Milnes - Maria from West Side Story

[Kozzi42]

I find it pretty neat that Bernstein arranged 'Maria' himself just so Milnes could sing it.

@orestis23 Which year did this gala take place?

[hjposso]

he's singing in a lower key... even I can sing it with that power. I'm sure he can't sing it in the right key, that's the challenge

[christianistheboss]

@RegHarbour Singing high actually takes more talent and is not a feminine thing.

[Beth29252]

Not Milnes in his prime, there are intonation imperfections, especially that E, which was flat, but he does act touchingly and it was altogether respectable. Although he has his fans, I don't think Milnes gets enough credit. True, after his vocal crisis, his pitch lacked certainty and his unique ringing top note quality wasn't quite as unique, but he was amazing in his prime, especially as Scarpia, Iago, Don Carlo(Ernani), Renato and Tonio and his Largo Al Factotum is quintessential Milnes.

[damens]

@RegHarbour which is not necessarily a good thing for this song - certainly not for the role of Tony anyway.

[excjrock7]

One of the greatest verdi baritone singing a musical theater classic.  Awesome!!!!

[zegermans750]

I guess that high range explains why he has a girl's name

[30787flash]

This song makes me bittersweet. Why did my Maria spurn me??????

[REBECCAtheSOPRANO]

When did he meet his wife Maria?

[medicicard]

A great job. Can't believe some of the negative comments. You know, not everyone

can hit a "home run" each time at bat. Lets give him 5 stars

[charlesprinceofswing]

Dreadful, no connection in his voice! OVerly big..not very good expected more.

[LordMgls]

Hey!! When I came here, I was with a very high standard for Mr Milnes... I was waiting to hear the best performance ever to Maria... But I am highly disappointed!!! We all know he had an extreme ability to make a lighter voice... But where is it? This statements will certainly give me a lot of down thumbs, but this is an elephanted voice attending to Mr Milnes virtuosi skills!! Where are the beautiful sounds? I only hear the elephant as mentioned above... Awful ending. 4* for loving elephant.

[4cups]

BRAVO, Mr. Milnes

[iharland]

wow, i prefer other versions. . this didnt strike me as really connecting with the real feel of the piece, it felt like he was just singing it, and didn't put any emotion behind his performance. It was too low in general for me as well, this song should be higher, lighter, not a dark and low. Its about love.

dont get me wrong, great voice, but the rendition could have been better, i just dont think this song is for him. John Barrowman or Larry Jurt will be a more spot on listen in my opinion.

[RadioReporter01]

I remember somebody singing it with such emotion that it brought down the house. This guy comes close.

This is a very dramatic song as I was around when "The Capeman" burst into the headlines in August 1959, 4 blocks from the Majestic Theater, stabbing some innocents in a Hells Kitchen playground.

Google George Spiegler's "The Capeman Murders". Although the Broadway show and movie is the stuff of legend, the real story was even more compelling.

[RadioReporter01]

Continued:

When caught, 16 year old Sal Agron, "the Capeman" was quoted as to why he did it "Because I felt like it. I don't care if I burn, my mother can watch me"

Mr Spiegler calls it the most publicized crime of the era.

Point being, it should be sung with far more emotion than all the ones I hear today

[pkoska1967]

He has wonderful bariton voice. This performance is very convincing. Good job

[RyanWMusic]

SHIT, watch the 3 tenors

[Tobytib]

I am disappointed. But he's still a great singer.

[Phd12741]

This is a lovely rendition. I prefer Larry Kert, who will always sing any West Side Story best, but Milnes does a fabulous job with Maria.

[Operaddict]

You gotta be kidding

[nishman686]

too many critics, and i haven't even listened to the performance. lulz.

[nikanj]

The introduction is among the snobbiest things I've ever seen and I often attend the opera. Their dress makes white tie look a singlet and shorts at the pub.

By the way. Maria was meant to be sung by a tenor. It is a soaring aria by the romantic lead (which traditionally a tenor). A baritone could never make it work. He should stick to Verdi.

[songsofscarlet]

right because the hacks on broadway today could sing it better? He makes some off sounds here, but overall way better than most.

[rossmcl177]

Re. the introduction, you have to understand the context of this particular scene; it was a 1991 gala night performance of 'Die Fledermaus,' in which the Act 2 scene (where a party is interrupted so that various guests can sing their party piece) is extended to allow about 10 of the top operatic stars of the day to come on and do an aria each. So the introduction, and the setting are all meant to be 19th century Viennese ball. (But I agree woith you about baritones singing Maria!) 8)

[corellipavarotti]

He was, unfortunately, flat all over the place in this piece. Though, as someone pointed out, it was later in his career. Shockingly flat and inability to hit his notes. Sorry, but listen to him in his prime to hear the difference.

[jontew]

Amazing how no one else has noted that. At 2:00 he's a full quarter-tone flat, maybe more. I'm also not fond of his artistic approach to the opening "Maria"s, and his final Maria begins with a yodel and sounds hollow and technical rather that delicate and wistful.

[thetubkins]

Daaaamn. He even had hoes carry him out.

[appeace1]

@thetubkins Sir, every male performer, on this nite, were escorted out on stage by a bevy of beautiful ladies, probably members of the company at the Met, including Pavarotti and Domingo and others! Your use of offensive language to describe these ladies is crass and unintelligent!

