Sills owned this role. It was the total package--vocally dazzling, extraordinary acting, and total immersion in the role. I saw her perform it live four times--including once from the front row--and it was like seeing Elizabeth reincarnate. For me she will never be surpassed in this role.
Best Elizabeth: Kabaiwanska (best mourning too) Best make-up: Sills Best throne: Alberti Best mantle: Caballè (best acting too) Best trembling voice: Pendantchanska Best gloves: Weidinger & Gruberova (best wig too) Best baloon: Nicolesco Best sober dress: Rowland Best final scream: Cassello Best attempt: Ricciarelli Special thanks to coloraturafan
Humildemente, luego de ver las actuaciones de estas grandes cantantes en esta parte puntual de este exigente rol, esta es mi valoración personal: (1) Gruberova, Sills y Rowland. (2) Caballé, Pendatchanska y Ricciarelli. (3) Kabaisvanka. (4) Weidinger, Nicolesco, Alberti y Cassello. Espero nadie se sienta ofendido. Gracias.
Yeah, the thing about it is...it's just a plain cruel role that fits exactly NO total voice, really......I saw Sills do it at Cincinnati Opera way-back-when........and the thing that made it was her utterly amazing acting.
After viewing these clips, yes, Caballe has the richest voice, Gruberova holds the final note the longest.....but Sills absolutely captures this character. Her voice was light for this role, but she makes the fioriture sound easy, and unlike the others wearing the costume, she seems to inhabit the fate of a shattered Elizabeth.
At this filming, Sills was only 5 months out of emergency major surgery (ovarian cancer). Listening to her Roberto Devereux CD made in 1969 shows her tremendous endurance, something she hadn't regained to its fullest in 1975. But, Sills still is tops with me in these comparisons. She WAS Elizabeth I.
Caballe forever!!! not a great actress but who needs acting with a voice as wonderful as that, she has more emotion in one note than in a hundred gestures!!!!
I can't understand how Aliberti has ever made a career ... That's absolutely horrible beyond belief: the middle of the voice is entirely in the nose, and she scoops up the nots, not to mention that she believes to be Callas. Terribly pathetic.
The overall 'winner' is in my opinion the dramtic ms. Sills. Ms. Gruberova is, as always spinechilling too, and the 'outsiders' ms. Weidinger and Rowland made a good impression on me too. Thanks again for posting.
First of all thanks to Coloraturafan for this invaluable present. I do agree that this is "the" role for Sills but above all I cannot stop thinking about the virtuosity of Donizetti´s Queens... a master!
I know it's cliche, and has been said a hundred thousand times, but, for me at least, this role still belongs to Sills. Detractors can say what they like about the unsuitability of the voice, but no one can deny the commitment she brought to the role. She channelled Elizabeth...no doubt about it.
This is an interesting compilation that confirms my suspricion that we've never had a soprano who filled Elisabetta's shoes well enough to be named the finest. Caballe offers some great singing but the finalle, especially in 1977 is problematic. In the finale Rowland is probably the best though her musical problems usually spoil her complete performances. This was a perfect role for Callas and she could have nailed it like Lady Macbeth but she was busy recording an indifferent Mimi..
Hmm, well it seemed to me that Gruberova, right after Weidinger, rocked her world with a MUCH better final high note! Much more stable, and beautiful on the ears...
Not that Gruberova is my favorite coloratura, by a long shot...
SILLS THE BEST !!
sarguar 2 weeks ago
Sills owned this role. It was the total package--vocally dazzling, extraordinary acting, and total immersion in the role. I saw her perform it live four times--including once from the front row--and it was like seeing Elizabeth reincarnate. For me she will never be surpassed in this role.
stedmantx 2 months ago
ferrykalos 2 months ago
1. Gruby - Her 2005 Elizabetha is the best ever.
2. Caballe
3. Cabaivanska
aisheto 2 months ago
Humildemente, luego de ver las actuaciones de estas grandes cantantes en esta parte puntual de este exigente rol, esta es mi valoración personal: (1) Gruberova, Sills y Rowland. (2) Caballé, Pendatchanska y Ricciarelli. (3) Kabaisvanka. (4) Weidinger, Nicolesco, Alberti y Cassello. Espero nadie se sienta ofendido. Gracias.
