Kathleen Battle - "Sul fil d'un soffio etesio" Nanetta's Aria from Falstaff

Sir George Solti organized a lauded concert version of Falstaff in 1985 and performed it with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Chicago and also in Carnegie Hall. Though Nanetta is a small part, every review of the performance singled out Battle's contribution above all else. This is opera magic that few can ever hope to attain from the opening calling of the Dryads to the final floated note.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kathleen
• Battle
• Falstaff
• Verdi
• Nanetta
• Sul
• fil
• d'un
• soffio
• etesio
• Solti
• Freni
• Bonney
• Netrebko

[Pippin76]

So this is the famous Über-bitch? Shes not bad though.

[FoggyRoad81]

@Pippin76 Not bat? She's sublime. But that's the point isn't it? If she were any less than sublime no one would have put up with bad behavior would they? That's the KB paradox.

[shivastotravali]

Thanks for posting -- it's nice to be reminded of how much fun it was at first to listen to Kathy Battle before she became such a raging egomaniacal nut job. Lovely rendition of this aria.

[FoggyRoad81]

I know how you feel. What's odd to me is that so many of her best performances reflect great collaboration, she and Solti here are singing a lovely duet, the chorus is so nice, it just makes you wonder why she never recognized the importance of those collaborations.

[FoggyRoad81]

1985 was an AMAZING year for her, probably her best ever.

[TheAleph74]

If I had to choose 3 recordings (live or studio) of Kathleen Battle, this would be most likely one of them. Her technique is its best and so is her instrument. In my opinion, this is the best rendition of this aria. Brava!!

[sprayberryjoy]

Her voice is just... gold.... amazing......

[pedrofribeiro]

@FoggyRoad81 1995 was also a fantastic year for her.

[Pippin76]

@FoggyRoad81 Yup, shes sublime :)

[forevermorphingari]

there are 2 sides to every story.and anyway,I don't see why it's not fun to listen to her even after her being fired for acting like a "nut job".she's still an amazing singer.I also saw her last performance at carnegie hall.she's a character :)

[PIPZZZ02]

Magically beautiful.

Worth comparing to Barbara Hendricks ( similarly sensitive &

rapturous). These are the best.

[bcom11]

@shivastotravali well I guess it depends on what you mean by bizarre and embarrassing. I saw her at her most recent Carnegie Hall engagement and she was lovely.

[shivastotravali]

@bcom11

I saw her in action multiple times (I was a huge fan). Live. On stage. In solo recitals.

By the last one, her onstage behavior had become bizarre and embarrassing to witness.

[bcom11]

with that said, this is glorious. it's like a little piece of heaven. i wish there were more singers like this on the stages today :)

foggyroad81, thanks for this upload!