I love this performance, imperfections et al. Live performance is *very* different than the conditions under which recordings are made. Ms. Fleming looks beautiful, sings with passion and beautiful tone. A very difficult set for any soprano to perform!
I was there and his was a stunning thrilling performance ... Renée was just thrilling ... and also was my friend Violeta ... yes the Bflat is a bit ... flat ... but really this was NOTHING in regard with the overall superlative performance that happened this night .... there are not many singers able to give such gorgeous powerful and dramatic rendition of this fabulous piece ... and BTW ... those who compare with L Price - historical no doubt - recording should not forget this was NOT a live performance ... but anyway Price is Price and her voice was so much bigger than the voice of Renée (but less precise soft and flexible) that any comparison does not make much sense IMHO ... both are definitely among the most beautiful voices ever heard on this earth ...
My god she is GORGEOUS here. And her voice--she was unbeatable in the early 00's. Just marvelous. Thanks for posting (I've never seen this video anywhere else!).
How right you are. Especially when one knows the text of these songs and the epic allure of the character herself, then to be able to have them sung by so beautiful a woman...Wow!
What a load of rubbish are the criticisms voiced here..."it is too low for her".etc etc ..garbage!!! RF is one of THE great voices of her ...and previous... generations! It is ravishingly beautiful and of faultless technique....So she makes some mistakes...who doesn't!! She's human...not an automoton. Get of your priggish opera high horses and stop splitting ridiculous hairs!
Wonderful to have the 2003 Sheherazade. I just wondered whether you had the Massenet arias from the same concert - I have heard that they are superb performances and just as ravishing as the Ravel.
Look, I love Renee. She inspired an entire generation. I feel her nerves here though. Esp the first part of the set. We never know what's going on. Suppose she got this booking in advance but didn't give enough time to fully memorize it and get it in her bones and rehearse with the orchestra or some other personal problem. We never know. She's human. This is a live performance. Can't go back in the studio and fix it. Sing..move on to the next. She's an incredibly hard worker. Understand that she had taken on new roles at least 2 to 3 per season. She cut back on that. But this is EVERY mainstream hugely well known performer. Not just her. But she's only responsible for herself. Look...after learning the piece myself, I feel there's some kind of weird thing she's doing where she's decrescendo to keep every line legato but it's seeming like almost rubato. You cannot do that here. Stay with the orchestra
I love this piece, and have heard many iterations of it. Yes, she makes a few errors, but I think she's marvelous. I think this is a solid performance overall
Dear steinway33! I agree: Ravel has a lot to do with magic and raffinement, but Renee Flemings singing NOT. That is the problem! If you listen to a recording of "Sheherazade" of Renee Flemings teacher, Arleen Auger, you will know what I mean.
I totally agree with Ralph Zedler. Her teacher, Arleen Auger, makes her sound pedestrian. It's too operatic and not nuanced enough. Arleen sounds like an instrument in the orchestra and is much more subtle. Unfortunately, all I can find on youtube at present is the final song.
eoselan7 yes, the so called tiny voice that you say.. its a lot more beautiful than Flemings although I do like Fleming's singing. I've heard Battle live and unmiked, and while its not a booming voice, the voice does carry and is loud enough.
@@boltoht I've heard Battle sing live, and although it is a light voice, her voice is able to be heard. This was some time after the MET firing. Nowadays her carrying power is not as strong, and her voice is rather "raw".
It's nice, if a singer looks great, but her job is not being a model, but a singer. And therefor the voice the voice should be the first thing, which should function - and hers is a very special one, with many not to beautiful parts. For me is has nothing of magic and raffinement.
this is not her piece of cake......its to low for her. she makes even a wrong entrance in the first song. it needs much more refinement instead of her usual operatic exagerations. As often in German music Renee lacks here taste. beatiful voice of course.
@@janetflier6192this has nothing to do with live sining, I hear her usual manierisms and if you follow her masterclasses than you know, its all on purpose. And its so tasteless, American tastelessness.
surchoix Ah-Ha! I figured when I read your previous comment that you were not an American! I am one of Ms. Fleming’s most ardent fans. Whenever I read a negative comment about her, I feel I must come to her defense, not that I have to! If you are going to diss our American idol, at least make sure your negative comment is spelled correctly!!
I fucking love Fleming but wtf was going on here? She forgot the lyrics, missed all her lines, and constantly sounded like she was running out of breath ::sigh:: just gonna go back to listen to her Poemes album where she did a much better recording.
A fascinating, alluring, sensuous and beguiling performance...such rapturously beautiful singing..The enchanting Renee Fleming IS Sheherazade!