MrArtibus 3 months ago
1 Sills
2 Caballe
3 Gruberova
liguten 3 months ago
Yeah, the thing about it is...it's just a plain cruel role that fits exactly NO total voice, really......I saw Sills do it at Cincinnati Opera way-back-when........and the thing that made it was her utterly amazing acting.
MuscleDaddyCMH 4 months ago
The best ist Beverly Sills forerver....
rdsteyer 1 year ago
GRUBEROVA forever!
WotansSpeer 1 year ago 3
I see nothing but one Elisabeth in this video: Beverly Sills.
The other ten are just sopranos singing, screaming or shouting some notes.
giant469 1 year ago
After viewing these clips, yes, Caballe has the richest voice, Gruberova holds the final note the longest.....but Sills absolutely captures this character. Her voice was light for this role, but she makes the fioriture sound easy, and unlike the others wearing the costume, she seems to inhabit the fate of a shattered Elizabeth.
wotan10950 1 year ago
At this filming, Sills was only 5 months out of emergency major surgery (ovarian cancer). Listening to her Roberto Devereux CD made in 1969 shows her tremendous endurance, something she hadn't regained to its fullest in 1975. But, Sills still is tops with me in these comparisons. She WAS Elizabeth I.
rachelforever 1 year ago
@rachelforever For me is the same she was the best.
rdsteyer 6 months ago
Caballe forever!!! not a great actress but who needs acting with a voice as wonderful as that, she has more emotion in one note than in a hundred gestures!!!!
emf1918 1 year ago
I can't understand how Aliberti has ever made a career ... That's absolutely horrible beyond belief: the middle of the voice is entirely in the nose, and she scoops up the nots, not to mention that she believes to be Callas. Terribly pathetic.
GoldenAgeSunshine 2 years ago
I prefer the version of Gruberova !
My personal ranking:
1- Gruberova
2- Pendatchanska
3- Sills
4- Weidinger
Thanks to Coloraturafan !
DonAlfonso63 2 years ago
@DonAlfonso63 First Sills, than Caballe, Kabaiwnaka, and Gruberova
rdsteyer 6 months ago
Would love to have seen Sills for real, i saw "only" Gruberova the second best.
ChrisPaulPf 2 years ago
The overall 'winner' is in my opinion the dramtic ms. Sills. Ms. Gruberova is, as always spinechilling too, and the 'outsiders' ms. Weidinger and Rowland made a good impression on me too. Thanks again for posting.
dutchtallguy 2 years ago
First of all thanks to Coloraturafan for this invaluable present. I do agree that this is "the" role for Sills but above all I cannot stop thinking about the virtuosity of Donizetti´s Queens... a master!
enfava 2 years ago
1., Sills
2., Weidinger
3., Rowland
4., Pendatchanska
Yodaandtheforce3000 2 years ago
Gruberova!!
youfeda 2 years ago
I know it's cliche, and has been said a hundred thousand times, but, for me at least, this role still belongs to Sills. Detractors can say what they like about the unsuitability of the voice, but no one can deny the commitment she brought to the role. She channelled Elizabeth...no doubt about it.
BeauTenor 2 years ago
This is an interesting compilation that confirms my suspricion that we've never had a soprano who filled Elisabetta's shoes well enough to be named the finest. Caballe offers some great singing but the finalle, especially in 1977 is problematic. In the finale Rowland is probably the best though her musical problems usually spoil her complete performances. This was a perfect role for Callas and she could have nailed it like Lady Macbeth but she was busy recording an indifferent Mimi..
Orfeus80 2 years ago 2
hahahah... true enough, something tells me that the 2010-11 season is going to change that fact :) Don't you agree!
coloraturafan 2 years ago
it's about time!!!!!
Orfeus80 2 years ago
What exactly are you hinting at? Je suis tres curieux de le savoir...
PogoPera 2 years ago
@coloraturafan Are you referring to Devia's debut? :)
Arsace88 1 year ago
Although Sills pushes her light voice to its breaking point, I like her version better than all the others. Thanks for sharing these videos.
meltzerboy 2 years ago 6
Weidinger rules them all in my opinion!
Elisabetta611 2 years ago
Hmm, well it seemed to me that Gruberova, right after Weidinger, rocked her world with a MUCH better final high note! Much more stable, and beautiful on the ears...
Not that Gruberova is my favorite coloratura, by a long shot...
aaronsande 2 years ago