Lynne Dawson sings "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion"

[5brosn1chick]

To DCfunbud: Stop splitting hairs. Ms. Dawson is not out to wow us with her fashion, but with her voice. I don't care what a person looks like at a performance, only on how they sing. Besides, she looks great. She is a beautiful woman. She would look great in anything she wears, but that isn't what is most important.

[slashess]

She makes it look easy...

[ZKJonathan]

beautiful !! I like her version so much better. Very natural way of singing!

[ajhiflyer]

One of the very best singers to come our way. And the 'period' pitch sits well for this listener. Bravo.

[DCFunBud]

Beautiful woman, lovely singing. I would have preferred a more natural shoulder on the gown -- too much padding. Her hair is too high school -- she needs something more sophisticated.

[duanekent1]

Lynne Dawson not only sings beautifully but also feels her music. I always enjoy hearing her sing.

[Bigbearbeau]

steobury hasnt got a clue.....

[normayschin]

Lynne Dawson sings "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion" inwit 37 videos Subscribe Subscribed Lynne Dawson sings "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion" inwit 37 videos Subscribe Subscribed

[bluecamillian]

So not fair.

[SufitMusic]

What divine singing! Such warmth and beauty, and effortless-seeming technique! Her singing is perfection! Thank you!

[dachampishea]

3:38 was genius. 

[Simetra007]

I saw the live performance of Handel's "Messiah" when I was very young, and it made a permanent impression on me. I absolutely love it. In my old house I would take my morning coffee on the back deck and listen to this piece. One morning while in the kitchen waiting for my coffee to brew, the song had already started on my boom-box outside and as I watched, the entire railing became lined with birds. All around. They flitted as near as they could to the music as if transfixed. It was amazing.

[classicalfan85]

I love her voice ^__^!

[EmpressPlatypickle]

Beautiful voice :)

[cascadesinger]

exquisite, but I prefer the alto/soprano duet version of "He Shall Feed His Flock/Come Unto Him"

[JennNikole]

beautiful - I was asked to sing this at our Messiah concert....

Not my best but I was happy....

I attached a video response, I hope you acccept.

Thanks!

[Elainelps0421]

Lynne Dawson is magnificent! How wonderful and, at the same time, ironic, that in today's day of swiftly moving technology - an instant-gratification world where rehearsing and perfecting performances over long periods of time is becoming passe - we have this tool which can show us a multitude of classical performances - instantly - at our fingertips! I have performed Messiah (as a violinist) for the past 15+ years, and never tire of it. As a work of pure genius, it reinvents itself yearly.

[truedude30]

I wish I could find Lynne singing Gluck's "Iphigenie en Aulide." Mind blowing.

[PenelopeJSmith]

Try Amazon.co.uk

[WestMaroon]

Reminds me of the wonderful Elly Ameling performance with Marriner on the old Argo recording of so many years ago. Absolutely sublime.

[newman4uall]

she is gifted

[aleese143]

Chills!

[lejazzx]

Lynne Dawson's Handel performances are really without peer I think. Beautiful tone with seemingly effortless production. Her German version of "He shall feed his flock" is one of the most exquisite performances of vocal music I have ever heard (and I don't speak German!)

[MsMoffel]

prachtig!!!! ze is mijn favoriete sopraan!

[littlebrabbel]

Why does she have to look into the score? I know, thats commons with sacred music, but I always sing this aria by heart, so that people can see, that I really MEAN it.

[alfamenosuno]

@littlebrabbel hahahahaha you should be more concern that God notices you really mean it instead of people... you are so fake hahahaha nice try though

[rdemeyere]

@littlebrabbel

I agree with you about memorizing.

However, IIRC, when the oratorio form emerged in the late 17th century, there was concern the performances not become a mini religious opera (theatrical vs musical focus). IMO, holding the score in your hands (or in this case, having it on a stand) helps maintain the quiet dignity befitting the subject matter; it prevents dramatic movement, theatrical gesturing, etc. that otherwise might creep into performances over time.

[classyteacherdiva]

She has a beautiful, spectacular voice of sterling high quality. The only question I had about this performance in particular is why is she licking her lips, or pucking, etc., at 3:35. So far as her interpretation is concerned, she has a formal quality that lends itself to conveying and important message as revealed in her direct look into the camera that is filming her around 1:58 or so. Nice performance overall.

[MisSty2589]

@ classyteacherdiva She liked her lips because she was dursty... :P I think that the min 1,58 was a coincidence... :)

[gianm73yout]

beautiful and clever singer

[acshofleten]

Wonderful!

