Federica Von Stade : Cherubino's "Non so più" - Paris 1980

[joaobaranda]

Watch Flicka performance at Glyndebourne Festival Opera 1973 ... even better!

[Judill]

Just lovely.

[dottormario200]

una grande prova

[atdean91]

I was cast as her son in Dead Man Walking at HGO this past season and she really is as sweet as everyone says. Such a treasure!

[sarabehr]

Her facial expressions are the best!!

[andrewfynn]

In Renaissance Italy artists worked first on the difficolta of an accomplishment, then on facilita - making it look natural. This performance is an all round accomplishment of Solti, Strehler & von Stade. She IS singing those words for the first time, and she IS 'speaking' them, not "singing" them. The syllables are formed perfectly, not revealing the difficolta but the facilita that comes of inhabiting the role. Each moment is as perfect as the touch of Michelangelo's chisel. Ma si che parla!

[eika48]

Je revois avec un immense plaisir les vidéos de cette sublime mise en scène de Giorgio Strehler reprise aujourd'hui , le 13 mai 2011 á l'opéra Bastille.Avec Isabel Leonard dans le rôle du chérubin, époustouflante et très émouvante!!

[Alexandrinio1995]

yes she is amazing but still to be perfect in character of Cherubinon one has to be male!

[6EthelMerman9]

@Alexandrinio1995 Except not... because it's a mezzo role

[LordHettrick]

@Alexandrinio1995 No!!! It's a trouser role, written for a mezzo, specifically to underline the fact that Cherubino is not yet a fully-grown man.

[cleekerdeluxe]

I THINK SHE IS MAGNIFICANT !

[mysterygrl013]

i wish it was a bit faster her voice is absolutly beautiful but i dont know if i like her for Cherubino

[EskimoAbby]

It's much slower than I've ever heard it, she must have just tortured her conductor, lol!

But it's absolutely gorgeous :)

[rmfotj]

The first opening words sent me chills down my body... I never knew that such a heavenly way of opening this aria existed.... Non so piu casa son cosa faccio= FTW!

[acebunny17]

@rmfotj Non so pi cosa son cosa faccio.But I totally agree with you,its beautiful

[youhavegottabejoking]

I grew up watching von Stade as Cherubino. In my opinion, everybody that tries to fill the role from now on only tries to emulate La Belle Frederica, for there is no comparison. She IS Cherubino almost as if Mozart wrote the role for her. She perfected the part so wonderfully, I cannot watch another preformance without wishing for von Stade to be in the role of Cherubino. Screw the leads. I don't care who plays the Count, Figaro, Susanna, or Countess. Carubino is the linchpin of the opera.

[The1620]

@youhavegottabejoking Funny. ....Most folk think it revolves around Suzanna. But you're right , Flicka is the ONLY Cherubino in the entire universe

[temperanceluv81]

when does she breathe?

Is anyone else hearing how long her phrases are?

[arpeggio1358]

@temperanceluv81 Yes, her breathing is amazing. Pretty amazing technique over all...and the most perfect Cherubino there ever was.

[andrewfynn]

The sounds spills from her

 like champagne overflowing the rim

of the Trevi fountain

[andrewfynn]

Yes, the most starry Cherubino, a hymn to love. Doesn't it make you remember falling in love? Mozart would be touched.

[noratranvouez]

Frederica is just sincere. That's enough. thanks muezzab

[JPizzle1490]

I think there's a tendency today to play Cherubino as this horny little adolescent, but I think Flicka does the right thing and plays him, as is reflected by the libretto as actually sincerely being love sick.

[CanadaPisces]

A musical gem! Thank you!

[lamsalgado]

To say what? WONDERFUL!

[Miouiminon54]

J'ai assisté à cette représentation.. Je n'arrive pas à y croire!! Merci, merci, Muezzab, si tu passes encore..:)

[aida2004]

La adoro!!

[andreea94a]

I love her.She's the perfect Cherubino.

[wanzenettl]

The most perfect Cherubino!  I love Flicka!

[toni14744]

She's the sweetest cherubino of all! So full of feeling. Wonderful voice and superb pianissimo

[italomelomane]

incantevole !

[VanillaPink13]

it sounds so good! But right now I have to learn that aria, and I'm telling you, it's not easy... I've been having classical singing lessons for one year now and this aria is the most difficult one I've ever had to learn.. "L'ho perduta me meschina" was way easier...^^

[TheComplaisantLover]

She looks the part, has a great voice, and it's a great interpretation of the role, but the blocking of this scene is too static for my liking. I much prefer her more fluid movement in the Met 1986 version with Kathleen Battle. She was definitely the best Cherubino of the late 70s/ early 80s.

