I can't even describe the beauty of Miss Battle's voice. It's otherworldly. So much control, yet sounds so effortless. Listening to this is like walking on a cloud while being sprinkled with every precious jewel there is.
VoiceVirtuoso, what a fantastic way to describe the experience of listening to Pristine Kathleen. "Like walking on a cloud while being sprinkled with every kind of precious jewel there is." I am a writer who loves words, and I am touched by your description!
There will never be another Kathleen Battle like Maria Callas. I was never into classical music, especially classical singers but when I first heard Kathleen I was hooked and it was this song that grabbed my attention. It's to bad she is no longer recording like she use to. Heavenly...high pitches are beyond perfect.
The same thing happened to me. Kathleen Battle drew me into classical music. Unfortunately if you start out with her, you get so spoiled that it is difficult to be pleased by other voices. And I totally agree on your last remark "high pitches are beyond perfect. Thus far no-one else has ever topped that.
I have long been mesmerized by this little piece of music and how utterly perfectly Kathleen Battle performs it, it does give goosebumps especially at the 5:01 moment...
This is even better than the studio recording, which was itself perfection. I have no words to express my admiration, just the deepest sense of gratitude.
I was captivated by Ms Sills in 1970 and then about 10 years later another silvery, silky, velvety voice came along that totally captivated me again: Ms Battle. This aria is beautifully sung and her legato line is sublime and the soft tops are Heavenly. I think it is the aria itself that is so different in its mood to Marten aller arten and here Ms Battle is absolutely in command and totally beautiful, unlike her Marten aller arten, which became shrill and harsh. Bravissima Ms Battle.
This photo was taken from the Rainforest Foundation Benefit Concert, where Miss Battle performed, among many other artists, including Billy Joel, Sting and James Taylor in May of 2008.
Ok..I'm gonna say this....ONE TIME...even at age 60...you don't want NOTHING from Miss Battle....you hear me! She is in FULL COMMAND of her instrument. At 5:00..did you hear how she STANDS UP in those notes.....take my advice...you don't want no parts of Kathleen....Live it, Love it..LEARN IT!!
I'm listening now...and I realized this is a step higher than Sumi Jo's version, which was my favorite up til now! Still listening...still deciding which is my favorite!
Wonderful live - definitely better than the recording. I suspect that this is from quite some years back as the voice sounds so young and fresh and the top E's come so easily....Not that it matters - great performance!
What year is this live performance? Is this in 2010? She sounds like she did in the 80s. I don't think this is a recent performance but still, what an amazing one! Brava!!
Su voz es un pequeño milagro...sencilla...sentida...expresiva..Kathleen.Battle nunca olvidare tu recial en el Teatro Colon ...y amor dame coraje.... del Romeo et Julliete de Gounod.
@472Shasha i love Natalie Dessay, but I think her version sounds a little sloppy next to Battle's. Regardless, I am excited about Dessay's Violetta in Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera next month. Can't wait.
Really? So the piece is transposed above to C major? The notes she sings from 05:01 to 5:03 are 3 F#6s? And the octave jump is from C#4 to E6? This does make a lot of sense, as the piece does sound really higher than usual, and the pitch cannot be claimed to be altered due to a possible speed problem during the transfer process, as this is the slowest Vorrei she sang, whose record is available online.
@@PensadorProfundo42 They are F6 Naturals @ 5:01-5:03 from what I matched on the piano. The octave leap she does is Low B3 just below middle C4 to Eb6. The C#4 that you mentioned is correct, but she phrases down a whole step to B3 then leaps octavely upwards to Eb6. I have this recording, along with 2 other live recordings of this concert piece by Battle- from 1980 and 1982
@@baritoneblazzin1965 hello, again! Thank you so much for your response! It does make a lot of sense that the piece is tuned higher, as it sounds really higher than usual, both Battle and the winds. This is a beautiful artifact, as it shows 3 beautifuly controlled and sustained F6s. I questioned if they were F#6, only as Sophia pointed out that the piece was two steps transposed up. To me, it did sound higher, but not that much, so a single step upward transposition makes perfect sense. Are any of those recordings of yours available somewhere on youtube, by any chance?
Temperamental diva? Sure. Not very nice to devoted fans asking for an autograph? Yes. Ignoring questions from young budding opera singers? Totally. Exhilarating and limpid? Yes. Even though she's quite messy I will always be a fan LOL
If you feel that Kathleen Battle is "quite messy", you obviously are unaware of the queen of messy drunken diva tantrums and other unprofessional behaviors known as Maria Callas!
@@Ronizetti I never suggested anything so absurd. My point is that certain people make it their life's mission to criticize Kathleen Battle as though she is the ONLY classical vocalist with flaws. Don't put down one, while you lift high and celebrate another who is much, much worse!
