Verrett sings Amneris - Amsterdam 71

The Judgement scene by Verrett,amazingly never recorded in studio.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Verdi
• Verrett
• Aida
• Amneris
• Judgement
• Amsterdam

[VVSolkin]

She is really great. She is Amneris.

[barneswriter]

superb dramatic actress too as well as one of the best mezzos of her generation. I always was thrilled by her total commitment.

[OperaMystery80]

Wow no words blown away by Shirley's magnificent signing. She understood the character of Amneris very well. She sang it in opera houses but unfortunately never for a studio recording. Grace Bumbry, her rival, appeared to have had better success with the role with the public/critics. For TV, Verrett did sing the Judgement Scene in a biography about her career (it's on Youtube). She is simply amazing. This is truly the right way to sing Amneris with both powerful low notes/ brilliant high top.

[domi2020]

Is this a concert piece or did she sing Amneris in Amsterdam in 1971- what a wonderful voice. I think of the 2 MZ that reigned in Verdi in the lates 60s to early 80s- she is preferable to Bumbry.

[barneswriter]

Blessed Shirley we treasure your memory

[meltzerboy]

@Zva26 LOL. Thanks for the info!

[Zva26]

@meltzerboy Horne actually sang a very compelling Amneris, and she sounded fabulous. However, she lacked the thrust that you allude to. Her booming chest notes were impressive, but the truth is that she didn't really belong in Ancient Egypt or the Hills of Biscay. Podles, however, is as scary as hell. Her first note could have been used in the film "The Omen". She spooks you out and thunders through the second part like a singing shark. Great performance!

[meltzerboy]

@Zva26 Eva Podles must have been great as Ulrica! I didn't even realize she sang that kind of stuff, outside of her fabulous bel canto roles. I agree that Amneris is quite a role for a great mezzo. Did Horne sing it as well? If so, she probably was not as good as Verrett due to the relative lack of thrust of her voice. (Horne, of course, excels in Rossini, Meyerbeer, and so on.)

[Zva26]

@meltzerboy - A pity is right. Sutherland and Pavarotti WERE fine in that performance as well. It's just that Verrett was just so "wacko" and "ballistic" that I found her thrilling. I love Trovatore, but it's kind of strange that for me, the Azucena role is THE best role in the opera. I also find that Amneris has the strongest role in Aida. Verdi wrote some fabulous stuff for the mezzo. I even love Eboli and Ulrica (sung by Eve Podles in Houston in 2009 --- a REALLY spooky and scary voice!

[meltzerboy]

@Zva26 I was there at the Met (in the audience, of course). No doubt about it, Verrett was magnificent. But she did not exactly steal the show: Pavarotti and Sutherland were both just as good, especially in the Miserere scene, and also in their big arias. I disagree with those who say Leonora was not Sutherland's role. The production, however, was awful; in fact, Sutherland talks disparagingly about it in her autobiography. It is a pity we lost these three great singers.

[isabella1954able]

MAGNIFICA!

[conmaleta]

BRAVA BRAVA BRAVA BRAVA,,,, AMAZING