ROSA PONSELLE (January 22, 1897 – May 25, 1981), was an American operatic soprano with a large, opulent voice. She sang mainly at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is generally considered by music critics to have been one of the greatest sopranos of the past 100 years.
I wonder if the 3 people that did not like this recording they ever heard anything better in their entire life..........??????? We need 3 pairs of ears for them, please, who can donate to needy ones?
Curiosità, dicono che la Ponselle avesse spesso terrore nell'affrontare gli acuti e corresse spesso fra le quinte a cercare un po' d'acqua per rinfrescare la gola.
In compenso il suo trillo era squillante come pochi.
Glorious. Thanks for sharing. I love this old phonograph. Rosa Ponselle had a great voice and love how she dips into that mezzo di voce/chest voice. Her high register and trill/coloratura is gorgeous. Brava.
I am transported.....she touches the soul.....and the opening of the video with the record player and all through is so beautifully apropos. what a wonderful looking cabinet and player. we have indeed lost much through digital technology.....quality and art.
Thank you for posting this - the sound is better than any CD version I've come across. This is an Ernani involami for the ages - what an astounding soprano!
thank you for your lovely comments, and your kind complement. the beauty of music is not only that it can move us, but take us along with it. i never heard of the anecdote you mention about caruso, and it delighted me. i am touched and happy to know that in this world of so many millions that we connect in this way on the experience of a shared love. best wishes to you as well.
Why the best that America ever produced. Critics and fellow singers said that she,Ruffo,and Caruso were the best without question in their Tenor,soprano and baritone fields. They were referred to as the indisputable three. She was the idol of Callas and others,as were Caruso and Ruffo. Brava!
There is often nasty bickering among some YT viewers over who was/is the best or best at a particular piece. There's always room for legitimate criticism, but what it really boils down to is taste and what assumptions you use as a basis for opinions. In the case of singers, what do you value most: technique. vocal timbre and interpretation, e.g.? Its possible to find some merit in almost all music.
I appreciate your criticism and the others' on this posting because it is constructive and instructive whether I agree or not. For me, the sound of Ponselle's voice is enough; it compensates for other inadequacies.
I really value all three qualities. Singers who are all one thing and nothing of the other two give little me pleasure. That's why I've never been a great fan of Tito Gobbi, Hans Hotter, Boris Christoff...
this sounds like the vocal equivalent of a perfectly executed cavalry charge. what brilliance and verve!
thank you for posting this gem. i am a die-hard fan of callas, and seldom if ever listen to other sopranos, but this voice is amazing. what a register - she could easily sing even some tenor arias! for instance i would have likedto have heard her singing fenesta ca lucive or vanne o rosa fortunata.
well she started as a soprano but as her voice matured it darkened and settled into a lower placement! She herself admitted that she might have studied as a mezzo had she not begun singigng so young! If she had continued to sing in opera into the 1940s she would probably have done so as a mezzo :D
I think this is the best recording of Ponselle. This aria is a killer (like many others of Verdi, Mozart) for a big spinto, and Ms. Ponselle negotiates each hurdle with pinpoint accuracy. Thank you, Merrihew for taking the time and care to share your bounty with everyone on Youtube.
Rosa la bella! E la grande! This is VERDI! Today they sing only "perversi" ..... Since maybe 25 years I am in love with this voice and this illuminous technique and intelligence of using the whole voice with this tune of slight tone - such elegant NEVER DARKEND to much or only to darken up! Thanks for bringing this eternity to all youngsters around...BRAVA LA REGINA e salve!
You can hear here perfectly the seemingly endless trill that she says conductors used to wait, with arms folded, for her to end before they picked up the baton again and went on with the aria. Incredible.
Of all the hundreds of postings I've done, this is the one that I return to most often. A perfect match of singer, selection, recording quality and playback machine. At this time the frequency response of Victor records was "tuned" to the characteristics of the large orthophonic.
The old 78 RPM discs sound better on the proper old phonographs; no CD transfer has this miraculous, life-like sound. Thank you for posting this! If you could, please post Ponselle's recording of the song "A bien-aimee," one the greatest examples of the vocal art I've ever heard.