@@Ronizetti Quite the contrary! I simply seek the level playing field which seems to evade the reality and consciousness of this so-called "civilized" society. I have yet to read your admonishment directed at those who delight in jumping on the bash Kathleen Battle bandwagon.
I love Kathleen's lovely voice on this aria and, yet, I still prefer Margaret Price's interpretation. She gives it such drama in her presentation. But, Ms Battle is incomparable and her voice is uniquely signature.
The joy and happiness this woman's voice gave to humanity in general are more than canceled out in the karmic ledger by the shameful high-handedness and cruelty with which she treated her colleagues throughout her career. Time and again, kind and considerate co-workers were greeted with disrespect, scorn and piggishness from this hideous Gorgon. It's not as if she were a hochdramatisch who must be coddled and handled delicately due to her great value to the industry. Soubrettes are a dime a dozen and may be found on every street corner. Miss Battle had an inflated view of her value in the industry, and paid the price for her prima donna antics.
Kathleen Battle, who was "fired" by the Metropolitan Opera at the very height of a stellar, brilliant career was a victim of a conspiratorial whispering campaign. I was a firsthand witness at San Francisco Opera. A group of "men," whose sole purpose of being volunteers for performances was to take pictures with opera stars, and pretend to cozy up to them, praise them to their faces, etc., found out Ms. Battle didn't play that game. I witnessed how they began by calling her a BLACK "B-word" backstage. This was followed by some ignorant ranting about how she held her mouth, and many other insulting pieces of gossip. FACT THEY DIDN"T KNOW: It got back to her, and she began to disengage from those backstage non-professionals, and her envious co-stars who perpetuated this "mean-girl" behavior. While she felt she should be able to prepare for, and perform her work at the best of her ability, this "negative work environment" harassment got to her. Yes. She asked, no doubt, that those onstage not stare at her. Who wouldn't. How can you stay focused and in character while your colleagues, and extras, stare at you even when it is not in the plot or music? Eventually, I am sure it got to her. These same "men" reported her adamant, firm requests/demands to stay away from her to "Management". If you are a BLACK QUEEN, you have no doubt lived through similar hounding: You get enough complaints to your management on any job, that you are "Difficult" to work with, and BAM! Management starts to believe the reports, even without knowing the rest of the story. Your perfect work undermined, you're out of a job. For Ms. Battle, it nearly meant out of her career, in which she towered over her proteges. Learn from that story. What you hear is not always the complete story. BUT everybody believes it. IT CAN DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY. It drove Ms. Battle to the Lord GOD! An advocate in the time of need. First, the Billy Graham Crusade engaged her to sing spirituals at that same time. Then, Wynton Marsalis recorded and performed with her. Then, other Jazz legends. God brought her through. Don't believe what the "industry" says about BLACK WOMEN, or MEN. Remember, James Levine was molesting very young men at the time he fired her! Placido Domingo was insisting his ingenues play the game with him! Both worked in Opera long after Ms. Battle was fired for "unprofessional" behavior! It took TIMES" UP! for people to began to see how this stuff really is behind the scenes!
I can't even describe the beauty of Miss Battle's voice. It's otherworldly. So much control, yet sounds so effortless. Listening to this is like walking on a cloud while being sprinkled with every precious jewel there is.
Exactly! This is an absolutely apt description!
VoiceVirtuoso
VoiceVirtuoso, what a fantastic way to describe the experience of listening to Pristine Kathleen. "Like walking on a cloud while being sprinkled with every kind of precious jewel there is." I am a writer who loves words, and I am touched by your description!
Her line is effortless! This is complete and utter perfection!
5 people are deaf. How can anyone dislike this vocal perfection? It's like disliking the singing of an angel.
this piece will remains miss Battle signature , incomparable! thank you so much for sharing.
I have heard Ms. Battle in concert many times, and it has been my experience that she often sounds better live......
There will never be another Kathleen Battle like Maria Callas. I was never into classical music, especially classical singers but when I first heard Kathleen I was hooked and it was this song that grabbed my attention. It's to bad she is no longer recording like she use to. Heavenly...high pitches are beyond perfect.
She's simply a miracle...
A lament aria endowed with the masterfully measured vibratos of Kathleen Battle. What else could the ear and the soul wish for?
The most beautiful high notes which makes the soul weep . Choose not to live one day without listening to this most beautiful voice .
Beautiful! I never tire of this aria and done to perfection by Ms. Battle.
The same thing happened to me. Kathleen Battle drew me into classical music. Unfortunately if you start out with her, you get so spoiled that it is difficult to be pleased by other voices. And I totally agree on your last remark "high pitches are beyond perfect. Thus far no-one else has ever topped that.
Beverly Hoch has sounded equal to this... she doesn't have the sexy musicality of Battle though.
UNBELIEVABLE!!! SO SO GOOD.
