Gorgeous! I love the clarity and atherial (I think that is how it is spelled) quality to her voice.

[lancetop]

Warning: Luciana can become addictive. Her angelic voice is intoxicating.

[raffadizzle]

LOL she SO IS!!

[JEANHIKER]

Wow! She is now my reference for this aria! She's simply surprised me! Serra and Gruberova are my favorite ones as Doll! How beautiful she sings! It's the first time I listen to her when younger. Prettu good! She's a great singer. Her Mozart's Queen is wonderful too. I wanto to listen more to her interpretations and specially the earlier ones, because her voice is at the best. Parabéns, Luciana! A Senhora me conquistou de vez! Rs! :)

[CosmosPhile]

What dynamics! What a calm torso! Amazing. Each soprano who sings this brings different strengths. Wonderful - in the true sense of the word.

[Anibaal]

la voz es para el rol. Una verdadera muñeca, a diferencia de otras, que aunque no son malas cantantes, tienen la voz muy pesada

[saturnooscuro]

es que está esplendida dios mio, no puedo dejar de ver el video

me encanta el atrezzo y el video queda genial

como me gustaría estar en ese teatro

thanks

[EvilRubberDuckyGirl]

I love her version of the Doll Aria. This is such a great piece too! Her voice is perfect for it. Her singing is just like fluid. It flows just the way the voice should!

[SawyersSexy]

Whats the last high note in the song?

[ManuelSpintoTenor]

It's a C5.

[SawyersSexy]

Thanks :)

[Operaman41]

NO I beleive it is the E above high C

[Guilherme7530]

I believe it's a E flat... But I'm not sure :p

[ShunGuan]

Eb is correct, considering this piece is in the key of Ab. Not as deadly as the Queen-of-the-Night F, but still quite a shrill beast to conquer.

[Guilherme7530]

Thankyou...

Do you have its score?

[ShunGuan]

I did, but it is unfortunately not mine to give out. I performed this song yesterday as a member of the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra, and I do not possess the authority to freely distribute copies of this aria, if that's what you're asking. Otherwise, yes, I am familiar with this opera. :)

[Guilherme7530]

Actually, I think you have the authority to share it, because there is more than 70 years since it's composer died.

[ManuelSpintoTenor]

@Guilherme7530 I have the score... Complete scores of "Les Contes d'Hoffman".

[Guilherme7530]

@ManuelSpintoTenor can you send it to me?

[ManuelSpintoTenor]

Yes of course, everything you need! But how???

[Guilherme7530]

Do you have it in your PC? I send you my e-mail and you send it to me...

[ManuelSpintoTenor]

Of course Serra makes the true passaggios and the staccato as it is... Her high notes are neat, exquisite and delicate... She makes the true notes in the ritornello of the "d'amour"... SHE'S THE GREATEST ONE!

[solensegunda]

Gran producción, esta gente no repara en gastos. Hermosa voz la de Luciana, y buen dominio de sus recursos.

[elom17764]

i love how does she sings this aria:D

[coolraf89]

She is an amazing soprano, I think than is the best in the world, bravOoo !!

[lasfiganera]

un mostro di bravura