Oh my God! What a voice... Amazing. Good sound quality. I think this is the first time I've really understood what's so special about Ponselle. This is the first time I've really heard the colour of her voice. And it's one of the most beautiful voices I've heard. Allthough... I love Callas more than any other singer. This rendition is a bit too fast after my taste, but by all means, she handles it perfectly. I'm working on this aria myself. I'll be listening alot to Ponselle, for sure...
I, too, have recently done a lot of listening to both Callas and Ponselle. I love Callas, but when I listened to the recordings of Ponselle, there was no doubt in my mind as to who sang better. Ponselle is my favorite singer! Thanks.
There is no comparison between Ponselle and Callas. Callas would have said so herself. Callas said" I think we all know that she(Ponselle ) is simply the greatest singer of us all. The great Tullio Serafin ahd wanted Callas to study with Ponselle. Callas called a bout a year before she died (Callas ) and lamented the fact that she had never studied with Ponselle.
Of couse there is no comparison.I won´t discuss Ponselle.But I don´t think Callas had anything to learn from her. I know callases voice was flawed, and i admit it. THough, she had such a particular " lamentoso " in her timbre,such a way or pouring out the text, as no other. It´s not a virtue. It was a natural gift.ANd no one learns that.
I agree with your statement about Callas' "...way of pouring out the text, as no other." Although her voice was flawed, in much of the music Callas sings, she has, artistically, almost no equal on records among sopranos, with the possible exception of Muzio. But the sheer beauty, richness, and power of Ponselle's voice is virtually unrivaled.
Were you standing before this poster's Orthophonic Victrola, you'd be ASTOUNDED. The sound quality is overwhelming--in a positive way. Many consider this recording to be one of the best ever....as is likewise true of Ponselle's astistry. She was truly unique.
I still can't decide between Ponselle or Callas as the Queen of all Opera! When I hear Callas, I vote for her. When I hear Ponselle, she wins! Guess there must be two queens!
Maria Callas, in her Julliard master classes, coached a young singer in this aria. She said, "To me, Verdi is a god, and whoever distorts his music is not a serious artist. If you want a good example to follow in this music, listen to the recording by Rosa Ponselle."
The recording features Ponselle's customary rich tone with its colors and shadings, great technique (including her wonderful trill, precise staccati, and perfect legato), and consummate artistry. This performance--along with those of Sembrich, Sutherland, and L. Price--are my favorites.
You're right, Ponselle's technique was not perfect. She had some difficulty with high notes and they were sometimes "white," especially when forte (while her piano high notes were very good). Even her agility on occasion was a trifle stiff, though usually excellent especially for such a dramatic voice. However, Ponselle's legato--the basis of fine singing--was just about perfect. I also find her tone quite beautiful (some will disagree), her phrasing classic, and her registers seamless.
I don't know how many times I've heard this recording over the years. But this was like hearing it the first time. The sound is superb; it brought out nuances I hadn't noticed before. Thank you very very much.
From Connecticut, USA she started in Vaudeville with almost no training. She was "discovered" and within weeks sang her first opera performance with Caruso! Callas said that she was the greatest singer ever. Read the Wikipedia entry.
Rosa was forever frustrated with "the clock" when that forced acoustin recordings to be completed in 4 and a half minutes, thus forcing tempos that were often too fast.
Of the Ponselle recordings that I have heard, this one is the most amazing (even more than Casta Diva). When I first heard it, my jaw dropped somewhere in the middle of the aria and stayed that way for its duration.
The records might be pale in comparison to a live performance, but I only have those and they are impressive! Sound quality is still incredibly good. Congratulations with your new recording equipment, which allows now longer tracks than 3 scarce minutes.
85 years on she still sings as no-one else has done since. That's something.
oldoperafan 4 days ago
Phenomenal
AntW11 1 week ago
4 people are not cultured.
mycandypigs925 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
ROSA PONSELLE (January 22, 1897 – May 25, 1981), was an American operatic soprano with a large, opulent voice. She sang mainly at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is generally considered by music critics to have been one of the greatest sopranos of the past 100 years.
Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.
