Grace Bumbry sings Massenet (vaimusic.com)

http://vaimusic.com/VIDEO/DVD_4334_GraceBumbry.htm
Grace Bumbry sings "Pleurez, mes yeux" (excerpt) from "Le Cid" by Jules Massenet
From: VAI DVD 4334 The Art of Grace Bumbry
One of the great voices of the century, Bumbry is captured in her prime in a profile taped for Radio-Canada in 1972.
Orchestre de Radio-Canada
Jacques Beaudry, conductor
John Newmark, piano (1973)
39 minutes, 1972, Black & White
TO PURCHASE THE COMPLETE DVD, PLEASE VISIT www.vaimusic.com OR CALL TOLL-FREE IN THE US 1(800)477-7146 (OUTSIDE OF THE US, CALL 914-769-3691).

Category:

Music

[courtneybaritone01]

RIDICULOUS! If her Medea was so bad she wouldn't have been contracted to sing it, and sing it for the Callas tribute. She and Levine argued over tempi, and approach to the score. I have 2 of her Forzas and it was HARDLY a disaster. The reviews were even great from a critic who was known to be unkind to her. You need to watch what you say. Someone will actually read this crap you wrote and believe it!

[reneecalling]

Don't worry. I won't be moved by other commentators. I just know what I like when I see a good performance.

[michelbril]

not my cup of tea!

[jmccracken1963]

@sillyboydeux Partially not true: she returned in 1984-1985 and in 1985-1986 to sing Bess in PORGY AND BESS (including the first performances of the new production in 84-85 and the broadcast in 85-86) and in the fall of 1986 to sing Amneris in AIDA. And who conducted all of those performances? James Levine. And her New York LE CID was with Eve Queler and Opera Orchestra of New York. But she did sing "Pleurez mes yeux" VERY well at the Bing Farewell Gala on 22 April 1972.

[Laeliapurpurata]

@vivegedda If I love both, how can one be disgusting???

[vivegedda]

@Laeliapurpurata She is disgusting!!!Buy yourself a pair of ears. Listen to Crespin!!

[sillyboydeux]

@BumpBoss I am sorry but her her Eboli was and is better than anyone else's in history, including Giulietta Simionato and Tatiana Troyanos. And her Amneris? Well, like Verretts's Norma, you had to see it to believe it, like a fire of ebony and fury, truly an unprecedented night in the theater! And her Italian diction is always exemplary.

[passion4livin]

@sillyboydeux I think I agree with in a sense...I LOVE Grace Bumbry and I must say she is one of my favorite artists of all time, however, as u said her work as a Mezzo was superb, but her work as a Soprano wasn't as great. She was still accomplished, her work as a soprano just sounded like a mezzo singing soprano. I am much more impressed with Shirley Verretts change of fach!!!

[yeah0304]

Bravo one of the best versions I have heard.

[sillyboydeux]

I need to keep the focus on my observations, which I am entitled to. I think I know when a high A is sung well and when it is screeched. At least for these two ears. If others form their opinions only from others' observations, then it is their loss. I am not their mother. It's a good idea for me to remain open-minded to hear all reactions; otherwise there would be opera wars as well as everything else we have now! Nothing is absolute, that is the only certainty.