Interesting phenomenon that a piece can be played faster but sound slower than another version. it's a question of where you feel the beats: twice a measure, or only once a measure, or even... twice in four measures (downbeat of ms 1 and 3). This tempo matches her current vocal abilities, but to me the music calls for something else. On the other hand, most other people's are too slow. I think Mozart's incredibly hard and one reason is the perfect tempo can be elusive.
Outstanding singing. It is like an angel singing. I really hope she is the bitch she is rumored to be, because who can tell a person with a voice such as this, and so much ability, anything? We all should be scrambling to kiss her hand.
Knowing how difficult the breathing in this solo is(due to singing it)I understand why she takes it as fast as she does(not that she would have trouble) and did anyone ask Mozart how fast he wanted it sung? Her voice is a gift from God.
everyone complaining about tempi on YT should always keep in mind that she is singing with an Orchestra. Singers are not given free rein in such instances, the conductor is to blame for however fast or slow you feel the tempo is
I'd say this is flirting with allegretto territory--but that is ultimately subjective. Some of the other performances are much slower; the effect is, of course, different, and in an interesting way, once you get the other tempi out of your head. I enjoy both.
I hope she will release a cd that was supose to be released a lontime ago or that she will come out with something brand new. I really miss her voice and face. One of the most beautiful sopranos ever except for callas, now she was a bitch! That's why I love them both...
Heavily voice. I don't care about her temper. I love her voice. There is no comparison amongst present sopranos. Her vibrato is so natural and pleasing to the ears. I have great collection of her albums, which are my treasures.
Heavily voice. I don't care about her temper. I love her voice. There is no comparison amongst present sopranos. Her vibrato is so natural and pleasing to the ears.The tempo played is good too.
I just adore Kathleen Battle's voice she is as smooth as velvet there is none as majestic as Kathleen. I listen to her recordings for hours and wish that I was able to enunciate as clearly as she does. Such a beautiful voice.
So, it is a 6 beat that plays like a 2 bit if you get the drift... Many versions of this played too slow - e.g. no offence, Lucia Popp's version - was beautifully played, but no one walks so slow unless they are Gozilla attacking New York (or Tokyo) and IT DOES NOT ROCK! So arguably any version of this played too slow is just played plain wrong. In short if you play this and you don't rock then Mozart rocks in his grave.
andante ma un poco sostenuto = babelfish translates as "walking pace, with a bit of support" What does it mean? Well, first of all this is a 6/8 piece of music - i.e. 6 beats spread across 8 measures - so it should be played with a bit of rhymetic rocking like a rocking horse with emphasis on the 1st and the 4th beat.
At this pace the music flows effortlessly like moving clouds on slightly fast forward video, and her exquisite voice just makes the whole piece heavenly to listen to :-)
Maybe the Met was a big deal to her, maybe it wasn't. I don't know, but it doesn't seem that it was. And she still makes a great living from her singing and recordings. She seems to be doing just fine without the Met.
@kutrikb So true, whatever people say about bad behaviour of others, it simply doesn't matter in the end. Art is what matters, good manners are a plus at best. Her voice is just gorgeous!
@kutrikb I agree with you she has an amazing voice; but in the performance world it does matter if she's a bitch, because when you're a bitch no one hires you. Beautiful voice be damned no one wants to work with a bitch. Which is sadly why she hasn't performed an Opera in over a decade, a very sad loss to the world of Opera.
That is why Kathleen is who she is. I have rarely met anyone who happens to be the nicest person on Earth and is fantastic at doing something so incredibly demanding of them.
Not that she doesn't sing well now but in her prime 198?-the early 90s her technique was as close to perfect as any Soprano I've heard. There is another post where she sings the Agnus Dei from Coorination mass that is breathtaking. Her tone is perfectly even up and down the scale. She is also quite easy on the eyes. Wow
She always sings exquisitely but what's the rush? This tempo strips the music of its depth and majesty. I guess I should just be grateful to hear such a wonderful singer.
@marlyharris To each their own. I love this speed, as the usual slow tempo makes me feel like I'm listening through molasses and puts me to sleep. HOORAY for this recording!!