MrGer2295 2 months ago
I wonder if the 3 people that did not like this recording they ever heard anything better in their entire life..........??????? We need 3 pairs of ears for them, please, who can donate to needy ones?
rubyedelman 11 months ago
Very good but the very last note ruined it for me. I am not a musician but that last note just did not sound right.
hamrunizspar 1 year ago
@hamrunizspar the last is only a fix note not vibrated
nonnopirro52 11 months ago
Curiosità, dicono che la Ponselle avesse spesso terrore nell'affrontare gli acuti e corresse spesso fra le quinte a cercare un po' d'acqua per rinfrescare la gola.
In compenso il suo trillo era squillante come pochi.
numetutelare 1 year ago
fabulos!!
butterflyh25 1 year ago
Amazing. Thank you. I love being able to see the player as well ^_^. The sound is amazing. You must make your neigbours happy ^_^_^
magicmonkichi 1 year ago
fantastica
giusquiamo 1 year ago
Так Поют Только БОГИ!!!!!!
letvinn 1 year ago
The intensity of this voice is unique! She is powerful an precise in her singing. I learn a lot listening to her.
sdegrace 1 year ago
sublime !grazie !
bodiloto 1 year ago
She is amazing, gorgeous voice and such expression. Thank you very much for posting.
jewelmarkess 1 year ago
Glorious. Thanks for sharing. I love this old phonograph. Rosa Ponselle had a great voice and love how she dips into that mezzo di voce/chest voice. Her high register and trill/coloratura is gorgeous. Brava.
MastersoftheOpera 2 years ago
I'd love to hear you use your new mike on Ponselle's recording of Aida's "Vedi?...di morte l'angelo". Thank you, merrihew.
runupahill1 2 years ago
My desktop has some serious problems which I hope can be fixed by a friend visiting in a couple of weeks. I won't forget.
merrihew 2 years ago
@merrihew hey! thanx for posting this, i really like Rosa Ponselle :D
Maggielicious21 1 year ago
For those puzzled, it's called a "trill," and yes, that is what it SHOULD sound like.
ATsarIsBorn 2 years ago
@lamusicahera
Nilsson used to sing "Der Holle Rache" backstage as sort of a warmup or a cooldown.
ATsarIsBorn 2 years ago
@ATsarIsBorn But should be transposed down...Birgit wasn´t able to hit high Es or even Fs...
yodavidnavarro 1 year ago
fabulous!! thanks for posting:)
oakroom48 2 years ago
I am transported.....she touches the soul.....and the opening of the video with the record player and all through is so beautifully apropos. what a wonderful looking cabinet and player. we have indeed lost much through digital technology.....quality and art.
thank you. merci, tante grazie, obrigado, danke schön.
globalman 2 years ago
Thank you for posting this - the sound is better than any CD version I've come across. This is an Ernani involami for the ages - what an astounding soprano!
troppofiato 2 years ago
hola lamusicahera,
thank you for your lovely comments, and your kind complement. the beauty of music is not only that it can move us, but take us along with it. i never heard of the anecdote you mention about caruso, and it delighted me. i am touched and happy to know that in this world of so many millions that we connect in this way on the experience of a shared love. best wishes to you as well.
theinkbrain 2 years ago
Merci.Great sound for Sublime Rosa.
ardentepatience 2 years ago
Why the best that America ever produced. Critics and fellow singers said that she,Ruffo,and Caruso were the best without question in their Tenor,soprano and baritone fields. They were referred to as the indisputable three. She was the idol of Callas and others,as were Caruso and Ruffo. Brava!
paulostroff99 2 years ago 6
May be the gold standard for recordings of this aria. She's simply brilliant, inspired, extraordinary. Thank you.
vstasov 2 years ago
Great recording equipment!!!!
Amazingly, some of the full sized victrolas had remarkable sound fidelity-especially with the cabinet doors open.
Thanks for sharing this. One can truly get the idea of Ponselle's true quality and the shear size of her voice from your recording.
Does anyone know if Ponselle is on record for holding the trill the longest in this aria?
MuscleMikal 2 years ago 2
How long is the trill?
AuthenticFeirce 2 years ago
Ponselle is my Amazon parrot Booboo's favourite opera singer - she truly enjoyed this.