[annao273]

@TheComplaisantLover  At first, I also thought that the scene was too static, but then I realized that Flicka is so good at expressing through her singing even the most subtle of Cherubino's emotions and characteristics, that really no movement is required at all. The music does it all.

[pianomags]

@annao273 O WELL SAID.. makes you wonder just why some of them do hop about so much. I love everything she's sung.

[Fuliginosus]

The beginning of this reminds me of the beginning of the 40th Symphony.

[Charna777]

what an amazing pianissimo!!!

she's AWESOME!!!

thx so much for sharing this!

[Uomopitchin]

I think this Opera was the last production of Rolf Liebermann in Paris. I saw it at the 14th July free representation in Palais Garnier ; after three hours standing in the pouring rain. Van Dam came on stage with an umbrella to thank the public ! And, of course, everyone fell in love with Frederica's Cherubino.

[SashalovesErik]

I've always wanted to see this opera.

[DCMCNYY]

Stupendous!

[omalmi]

I saw her do this in Paris in 1980. She was the darling of Paris. Was there ever a silkier, more sensitive and nuanced rendition of this aria? I think not. She was THE Cherubino of her generation, and stills wears that crown, imo.

[foucault1020]

@omalmi D'accord!



[GosfordAbercrombie]

I applaud fantastic mezzos like her! She's remarkable!!!!

[eligualao]

Frederica, you are the Cherubino Mozart dreamt of!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lpw0021]

WOW. This is the best Flicka I've seen. I saw her in Fort Worth last year, and she is still amazing. Talk about effortless singing in this video! From 2:00-end I am in awe. Her give and take with the line is flawless! BRAVA!

[loverflicka]

Magnífica la voz, como no podía ser menos tratándose de Frederica, pero me gusta más la versión de 1973 en el festival de Glyndebourne, con John Pritchard, que era más rápida, más vital ¡Aquello sí fue una genial representación, la creación de un personaje nunca superado! ¡Viva Frederica, entonces y ahora!

[dianetoff]

aucun mots pour decrire la perfection

[walkingmess]

I LOVE YOU FLIKAAAA

[Dogaradodia]

Bravissima! Beautiful Cherubino!

[boisfarine1970]

magnifique

[asisecanta]

I have seen this AWESOME Strehler staging at La Coruña. Obviously we don't have such a wonderful cast as here, but, by the way, STREHLER=GENIOUS!!!!

[melomane33]

I really like her technique "Non so più cosa son cosa faccio" difficult to articulate...Brilliant !

[kachzvi18]

Interesting to compare this with the Pritchard Glynbourne performance in 1973! Both excellent, here shes more restrained but the voice, excellent too. I prefer her "Voi Che Sapete" even more here, than in 1973 with Pritchard, where she is more powerful and robust, which betrays Mozart's markings a little.

[postman1008]

She does a great job.  The only problem is she has such a pretty, feminine smile.

[swanningaround]

Please listen to Edith Mathis too! Frederica is as usual wonderful.

[peachexplosion]

she is the cutest, most perfect cherubino... this is also my sort of signature aria and i love the repressed energy she shows... it's as if she's about to burst! plus i just love her voice. flicka i want to be you!

[Redsox06]

The perfect coming together of voice, acting and the intangible chemistry of von Stade. She's just amazing.

[katesinger]

FANTASTIC!!!!!

[drugo1983]

mi sembra fra le migliori nonostante la qualità dell'audio; lei è intelligente precisa e adatta al ruolo... e le si legge in faccia la gioia mozartiana di cherubino :)

[HappyHounde]

Perfection!

[KatherineXIX]

Although she was well-known for this role, and rightfully so, she is way too feminine and pretty to be Cherubino! But she definitely has the vocal chops.

[falliero]

She is perfect in this very difficult aria. Great !!

[agramante86]

the voice is good but it seems without soul even if the pronunce is enough good... i think Fiorenza Cossotto for example sang better this aria!

[HappyHounde]

This is not Puccini or Verdi. Mozart is bit more Northern in temperment if you know what I mean.

[xilpix]

Mozart isn't so "northen", i think, and the libretto was written by an italian, and this is a "dramma gioioso" (cheerful play) at last.

[HsFreezer]

Von Stade is my favorite Cherubino I've seen (other than my sister, who played the role in college). I tend to prefer sopranos in this role to mezzo-sopranos for the bright and pure quality that they have. So many mezzos take this role and make it dark and heavy.

