Amneris- A Callas masterclass

The very talented mezzo Sheila Nadler was given a masterclass at Juillard by Maria Callas in the role of Amneris in Aida.
One Callas remark might be astonishing about staying beautiful in any occasion, even in tragedy, at the end. Because Callas would not care, during her career about just sounding or looking beautiful if the dramatic necessity needed more roughness. But one must remember that Amneris is a royal princess, not Santuzza, not Medea.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Maria
• Callas
• Verdi
• Aida
• Amneris
• Sheila
• Nadler
• Mezzo-soprano
• opera
• masterclass
• Juillard-school

[VisualGrower]

thank you for posting this. i listening this video like every 2 months. its really relaxing me.

[foropera]

@VisualGrower : relaxing you? :-) Good!

[Pasunsoprano]

Agingbeauty,nobody's exploring here. The student is very capable of singing this role and the comment of Callas is friendly and professional,the way you speak to a colleague. She works on interpretation,not on registers. Amneris is difficult,because of the tessitura and the powerful character, where you got your conclusions is anybody's guess! You can't conclude what the student felt or what Callas was thinking. Anyway,any Amneris-singing mezzo can learn a lot from this post,so thanks Foropera!

[foropera]

Thank you, that's what I thought, a professional singer can get something from this beautiful shapening of the role.

[DemisLian]

excellent post! I agree with everything, just one correction on the video description please: Medea IS a royal princess, she is no Santuzza or Manon Lescaut!

[foropera]

Well about Medea, I thought that her quality of goddess, grandaughter of the Sun was proeminent on her royalty,and in the idea of Callas, I would believe that would have separated a civilized Egyptian princess from a barbarian one;-). But, yes, she is the daughter of the king of Colchydia.

[GPasta]

I was there. Callas gave true master classes, not excercises in ego as some others.

[bbmt7dh7]

"there is nothing impossible. don't give me that."

lol.

it would've been the experience of a lifetime to be in the same room with her, let alone have a masterclass with her.

[janejones11]

And If only Callas had recorded Amneris. How incredible that would have been ! 

[janejones11]

She's a wonderful teacher. Great insights.

[vitroz]

@agingbeauty Please tell her that her voice is extraordinary and what a WONDERFUL contribution she has made to the art of singing. I would give my left *#$% to have such a voice and to be able to use it with such grace and class. Maria must surely be proud

[vitroz]

WHAT A VOICE!!!!!!

[nutty42]

@Zva26

How true.

[tetrazzini]

What an exiting masterclass !! I love Sheila Nadler's voice, so passionate and generous. Callas advices are very precise, honnest and kind, and it seem really helpful to the student. Callas is very implicated in her role, and she succeed to make Sheila Nadler give her best.

[voceangelo]

Madame Nadler is rising to every challenge that Madame Callas presents. Amazing clip!