PLAYAGIRL10 2 years ago
Wow, great sound indeed! Wonder what it wasl ike to hear her live! Glorious!
wnwnrt 2 years ago
VEry lovely singing..
kgarmaker123 3 years ago
The development of the orthophonic phonograph and electrical recording was the most dramatic improvement in the history of sound reproduction.
merrihew 3 years ago
whoever uploading these clips like Enrico Caruso and others, I really deeply apreciate for what you are doing. Thanks and grazie.
gatograto 3 years ago
This is stunning and revelatory singing. Viva La Ponselle.
voceangelo 3 years ago
So many people adore Ponselle. A super-majestic sound. For me, the result is just a bit mechanical, empty.
AulicExclusiva 3 years ago
There is often nasty bickering among some YT viewers over who was/is the best or best at a particular piece. There's always room for legitimate criticism, but what it really boils down to is taste and what assumptions you use as a basis for opinions. In the case of singers, what do you value most: technique. vocal timbre and interpretation, e.g.? Its possible to find some merit in almost all music.
merrihew 3 years ago
I appreciate your criticism and the others' on this posting because it is constructive and instructive whether I agree or not. For me, the sound of Ponselle's voice is enough; it compensates for other inadequacies.
merrihew 3 years ago
I really value all three qualities. Singers who are all one thing and nothing of the other two give little me pleasure. That's why I've never been a great fan of Tito Gobbi, Hans Hotter, Boris Christoff...
AulicExclusiva 3 years ago
Ponselle is not mechanical and her art is not empty.
stan724 2 years ago
this sounds like the vocal equivalent of a perfectly executed cavalry charge. what brilliance and verve!
thank you for posting this gem. i am a die-hard fan of callas, and seldom if ever listen to other sopranos, but this voice is amazing. what a register - she could easily sing even some tenor arias! for instance i would have likedto have heard her singing fenesta ca lucive or vanne o rosa fortunata.
theinkbrain 3 years ago
She did it not only by natural gift : she has been intelligent to put all aspects of technique together to rebuild her talent out and in tune!
And she hasnt sung out of tune or with to much dramatic attack - evrthing only belcanto
Heraopera 3 years ago
Now that's a trill to die for.... Wonderful.
genevieve70 3 years ago
3:25 simple astounding! Beautiful voice and so much control! Brava!
brkwv5 3 years ago
How can she be so agile with tht dark big voice? She's amazing!
yodavidnavarro 3 years ago
As she herself admitted, she was a freak of nature.
merrihew 3 years ago
The vid is great and fully creative! And Ponselle's voice is an anomaly (In a good sense). But don't you think she could be a good mezzo too?
yodavidnavarro 3 years ago
well she started as a soprano but as her voice matured it darkened and settled into a lower placement! She herself admitted that she might have studied as a mezzo had she not begun singigng so young! If she had continued to sing in opera into the 1940s she would probably have done so as a mezzo :D
Destatur 3 years ago
Wow THANK you! The sound is great!
loetje 3 years ago
I think this is the best recording of Ponselle. This aria is a killer (like many others of Verdi, Mozart) for a big spinto, and Ms. Ponselle negotiates each hurdle with pinpoint accuracy. Thank you, Merrihew for taking the time and care to share your bounty with everyone on Youtube.
cantorandopera 3 years ago
thats your personal view not shared by everyone
vincenz55 3 years ago
Rosa la bella! E la grande! This is VERDI! Today they sing only "perversi" ..... Since maybe 25 years I am in love with this voice and this illuminous technique and intelligence of using the whole voice with this tune of slight tone - such elegant NEVER DARKEND to much or only to darken up! Thanks for bringing this eternity to all youngsters around...BRAVA LA REGINA e salve!
Heraopera 3 years ago
Oh my goodness! This is wonderful! Thanks for putting a smile on my face, this made my day.
VivaLucia 3 years ago
voce tipica da soprano drammatico,al tempo stesso agile,ecco cosa manca nelle soprane di oggi.
Tipico esempio di come si canta in una partitura dove il compositore ha previsto una voce lirica spinta.
