Kathleen Battle - Handel - Semele

Kathleen Battle - Handel - Semele - Myself I shall adore - 1995

Category:

Music

Tags:

• battle
• opera
• handel

[Richardclausen1]

I can't believe all of the comments on her various videos about her "small voice" If you've seen her in person, you know her voice carries beautifully. It's not a heavy overly colored voice, but it ain't small. It is natural, flexible and heavenly. She may have needed some lithium, but she certainly never needed amplificaton, even in the largest house with a full orchestra. Recordings are very deceiving when it comes to the size of a voice. We are blessed to have such a talent.

[bigblatino]

Nitpick all you want. There is no denying that she is one talented woman.

And by the way, I LOVE the dress. She has her own inimitable style.

Brava, Ms. Battle!

[ifluvinguiswrong]

It's amazing - people here love bashing her. If I don't care for someone I don't bother watching their videos. It's as simple as that.

[MrAndredekock]

@Richardclausen1 Bravo! Well said!

[coryisawake]

Don't think her finer vocal qualities are well served here personally. There's no denying the beautiful tone, but the roulades and embellishments aren't precise and are approached in a generic tack.

"Frederick Neumann cites several examples of written-out trills in Handel’s instrumental scores as evidence that Handel favored a lower-note start for trills."

[insuonfestante]

I am a fan of the late Rita Streich as coloratura and I have to say that Battle's recording of "No, no, I'll take no less" from the same oratorio is superb. And yes her grimacing is not as unsightly as Bartoli's, who although a mezzo has usurped the role of Semele.

[Sadiesexy]

Kathleen can sing, and I love it.

[ZKJonathan]

@kinddude totally agree with you. Sometimes people make judgement by believing in gossip without even knowing the truth or to get to know the person in this case. I guess as we grow and mature we know it's a golden rule that when we judge others we will be judged the same way. I hope we all show some kindness to others and learn their strength rather than focusing on shortcomings

.

[ZKJonathan]

@gospelbird22 what kind of gospel have your kind (so-called Christians) been reading-- your language shows you have not been reading any gospel at all. What kind of her reputation has led you make such random comment about her as a human being.

[alecs1976]

@jakeyjazz

if jaw tension had been a problem, why would the voice have lasted as long as it did ? she is 47 in that video with a career of 23 years behind her.... she has won 5 grammys.....the woman has sung at the met. your schoolmasterly comments are somewhat ridiculous!

[gospelbird22]

OH. MY. GOD. I've never seen this video.......but I know who Kathleen Battle is, and I'm aware of both her talent---and her shitty reputation as a human being. I cannot believe this woman brought a MIRROR onstage during a RECITAL to sing "Myself I Shall Adore". If that isn't a spectacularly ironic gesture, I don't know what is.