[thaisaemi]

von stade is one of my faves too but she is a mezzo and this aria is actually written for mezzo voices...light mezzos :)

[olympicfreak678]

but Von Stade is a lyrics mezzo.

[PaladinCecil]

Sorry. That wasn't me who said that "Flicka's my idol and hero forever" quote. My sister posted that while using my name.

[andreamoboe]

Frederica - fantastic!

[lamezzoenfrancais]

She is my hero. :D This is my signature aria and I get a great deal of my inspiration from her.

[frenchyfrench]

The voice sounds as an adolescent masculine one. That's fantastic !

[artbrent23]

Flicka is the best Cherubino ever. Her performance in the 1986 Met tv broadcast is even better than this one, more active and compulsive, and sadder somehow; just more nuanced. I wish someone would post that.

[kajaDenmark]

sometimes mezzo's souns like sopranos.. but I know that they also can fill out a soprano role, like a soprano can fill out a mezzo role...

nevermind, she has a bright likeable mezzo voice, but i don't like her vibrato..it's to fast!

[IMthinkingGoAway]

I disagree with your comment about her vibrato. I love fast vibratos. That's my favorite kind of voice. Better fast and controlled than slow and wobbly.

[antippas]

what can I add to that? what great acting! SHe even moves like a boy.

[cajuncoralman]

and she puts across the main message with just her body language.. which is SEX!!!

[PaladinCecil]

Fabulous,adorable...what words could describe Flicka? She's my idol and hero forever! I can't get enough of her!!!

[lamezzoenfrancais]

My favorite mezzo by far! She's my idol!!!

[crowjr]

Simplemente no hay nadie mejor que Flicka como Cherubino: voz clara, joven, ágil. Insisto en que esta versión de Solti está demasiado lenta a mi parecer.

Non so più cosa son, cosa faccio...

[loverflicka]

De acuerdo con Ud. y con iAMturandot. Esta, como todas las de Flicka cantando a Cherubino, es una maravillosa interpretación, pero yo tambien prefiero un ritmo más rápido, más "nervioso", incluso un pelín más de movimiento corporal ¡No olvidemos que Cherubino es un chaval de no más de 16 o 17 años, que ante las féminas se convierte en una una deliciosa mezcla de descaro y timidez, de atrevimiento y vergüenza, de duda y aplomo!

En otras palabras: la interpretación de Glyndebourne de 1973, vaya.

[iAMturandot]

Solti's moving it a little too slow for my taste, but Flicka makes it work. She's marvelous, charming, witty, pretty, everything a young Cherubino (and opera singer in general) should be. brava, flicka, bravissima!u just cant get enough of this woman! haha!

[mezzokyla]

good I love this woman!

[wdot]

Wonderful.

[imacinne]

Thanks for posting this nice interpretation of "Non so piu". My personal preference is for a more passionate, confused, manic, and expressive approach. I think that better fits his state of mind. For example, see Maria Ewing in the 1976 movie. It is one of the few dvds I can watch over and over again.

[loverflicka]

I am with you too. I prefer, for example, the historic rendition at Glyndebourne, 1973. Cherubino is a boy of no more 16 or 17 yo, and his attitude must be more nervous, most restless... However, how splendid Flicka is here... here and ever!

(Please: excuse my english!)

[celticears]

It just does not get better than this. Wow.

[britters2010]

nobody's better at Cherubino thank Flicka!! SHE OWN'S THE ROLE!!!

[SissiPearl]

I'm STILL looking for a Cherubino that I like more than Flicka's... STILL searching...

[loverflicka]

You search, you search... and you don't find, of course, because there is no one best than Flicka

[musicdictator]

I definitely agree Flicka is exceptional here, really. More youthful and more beautifully performed than all her other clips on YouTube for sure, I think. But how about Berganza? The beauty of her tone, especially as Cherubino, is unrivalled I find.

[Caskader]

"Parlo d'amor con me... PARLO D'AMOR CON ME!" Endlessly charming! Superb.

[idinaiswhitehot]

Mmm that's excellent :)

[baobanshee]

aaaah non so piu cosa son cosa faccio ??

[lauraeja]

Yahhhh my sister knows this woman

[jordie005]

Yeah so do i we have the same voice teacher... a little intimidating when she walks in on my lesson haha

[SteveNelsonBrigade]

Von Stade is exquisite. I like "Voi, che sapete" better, though -- can you post that?

[Zerlina12]

How can people say that opera is screaming????