[slashess]

this is probably the best version I heard so far

[gucaj57]

Una de las interpretaciones mas pulcras que me han tocado escuchar....

WOW!

Stand ovation!!!!!!!!

[796824]

Why lower the key?. The Meno Mosso is too fast, as is "Come unto Him". Legato is the key to great singing. The voice is not particularly remarkable.

[mnermner]

lynne also teaches at the royal northen college of music where i study. i'll see her tomorrow so i'll ask her if chicago is on her to do list! love this recording. =)

[ponchopat]

For some reason I like how she places her "t" of "shout" RIGHT as she flips the page at 3:26....just for that extra bit of flair. The rest of it is pretty darn good too. =)

[lmsubramaniam]

she's sounds too perfect... it's almost annoying.

[arwentheelf02]

Don't get me wrong, her technique is perfect and she sounds great, but it's in the wrong key!

[SALLYBALD]

Sounds the closest to HEAVEN that I've ever heard!

[choirfreak26]

I'm working on my trill technique right now and it amazes me how easily she trills. I can't trill to save my life but I'll listen to her do it all day :)

[jelf48]

Perfekt....ganz perfekt! Danke sehr.

[levacka]

WOW, her runs are amazing and how her high notes just float!  Beautiful voice!

[2468linkinpark]

i happen to be lynne's son , i was just searching for her on youtube to see if she was on . if you have any questions i would be happy to answer them

[vasrach]

This is the most amazing perfornance of this aria I've ever heard.Brava!

[mojonabeta]

Estupendo :D

[imfe08]

this is a singer that is singing in the english style .emotions has to be in control however her color and her way of doing is touching

[HwangMyungShin]

You know, in the Classical singing, it's not as easy to control the various dynamics and music derections (interpretations), so many Opera singers, simply without depth of interpretation, whereas Lynne Dawson, knows exactly how to control every turn. She's amazing!

[materialmyra]

Personally, I prefer the "B" section to be taken slower around 1:50 so that a contrast of emotion can be shown.

I really like Lynn Dawson's agility in her voice...AMAZING!

[choirfreak26]

I love Lynne! She's got such a crystal voice. It's such a shame she's not as popular as people like Kiri or Renee Fleming.

[ahern112]

This is so much better than Renee Fleming. Fabulous stuff. The first one I've actually who can delineate the notes of the melisma.

[slashess]

this song is ridiculously hard to sing

[luisortmul]

amazing!!! she is also a most marvellous person... it's not fair, lynn! :-)

[DivaSoprano]

Sensational singing

[adreglo]

How strange! This is indeed a marvelous rendition of "rejoice" but when, in this performance, the recitative switches to the alto soloist, in this recording the singer is the alto Hilary Summers ---- how and why is Lynn Dawson superimposed on the picture? It is clearly visible that starting with "Then shall the eyes of the blind..." the words coming out of Lynn Dawson's mouth are "sync'd"

[Firestarjude]

The sound and picture are slightly out of sync throughout this video, but it is very clear that Dawson is singing the recitative. Summers sounds completely different, as she is a contralto with a totally different sound from Dawson, a soprano.

[twalker742]

Lynn Dawson is singing the recitative "Then shall the eyes of the blind..." as well as the following "He shall feed his flock". In addition to an alto followed by a soprano, Handel also composed versions of "He shall feed his flock" for both solo alto and solo soprano. This is the solo soprano version.

[cbiswhite]

This is such a lovely performance! I recorded this version of "The Messiah" on VHS when I was in high school (ten years ago) and loved to play it every Christmas while doing stuff around the house. Dawson gives such a fresh, easy, spirited rendition of these baroque gems.

[edcard29]

She is so lovely!

[gibraltarrr]

she gave me goosebumps!

[Godblessownhome]

She sung with ease. she sings and it really is felt deep inside the heart. Her voice is connected to the heavens

[vocalvideos]

Has anyone ever notice that this is sung with the starting pitch of an E intead of an F? I think I like it better this way!  It sings easier. At least for me! Her jaw is so relaxed too! Amazing performance. Graceful, beautiful, and expressive. Perfect in every way. Thank you for posting.

[homeskyllyt]

yes, ive heard that F is the hardest key to sing in. no idea why. i guess it's the vibration speed or something. whenever choirs sing in F they have a tendency to go flat. its really weird.