Mi ricorda un po la Cerquetti,ma ha una estensione superiore.
pasielu 3 years ago
You can hear here perfectly the seemingly endless trill that she says conductors used to wait, with arms folded, for her to end before they picked up the baton again and went on with the aria. Incredible.
saagua1953 3 years ago
That TRILL!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting, merrihew. No wonder Callas idolized her.
goldenthroat86 3 years ago
WOW...The best sound quality of any Ponselle recording I've heard! She sounds GLORIOUS..Thanks for posting!
goldenthroat86 3 years ago
Of all the hundreds of postings I've done, this is the one that I return to most often. A perfect match of singer, selection, recording quality and playback machine. At this time the frequency response of Victor records was "tuned" to the characteristics of the large orthophonic.
merrihew 3 years ago
When somebody claims that there was no such thing as a Golden Age I refer them to this recording. Who currently comes even close.
merrihew 3 years ago
Imagine what she must have sounded like in person.
merrihew 3 years ago
The old 78 RPM discs sound better on the proper old phonographs; no CD transfer has this miraculous, life-like sound. Thank you for posting this! If you could, please post Ponselle's recording of the song "A bien-aimee," one the greatest examples of the vocal art I've ever heard.
billyguns2 3 years ago
cds still suck big time..they are useless reproduceers of music..records always rock
vincenz55 3 years ago
Congratulations and many thanks,Merrihew!!!
( to Ponselle too)
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
This is perfection. One complete voice. Thanks for posting. And your record player is beautiful, Congratulations.
ecabsop 3 years ago
Oh my God! What a voice... Amazing. Good sound quality. I think this is the first time I've really understood what's so special about Ponselle. This is the first time I've really heard the colour of her voice. And it's one of the most beautiful voices I've heard. Allthough... I love Callas more than any other singer. This rendition is a bit too fast after my taste, but by all means, she handles it perfectly. I'm working on this aria myself. I'll be listening alot to Ponselle, for sure...
Turand0t 3 years ago
Awesome! The high C# there is fabulous and the trill! wow!
agnellodei 4 years ago
This is a miracle!
ocloclop 4 years ago
Pour la beauté et l'égalité de la voix sur
toute son étendue la seule que j'ai entendu
qui approche cette grande artiste qu'était
Mme ponselle est Anita Cerquetti.
jacquesurlus 4 years ago
I, too, have recently done a lot of listening to both Callas and Ponselle. I love Callas, but when I listened to the recordings of Ponselle, there was no doubt in my mind as to who sang better. Ponselle is my favorite singer! Thanks.
Ruffiello 4 years ago
Callas could be so inconsistent with some glorious moments but Ponselle in her prime...
merrihew 4 years ago
There is no comparison between Ponselle and Callas. Callas would have said so herself. Callas said" I think we all know that she(Ponselle ) is simply the greatest singer of us all. The great Tullio Serafin ahd wanted Callas to study with Ponselle. Callas called a bout a year before she died (Callas ) and lamented the fact that she had never studied with Ponselle.
Giovannifabuloso 4 years ago
Of couse there is no comparison.I won´t discuss Ponselle.But I don´t think Callas had anything to learn from her. I know callases voice was flawed, and i admit it. THough, she had such a particular " lamentoso " in her timbre,such a way or pouring out the text, as no other. It´s not a virtue. It was a natural gift.ANd no one learns that.
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
its your personal preference
vincenz55 3 years ago
I agree with your statement about Callas' "...way of pouring out the text, as no other." Although her voice was flawed, in much of the music Callas sings, she has, artistically, almost no equal on records among sopranos, with the possible exception of Muzio. But the sheer beauty, richness, and power of Ponselle's voice is virtually unrivaled.
meltzerboy 3 years ago 2
Were you standing before this poster's Orthophonic Victrola, you'd be ASTOUNDED. The sound quality is overwhelming--in a positive way. Many consider this recording to be one of the best ever....as is likewise true of Ponselle's astistry. She was truly unique.
gmmix 4 years ago
I still can't decide between Ponselle or Callas as the Queen of all Opera! When I hear Callas, I vote for her. When I hear Ponselle, she wins! Guess there must be two queens!