I have long been mesmerized by this little piece of music and how utterly perfectly Kathleen Battle performs it, it does give goosebumps especially at the 5:01 moment...
I have to agree with another poster..this IS BETTER THAN HER MOZART RECORDING! Unbelievable!!!
This is even better than the studio recording, which was itself perfection. I have no words to express my admiration, just the deepest sense of gratitude.
Really beautiful! Goosebumps!!
Speaks to my Soul. Reeling from world events and healed by this extraordinary beauty.
Happy 71st Anniversary Of Life
Our Dearest, Kathleen Battle
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
All Love, Honor & Respect
For Your Precious Gift To Us ALL!
Perfection.
lovely!
Bravissimi!
Happy 72nd Life Anniversary
August 13, 2020
Our Dearest Soprano, Kathleen Battle
Happy 73rd Anniversary Of Life
Friday, August 13, 2021
Dearest & Most Precious Kathleen Battle
You Are Indeed A Gift To Us ALL!
Very clean💜
It's not Kathleen but the Spirit itself. For me it was a religious experience to hear this piece.Magestic and Devine.
Fantastic
preciosa
I was captivated by Ms Sills in 1970 and then about 10 years later another silvery, silky, velvety voice came along that totally captivated me again: Ms Battle. This aria is beautifully sung and her legato line is sublime and the soft tops are Heavenly. I think it is the aria itself that is so different in its mood to Marten aller arten and here Ms Battle is absolutely in command and totally beautiful, unlike her Marten aller arten, which became shrill and harsh. Bravissima Ms Battle.
This photo was taken from the Rainforest Foundation Benefit Concert, where Miss Battle performed, among many other artists, including Billy Joel, Sting and James Taylor in May of 2008.
Ok..I'm gonna say this....ONE TIME...even at age 60...you don't want NOTHING from Miss Battle....you hear me! She is in FULL COMMAND of her instrument. At 5:00..did you hear how she STANDS UP in those notes.....take my advice...you don't want no parts of Kathleen....Live it, Love it..LEARN IT!!
I'm listening now...and I realized this is a step higher than Sumi Jo's version, which was my favorite up til now! Still listening...still deciding which is my favorite!
The Three Graces: Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, and Marian Anderson!
But what about Jessye Norman? And Shirley Verrett. Love them all.
Wonderful live - definitely better than the recording. I suspect that this is from quite some years back as the voice sounds so young and fresh and the top E's come so easily....Not that it matters - great performance!
What year is this live performance? Is this in 2010? She sounds like she did in the 80s. I don't think this is a recent performance but still, what an amazing one! Brava!!
me ha encantado.................una interpretacion preciosa....................
This is an even better performance than the one on her Mozart CD. This is truly the best performance of this aria I've heard so far. Brava Ms. Battle!
This version is better than her CD recording, in my opinion. Perfect! Does anyone know the year this concert was given?
mbaggarly I agree. And I love that version.
This is even better than her recording for EMI.
Su voz es un pequeño milagro...sencilla...sentida...expresiva..Kathleen.Battle nunca olvidare tu recial en el Teatro Colon ...y amor dame coraje.... del Romeo et Julliete de Gounod.
Bravooo
Божественно!
@bcom11 1980, Berlin.
Thanks for posting this Armand. Do you know where was this picture taken? It seems very recent.
@472Shasha i love Natalie Dessay, but I think her version sounds a little sloppy next to Battle's. Regardless, I am excited about Dessay's Violetta in Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera next month. Can't wait.
The tuning is a hole tone higher!!! Wind's faulte...but... impresive!!!
Really? So the piece is transposed above to C major? The notes she sings from 05:01 to 5:03 are 3 F#6s? And the octave jump is from C#4 to E6? This does make a lot of sense, as the piece does sound really higher than usual, and the pitch cannot be claimed to be altered due to a possible speed problem during the transfer process, as this is the slowest Vorrei she sang, whose record is available online.
@@PensadorProfundo42 They are F6 Naturals @ 5:01-5:03 from what I matched on the piano. The octave leap she does is Low B3 just below middle C4 to Eb6. The C#4 that you mentioned is correct, but she phrases down a whole step to B3 then leaps octavely upwards to Eb6. I have this recording, along with 2 other live recordings of this concert piece by Battle- from 1980 and 1982
@@baritoneblazzin1965 hello, again! Thank you so much for your response! It does make a lot of sense that the piece is tuned higher, as it sounds really higher than usual, both Battle and the winds. This is a beautiful artifact, as it shows 3 beautifuly controlled and sustained F6s. I questioned if they were F#6, only as Sophia pointed out that the piece was two steps transposed up. To me, it did sound higher, but not that much, so a single step upward transposition makes perfect sense.
Are any of those recordings of yours available somewhere on youtube, by any chance?
