Deanna Durbin Jan Peerce - Miserere - Trovatore

Movie star Deanna Durbin never sang at the Metropolitan Opera, which had pursued her since she was 15. Throughout her career, there were always rumors that she would sing at the Met, but they never came true.

Here we have a 25 year old Durbin singing Verdi's Miserere with Metropolitan Opera star Jan Peerce, from the 1947 movie "Something in the Wind".

A year later she would make her last movie and turn her back on the world. She has lived in seclusion in France for nearly 60 years.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Deanna
• Durbin
• Jan
• Peerce
• Trovatore
• Miserere
• Verdi

[pearlmuth3]

I don't know if she ever sang in opera on stage? Then she would not be able to use a microphone but I know Mac Donald did but had a small voice so the reviews where not good for her but Nelson Eddy did opera very well and had a voice of some power. Grayson as far as I know did no opera on stage but I may be wrong on that she may have ??.

[violinthief]

Durbin never sang opera on stage. The Met scouted her from age 13, formally invited her to audition at 15, and stayed in constant contact with her from that point on. She was supposed to sing with the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1945 while filming "Lady on a Train", but the schedules conflicted. In 1947, she and Peerce were supposed to sing La Boheme at the Hollywood Bowl, but it never happened, either.

[madisonelectronic]

Peerce was Robert Merrills' brother in law.

[violinthief]

Not quite - his brother-in-law was Richard Tucker.

[Milordvega]

Very very interesting rendition. In the real opera IL TROVATORE, aside from being sun in Italian, the roles are reversed. The tenor is the one in jail and the soprano is mourning the loss of her lover.

Such a pity that Deanna Durbin didn't continue singing after the 40's. IMHO, she was a better and more attractive singer than Judy Garland.

[Fleur192]

I wish all opera singers sang like this, so simply and beautiful.

[GoldenAmethyst]

Beautiful voice! She is the only other singer I've heard sing this duet that can achieve a true lightness of sound & still reach the lower notes smoothly. Many other singers have too heavy a voice & it doesn't quite fit the role of the character - that's not to say the singers don't have beautiful voices just they don't suit this song. Kitty Carlisle in the Marx Brothers "A Night at the Opera" is the other (& I have to say, it's a shame Deanna didn't choose to do the high Dflat like Kitty does!)

[Ettoredipugnar]

@madisonelectronic  Richard Tuckers

[masteroftheeouse]

This is one of my favorite pieces from Miss Durbin's movies as this duet enhanced my love of Verdi's great music! Miss Deanna Durbin and Mr. Jan Peerce certainly sang this piece beautifully. Oh by the way, as my Italian is poor, I loved the English lyrics. So Brava Deanna Durbin and Bravo Jan Peerce!

[JRobbySh]

Peerce was great. Little guy, though. So was Bob Merrill, the best I think.

[sfyc]

She totally holds her own! I had never taken her seriously until seeing this!

[ShawDAMAN]

@Milordvega something of a fundamentally different *type* of singer thank Garland, but principally I agree.

[MrSammyscroll]

I know it for a fact, listeningtoit, that Mario Lanza never needed a microphone, even if he used one, never needed it with his great, powerful voice....get your facts straight, my friend...

[krmmr]

I love the voices, but WHY English. I sang in opera, knew Peerce, was totally enchanted by his voice and wonderful personality, and will go back to hearing his voice in the languages for which the music was written.

[poshmum]

Deanna Durbin lost to a generation who may well ask Deanna WHO... She was a brave woman and did the right thing for her self I respect that. Thanks for this...

[madisonelectronic]

@madisonelectronic Jeez, how could I have been so stupid?