Best tempo for me. Most renditions are way to slow. To wagnerian.
PlatoJaspers 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
she has earned the RIGHT as you say she may be a bitch but she is a DIVA .........
passionfable 3 months ago
Interesting phenomenon that a piece can be played faster but sound slower than another version. it's a question of where you feel the beats: twice a measure, or only once a measure, or even... twice in four measures (downbeat of ms 1 and 3). This tempo matches her current vocal abilities, but to me the music calls for something else. On the other hand, most other people's are too slow. I think Mozart's incredibly hard and one reason is the perfect tempo can be elusive.
johndlabella 3 months ago 2
@johndlabella That's a very interesting remark you make; thanks!
PlatoJaspers 1 month ago
love battle soooo mcuh, and this of course is gorgeous, but where's the bus!!??...
Kate1620 3 months ago
Outstanding singing. It is like an angel singing. I really hope she is the bitch she is rumored to be, because who can tell a person with a voice such as this, and so much ability, anything? We all should be scrambling to kiss her hand.
VantisDoroHall 5 months ago 2
Knowing how difficult the breathing in this solo is(due to singing it)I understand why she takes it as fast as she does(not that she would have trouble) and did anyone ask Mozart how fast he wanted it sung? Her voice is a gift from God.
Ydoc
YN1933 6 months ago
Zu schnell.
Yaroable 6 months ago
Das ist aber wirklich zu schnell.
matticello1979 7 months ago
up tempo? fast faster fastes?
Is it a competition than the batlle victory goes to:
hmmmmmmmmm.... BATTLE?????????????
SVTkaarten 8 months ago 2
Comment removed
dwighty4u 8 months ago
everyone complaining about tempi on YT should always keep in mind that she is singing with an Orchestra. Singers are not given free rein in such instances, the conductor is to blame for however fast or slow you feel the tempo is
dwighty4u 8 months ago
Heavenly !!
Palomablanca2008 9 months ago
I'd say this is flirting with allegretto territory--but that is ultimately subjective. Some of the other performances are much slower; the effect is, of course, different, and in an interesting way, once you get the other tempi out of your head. I enjoy both.
OlDoinyo 10 months ago
I hope she will release a cd that was supose to be released a lontime ago or that she will come out with something brand new. I really miss her voice and face. One of the most beautiful sopranos ever except for callas, now she was a bitch! That's why I love them both...
SuperLmer 11 months ago
her voice is exellent but shes going waaaay faster than the actual song is supposed to sound
amarajabara 11 months ago
Heavily voice. I don't care about her temper. I love her voice. There is no comparison amongst present sopranos. Her vibrato is so natural and pleasing to the ears. I have great collection of her albums, which are my treasures.
Antony Lau (Vancouver, Canada)
anthonylau85 1 year ago 2
Heavily voice. I don't care about her temper. I love her voice. There is no comparison amongst present sopranos. Her vibrato is so natural and pleasing to the ears.The tempo played is good too.
Anthony La (Vanouver, Canada)
anthonylau85 1 year ago
Great , Beautiful
pimarulla29 1 year ago
I just adore Kathleen Battle's voice she is as smooth as velvet there is none as majestic as Kathleen. I listen to her recordings for hours and wish that I was able to enunciate as clearly as she does. Such a beautiful voice.
terrieresa1953 1 year ago
So, it is a 6 beat that plays like a 2 bit if you get the drift... Many versions of this played too slow - e.g. no offence, Lucia Popp's version - was beautifully played, but no one walks so slow unless they are Gozilla attacking New York (or Tokyo) and IT DOES NOT ROCK! So arguably any version of this played too slow is just played plain wrong. In short if you play this and you don't rock then Mozart rocks in his grave.
commenting2008 1 year ago 2
andante ma un poco sostenuto = babelfish translates as "walking pace, with a bit of support" What does it mean? Well, first of all this is a 6/8 piece of music - i.e. 6 beats spread across 8 measures - so it should be played with a bit of rhymetic rocking like a rocking horse with emphasis on the 1st and the 4th beat.