@Sophiart Papadimitropoulou Artist - not quite, it's a semitone.
@@aworysse I hear a bit more but in any case it is lovely and one of my favorites concert arias!!!!
can you please tell us when this is being performed?
Was this recording from 2008 also? I heard her live in 2006 and she was in FINE form and put on quite a show in her hometown of Portsmouth Ohio.
@mbaggarly You got that right!
@4:54 through 5:25 My goodness!!
What year was this?
1983.
Ms Sills, easily. :D
when was this performance???? please tell me
What year pleeeeeeeeeze?
David Perkins early 1980's circa 1983, around the time when she was singing a lot of Vorrei's
Temperamental diva? Sure. Not very nice to devoted fans asking for an autograph? Yes. Ignoring questions from young budding opera singers? Totally. Exhilarating and limpid? Yes. Even though she's quite messy I will always be a fan LOL
If you feel that Kathleen Battle is "quite messy", you obviously are unaware of the queen of messy drunken diva tantrums and other unprofessional behaviors known as Maria Callas!
@@ChagoWilson - as if someone else's reputation absolves anothers!? - NOPE
@@Ronizetti I never suggested anything so absurd. My point is that certain people make it their life's mission to criticize Kathleen Battle as though she is the ONLY classical vocalist with flaws. Don't put down one, while you lift high and celebrate another who is much, much worse!
@@ChagoWilson - from reading above, it may behoove your cause not to be the example of that which you decry ...
@@Ronizetti Quite the contrary! I simply seek the level playing field which seems to evade the reality and consciousness of this so-called "civilized" society. I have yet to read your admonishment directed at those who delight in jumping on the bash Kathleen Battle bandwagon.
I love Kathleen's lovely voice on this aria and, yet, I still prefer Margaret Price's interpretation. She gives it such drama in her presentation. But, Ms Battle is incomparable and her voice is uniquely signature.
I truly love her voice...but in my opinion, Sills' version is the best.
The joy and happiness this woman's voice gave to humanity in general are more than canceled out in the karmic ledger by the shameful high-handedness and cruelty with which she treated her colleagues throughout her career. Time and again, kind and considerate co-workers were greeted with disrespect, scorn and piggishness from this hideous Gorgon. It's not as if she were a hochdramatisch who must be coddled and handled delicately due to her great value to the industry. Soubrettes are a dime a dozen and may be found on every street corner. Miss Battle had an inflated view of her value in the industry, and paid the price for her prima donna antics.
Kathleen Battle, who was "fired" by the Metropolitan Opera at the very height of a stellar, brilliant career was a victim of a conspiratorial whispering campaign. I was a firsthand witness at San Francisco Opera. A group of "men," whose sole purpose of being volunteers for performances was to take pictures with opera stars, and pretend to cozy up to them, praise them to their faces, etc., found out Ms. Battle didn't play that game. I witnessed how they began by calling her a BLACK "B-word" backstage.
This was followed by some ignorant ranting about how she held her mouth, and many other insulting pieces of gossip.
FACT THEY DIDN"T KNOW: It got back to her, and she began to disengage from those backstage non-professionals, and her envious co-stars who perpetuated this "mean-girl" behavior.
While she felt she should be able to prepare for, and perform her work at the best of her ability, this "negative work environment" harassment got to her. Yes. She asked, no doubt, that those onstage not stare at her. Who wouldn't. How can you stay focused and in character while your colleagues, and extras, stare at you even when it is not in the plot or music? Eventually, I am sure it got to her.
These same "men" reported her adamant, firm requests/demands to stay away from her to "Management".
If you are a BLACK QUEEN, you have no doubt lived through similar hounding: You get enough complaints to your management on any job, that you are "Difficult" to work with, and BAM!
Management starts to believe the reports, even without knowing the rest of the story.
Your perfect work undermined, you're out of a job.
For Ms. Battle, it nearly meant out of her career, in which she towered over her proteges.
Learn from that story. What you hear is not always the complete story. BUT everybody believes it. IT CAN DRIVE A PERSON CRAZY.
It drove Ms. Battle to the Lord GOD! An advocate in the time of need.
First, the Billy Graham Crusade engaged her to sing spirituals at that same time. Then, Wynton Marsalis recorded and performed with her. Then, other Jazz legends.
God brought her through.
Don't believe what the "industry" says about BLACK WOMEN, or MEN.
Remember, James Levine was molesting very young men at the time he fired her! Placido Domingo was insisting his ingenues play the game with him! Both worked in Opera long after Ms. Battle was fired for "unprofessional" behavior!
It took TIMES" UP! for people to began to see how this stuff really is behind the scenes!
@@ChagoWilson p
@@paultaylor6821 "p" ??????
She awesome but I think Natalie Dessay is even better:)
Natilie has all the fireworks, but an ugly tone. Cant really compare the two.