[raphaelhudson]

He is my favourite baritone at times, but not here. Still is good.

[A1375]

absa-fuckin-lutely brilliant!!!

[ferdecla]

Como siempre en youtube: un grupo de mediocres criticando un genio, descubriendo que es humano, que tiene errores, que no es perfecto. Las grabaciones en CD son eso: grabaciones. En la vida real la perfección no existe y Milnes en la vida real fue uno de los mejores barítonos del s.XX

[harvard1yale2prince]

what year is this?

[Dancing88Mike]

Very Wonderful I enjoyed this thank you

[leadoffeohippus]

He seriously fails at 1:59.

A legend though, a legend.

[Morikumo]

LOL!

[marylinks]

how so

[punkpop101]

No he is not.Don't expect tenorish shity performance by a legendary baritone

[leadoffeohippus]

Sherill Milnes has got such a versatile voice.

[scaramoucheX]

I'm 51 yrs old and listened to a helluva lot of music, everything from opera to rap to 'classic rock' to punk to flamenco, and on and on...

I want to say, this performance is one of my all time favourites; I can think of no musical expereince mine that can match it.

What a great performance, and what a great thing is YouTube...and what a great singer is this man Milnes.

[punkpop101]

No he sucks.He has not the quality of a good tenor and if you can't sing high you suck.That's what a shitty tenor would say over this fantastic performance

[leadoffeohippus]

Um, first of all, this is not Milnes in his prime.

Second, he was a baritone throughout his career, so give him a break.

And third, when Milnes was in his prime, he could hit high Bs.

[punkpop101]

Budy if you have read carefully you would see that i dished tenors and praise the performance.I know what he could and as a baritone myself i adore him.

[leadoffeohippus]

Haha my bad...

[skyler0248]

WOW NICE THANKS FOR ADDING

[feros50]

El ritmo falla!! Y la afinacion!!!! No se si es algún problema puntual...

[fmontesq]

El ritmo falla, la afinación no es que falle, es que está una tercer por abajo de la original (el final es un La Bemol original sustituido por un Fa). Es normal, este hombre es barítono.

Pero es que no le va para nada a esta voz esta canción. Además tiene algún problema con la "i", resuena diferente de las demás vocales...

Aún así, ya me gustaría a mí cantar la mitad de bien que este señor ;-)

[tonnyytonnyy]

His stage presance is what earned him great aclaim as well as his inteligance. Yes, he did sing a Bflat in Mephisto, and did some other crazy things. his master classes are amazing. Bravo mr. Milnes

[KevinFromSD]

Mr. Milnes is a baritone of the highest caliber - probably the best in the 20th century. Another very good one is Kurt Ollmann, but I've never heard of him in a long time....

[izar1234]

The best in the 20th century???? Sheesh! You do realize that includes Ruffo, Stracciari, Tibbet, Warren, Merrill, MacNeil, Bastianini, Cappuccilli, Quilico and others, don't you?

[fmontesq]

And Thomas Allen?

[Snowss]

He is mineeeee, Allen is minee

[feuxfollets1395]

Kurt Ollman was Riff on the Bernstein recording of WSS.. but you probably know that already

[paulostroff99]

This pro blows the others away!!!Bravo.

[ilanparis]

mouais bof

[cptnunderwhere]

He would sing this song any chance he got. He loves this piece alot.

[CONTESTAR]

he is in love with a beautiful Maria... If I am right, she is his wife... ;))

[kingdomliam]

ohhh rite ... no... i didnt liek that at all he completly wronged that song. beautiful singer but this song can be sung by a barrotone higher than how he sings it... the is no need to sing it that low which completly wrecks it. he is also surprisingly wonky on his transitions from lower to 'higher' notes which is bad if he is the leading barrotone in america.

[josiahgulden]

He's actually singing it in the key in which LB originally scored, and in which it is published... C lydian. And yes, Milnes is past his prime here and I agree that his hooking in the passagio is a little wonky, but he is still one of the great American artists. Listen to any of his pre-surgery recordings (70's and 80's)... he is, in my opinion, the greatest baritone since Bastianini, and there's yet to be another like him. And he's such a great guy. Don't judge him based on this performance.

[kingdomliam]

this was the first time i have ever heard him sing soo this is what i judged him on. obviously he he good or he wudnt be where he is... i just didnt like his version on the song.

[popertop]

pre-surgery?

Did he have nodules?

[plcsarge]

This guy is outstanding, and this is a great classic. What strikes me as kinda funny is that he reminds me a little of Sean Connery! LOL

[mar1um]

hehe

it has my name in it :)

makes me happy :)

thanks for this song

[BeniaminoGigli]

Wrong rhythm

[30787flash]

Sounds great. It reminds me of a Maria that I once loved but the feelings weren't mutual. Truly bittersweet- pleasure alloyed with pain.

[nikanj]

Good voice but this song meant to be sung by a tenor. It's been transposed down more than a little bit.

[alaw003]

it makes me a little happy. especially the arms at the end. what a romantic.

[emboyer]

It makes me a little sad

[ImHookedOnAnime]

Love his voice