commenting2008 1 year ago
People who says this is too fast need to retake their theory exam!
commenting2008 1 year ago
Comment removed
commenting2008 1 year ago
At this pace the music flows effortlessly like moving clouds on slightly fast forward video, and her exquisite voice just makes the whole piece heavenly to listen to :-)
louislht 1 year ago
Too rushed, it seems as she is not taking time to "feel" it.
excavtrooper 1 year ago
I love Kathleen Battle! my favorite voice! Congratualations!
xemmannoelx 1 year ago
@stueystu1 Hey! I have something pleasant to say. She sings as if she has angels above her head. There, how is that?
princeskipper1 1 year ago
I agree with marylharris-this should be done much more slowly. It loses something when it's rushed.
SongstressJess6484 1 year ago
Maybe the Met was a big deal to her, maybe it wasn't. I don't know, but it doesn't seem that it was. And she still makes a great living from her singing and recordings. She seems to be doing just fine without the Met.
VantisDoroHall 1 year ago
Loves the singer, but yes, tempo a bit fast for my liking...
SandrineSoprano 1 year ago
I LOVE her voice, and I LOVE this piece. Does seem a little fast (most are too slow, in my opinion). Beautiful anyway.
shanipan 1 year ago
@marlyharris
This may be too fast for your (or my) taste, but the piece is actually marked andante--which this tempo truly is, unlike the slower versions.
makemeapie234 1 year ago
It's not the fast tempo, but the continually wavering tempo that bothers me.
No steady pulse whatsoever. Fluffy.
Very strange.
Uruguruh 1 year ago
Simply beautiful!
PatriciaPaulAZ 1 year ago
Too fast. But what a voice !
PatateRoussoiste 1 year ago
She opened up the world of Handel for me one night. "As When the Dove"! Thanks Baby.oooxxxx
stanthology 1 year ago
yep, also too fast for my taste but with such voice much is easily forgiven.
steviejongh 1 year ago
Although Kathleen Battle has a beautiful sweet voice ideal for this piece, in my opinion the tempo of this performance is much too rushed
bruce122046 1 year ago
Gorgeous voice from Heaven.
cmihelich123 1 year ago
Sing better
Noone can
I don't care how much of a bitch she is.
I LOVE HER VOICE
kutrikb 2 years ago 27
@kutrikb So true, whatever people say about bad behaviour of others, it simply doesn't matter in the end. Art is what matters, good manners are a plus at best. Her voice is just gorgeous!
Pollione88 1 year ago 2
@kutrikb I agree with you she has an amazing voice; but in the performance world it does matter if she's a bitch, because when you're a bitch no one hires you. Beautiful voice be damned no one wants to work with a bitch. Which is sadly why she hasn't performed an Opera in over a decade, a very sad loss to the world of Opera.
operatears 1 year ago
@kutrikb Me too!
littlewomangood12345 1 year ago
@kutrikb
That is why Kathleen is who she is. I have rarely met anyone who happens to be the nicest person on Earth and is fantastic at doing something so incredibly demanding of them.
aetechllc 6 months ago
@kutrikb se la traduzione è stata corretta, lei ha insultato un'artista meravigliosa...metta da parte la sua libido malsana..
MsCresi 2 months ago
Not that she doesn't sing well now but in her prime 198?-the early 90s her technique was as close to perfect as any Soprano I've heard. There is another post where she sings the Agnus Dei from Coorination mass that is breathtaking. Her tone is perfectly even up and down the scale. She is also quite easy on the eyes. Wow
daniel01141975 2 years ago
She always sings exquisitely but what's the rush? This tempo strips the music of its depth and majesty. I guess I should just be grateful to hear such a wonderful singer.
marlyharris 2 years ago 19
@marlyharris I absolutely agree. Way too fast!
Musikman47 1 year ago
@marlyharris To each their own. I love this speed, as the usual slow tempo makes me feel like I'm listening through molasses and puts me to sleep. HOORAY for this recording!!
glibbergloop 3 months ago
Wonderful !!! I looooove this song, and she sings it so well ! Amen !
dazzlingsingle 2 years ago