[shmuckabein]

Beginning this particular song on the starting pitch of F would not make the song in the key of F, but rather in the key of Bb. as it is most often sung.  However, your comment re:tuning in the key of F is accurate.

[vocalvideos]

The reason it is harder to sing in the key that is sung the most is because of where it sits for most sopranos in their passaggio points. That is why when you hear a lot of choirs sing pieces that sit on that pitch, they are flat. It is simply because of the placement of the note in the head and resonant space. if you do not place the center of the sound in the correct spot for that passaggio note, it will be flat. The passaggio notes are the most difficult notes to sing. Hope this helps.

[inwit]

vocalvideos wrote: "Has anyone ever notice that this is sung with the starting pitch of an E intead of an F? [...]"

Many period-instrument groups/conductors (e.g., The English Concert/Pinnock, English Baroque Soloists/Gardiner, Ensemble 415) performing Baroque pieces frequently use a pitch of A = 415 Hz instead of the modern concert pitch of A = 440 Hz.

(continues . . .)

[inwit]

(. . . continued)

This downward shift in frequency of 25 Hz corresponds to a drop in pitch of about a semitone, which is the difference in pitch between an E and an F. It is probably this which you are noticing.

log_base_2 of (415/440) = -0.0844, which is approximately -0.0833 or -1/12

[cleanmyroomforme]

@inwit damn. touché

[dweems41]

@inwit Looks like the orchestra is playing on Baroque instruments. I think that is why the pitch is different. Back in that time period, and A was not tuned to 440Hz. Oh, looks like you figured that out already. But darn, I was looking for a recording to practice my violin part with!

[poppypoocat]

effortless and beautiful - very poised singing with total vocal control and a nice sense of performance.

[davidpockettrpt]

This is great renditon of the tune, taken at just the right tempo. Ms. Dawson is her perfect self once again, singing every note exactly as it should be sung.

Thanks for posting.

[milford4plus]

I'm going to do this piece in December and it's really hard. Those runs are very difficult it made my solos in Vadaldi's Gloria and Hyden Creation seem like I was singing Twinkle, Twinkle littel Star and I founf them difficult. The second solo she does I can do in my sleep but that's because I have going over it time and again for the past year

[SsteinwayS]

I always thought the lonnnng melismas in this piece were meant to kill the singers. :P

[Gobbi2007]

I agree with bigredsoprano. This IS very good. A good friend of mine was doing this piece over and over, and she would sweat bricks.

[bigredsoprano]

fundfreq,

Are you a vocalist? Are you a soprano? Then you have NO idea what it takes to do this piece. The coloratura is VERY good. I'll take you on any day. I sing with a symphony chorus and do solo work all over. She is pretty good. Definately heard much worse.

Until you can do this, keep your negatives to yourself.

[bigredsoprano]

AnimaeGirl...don't give up. I've been a classical vocalist, a singer for more than 50 years. You CAN do it.

This girl is VERY good at the coloratura sections. They are clean. If you've never sung this, it is very difficult. Fun, but hard.

[bebeistedana]

que voz!

[PopularAnimeGirl]

New goal: Aim to sing like her before I pass on. Okay, too early to talk about death. ^-^;;

[Jane1126]

It would be a thousand years before I could sing like her.

[fundfreq]

does any else here some intonation issues?

[fundfreq]

hear*

[Aniretak205]

I love her!!

[Mipmenco]

Charming.

Gracefull.

[swanningaround]

I love her. By far the best British soprano around. She is beautiful and classy too. Her performance at Diana's funeral of Verdi's Requirem tore my heart out.

[CheerForTearzah]

But she has been better.... Just thinking of "Iphigénie en Aulide"....

[karenscott3]

GRACEFUL!...:) Karen

[meandpepsi]

Beautiful! Absolutely great! This is one of the happiest sacred songs along with the Hallelujah chorus.

[jpstenino]

a student could not ask for a better example of how to do it right. Maestro Stephen Cleobury, the Brandenburg Consort and Lynn Dawson...what a fantastic combination.  Thank you so much for posting!

[Englandpleasent]

She's Beautiful, and she has got a beautiful voice, and the song... It is perfect.

[DonnaElv]

SO Beautiful!

[xgianpatrick]

Brava!

[niklausse]

Beatiful, charming singing! and she stays so elegant and regal all the time , 5 stars

[pizmyr]

I have this on a CD recording with Lynne Dawson singing. It is nice to watch her perform. Beautifully performed!

[jvinikour]

Lovely singing!

[firebreathone]

What year was this performed?

[inwit]

1993