artdanks 4 years ago
BRAVO PONSELLE!!!!!
hazeleyes171 4 years ago
Maria Callas, in her Julliard master classes, coached a young singer in this aria. She said, "To me, Verdi is a god, and whoever distorts his music is not a serious artist. If you want a good example to follow in this music, listen to the recording by Rosa Ponselle."
stan724 4 years ago 7
@stan724
hehe, I remember that masterclass "whoever touches Verdi's music (over does cadenzas etc)...to me, is no good~!" lol.
magicmonkichi 1 year ago
Fantastic.
tehen162 4 years ago
Phenomenal! F
paulostroff99 4 years ago
The recording features Ponselle's customary rich tone with its colors and shadings, great technique (including her wonderful trill, precise staccati, and perfect legato), and consummate artistry. This performance--along with those of Sembrich, Sutherland, and L. Price--are my favorites.
meltzerboy 4 years ago 2
Her technique wasn't perfect.Ponselle notes on A natural, Bflat, B and C were not good.ALWAYS.
bonanplu 3 years ago
You're right, Ponselle's technique was not perfect. She had some difficulty with high notes and they were sometimes "white," especially when forte (while her piano high notes were very good). Even her agility on occasion was a trifle stiff, though usually excellent especially for such a dramatic voice. However, Ponselle's legato--the basis of fine singing--was just about perfect. I also find her tone quite beautiful (some will disagree), her phrasing classic, and her registers seamless.
meltzerboy 3 years ago
I don't know how many times I've heard this recording over the years. But this was like hearing it the first time. The sound is superb; it brought out nuances I hadn't noticed before. Thank you very very much.
stan724 4 years ago 2
Sometimes I think this machine has magical powers. :-)
merrihew 4 years ago
From Connecticut, USA she started in Vaudeville with almost no training. She was "discovered" and within weeks sang her first opera performance with Caruso! Callas said that she was the greatest singer ever. Read the Wikipedia entry.
merrihew 4 years ago
Superb! Listen to her in duets with Martinelli,They are some of the very best duets on You Tube,and probably anywhere.
paulostroff99 4 years ago
That was absolutely incredible, voice similar in color to Maria Callas, amazing trill!
agnellodei 4 years ago
Thank you for the care with which you posted this gem, what quality top to bottom.
mm9913 4 years ago
Wow the sound is great!! Thank you!!
She is THE greatest of all!!
primadonna13 4 years ago
check out the FLAWLESSLY spun trills...genius.
tamerlano 4 years ago
Although the speed is too fast (as mentioned in earlier posts), nothing stops the fact that this is simply unbelievable singing.
VivaMariaCallas 4 years ago
Rosa was forever frustrated with "the clock" when that forced acoustin recordings to be completed in 4 and a half minutes, thus forcing tempos that were often too fast.
fred0125 4 years ago 2
Its also better recorded than Casta Diva which doesn't sound nearly as good on this machine.
merrihew 4 years ago
Of the Ponselle recordings that I have heard, this one is the most amazing (even more than Casta Diva). When I first heard it, my jaw dropped somewhere in the middle of the aria and stayed that way for its duration.
Madman2759 4 years ago
Amazing, BRAVO!
LaViolettaValery 4 years ago
I want to come to your house. What a set up! :-)
jjcbss 4 years ago
I envy you. The best I could do was get her autograph.
merrihew 4 years ago
Fantastic. What a joy. I met her in Baltimore and she was a wonderful personality. I wish I had heard her sing. The sound on this is super. Thanks.
paragod333 4 years ago
Actually, your right. I did a major maintenance recently and it resulted in a faster speed. It has been corrected. Very observant.
merrihew 4 years ago
Thank's for posting!
goldmundgoldmund1 4 years ago
She sounds great - thanks for posting this.
She retired so early - too bad they are not more recordings of her.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago
Stunning. There has never been a voice like Ponselle. I still cant get over the sound from this machine. Thank you.
mrrk 4 years ago
The records might be pale in comparison to a live performance, but I only have those and they are impressive! Sound quality is still incredibly good. Congratulations with your new recording equipment, which allows now longer tracks than 3 scarce minutes.
kspm01 4 years ago