I love this performance, imperfections et al. Live performance is *very* different than the conditions under which recordings are made. Ms. Fleming looks beautiful, sings with passion and beautiful tone. A very difficult set for any soprano to perform!
Nancy Wiebe Mazurowski n. Actually, it's kind of refreshing to hear the great Renee Fleming make a mistake. She really is human!!
I am irritated by the continuously coughing audience, especially after the first 10 minutes.
@@canilecananlar ...I don't blame you...!
That first clarinet part gives me chills. So beautiful.
So beautiful. Unfortunately all the coughing audience is a real nerve
I was there and his was a stunning thrilling performance ... Renée was just thrilling ... and also was my friend Violeta ... yes the Bflat is a bit ... flat ... but really this was NOTHING in regard with the overall superlative performance that happened this night .... there are not many singers able to give such gorgeous powerful and dramatic rendition of this fabulous piece ... and BTW ... those who compare with L Price - historical no doubt - recording should not forget this was NOT a live performance ... but anyway Price is Price and her voice was so much bigger than the voice of Renée (but less precise soft and flexible) that any comparison does not make much sense IMHO ... both are definitely among the most beautiful voices ever heard on this earth ...
Wow. She is so stunning in this. I love her in French repertoire. She's equally stunning in Massenet.
My god she is GORGEOUS here. And her voice--she was unbeatable in the early 00's. Just marvelous. Thanks for posting (I've never seen this video anywhere else!).
How right you are. Especially when one knows the text of these songs and the epic allure of the character herself, then to be able to have them sung by so beautiful a woman...Wow!
recordando una belleza
When I listen her trills,
A stir soak into my heart.
Renée Fleming , maravillosa como siempre
What a load of rubbish are the criticisms voiced here..."it is too low for her".etc etc
..garbage!!!
RF is one of THE great voices of her ...and previous... generations! It is ravishingly beautiful and of faultless technique....So she makes some mistakes...who doesn't!! She's human...not an automoton. Get of your priggish opera high horses and stop splitting ridiculous hairs!
yes, I know :( but I love her still. I am doing these on Wednesday at Sydney, Australia! I love this music. Can't wait to tell the story
it's the video... it comes back in many other moments (it also happens with the orchestra)
Wonderful to have the 2003 Sheherazade. I just wondered whether you had the Massenet arias from the same concert - I have heard that they are superb performances and just as ravishing as the Ravel.
Восхитительно:)ڰۣ✿Браво...Браво:)
Look, I love Renee. She inspired an entire generation. I feel her nerves here though. Esp the first part of the set. We never know what's going on. Suppose she got this booking in advance but didn't give enough time to fully memorize it and get it in her bones and rehearse with the orchestra or some other personal problem. We never know. She's human. This is a live performance. Can't go back in the studio and fix it. Sing..move on to the next. She's an incredibly hard worker. Understand that she had taken on new roles at least 2 to 3 per season. She cut back on that. But this is EVERY mainstream hugely well known performer. Not just her. But she's only responsible for herself. Look...after learning the piece myself, I feel there's some kind of weird thing she's doing where she's decrescendo to keep every line legato but it's seeming like almost rubato. You cannot do that here. Stay with the orchestra
The music and performance is great but why do people (audience) cough so much? I am irritated! Things get worse from 12:42. Cough cough & cough!
5:01 fail -> hesitation "Je... Je voudrais voir..."
is this all you have to say? ouch...
@@heisenbergschroedinger
Then listen to Christiane Karg...
I love this piece, and have heard many iterations of it. Yes, she makes a few errors, but I think she's marvelous. I think this is a solid performance overall
Rushing.
Dear steinway33! I agree: Ravel has a lot to do with magic and raffinement, but Renee Flemings singing NOT. That is the problem! If you listen to a recording of "Sheherazade" of Renee Flemings teacher, Arleen Auger, you will know what I mean.
It doesn't pay to know too much! I have heard this before but not in while. Renee Fleming could just scat the vocal and sound great!
I totally agree with Ralph Zedler. Her teacher, Arleen Auger, makes her sound pedestrian. It's too operatic and not nuanced enough. Arleen sounds like an instrument in the orchestra and is much more subtle. Unfortunately, all I can find on youtube at present is the final song.
9:55
when I heard the first phrase, I though "oh no, she's in trouble...".. and the third "Asia..".was shaky ... Battle's version is much better
Battle?! ...the tinny monochromatic voice any mosquito would envy...
eoselan7 yes, the so called tiny voice that you say.. its a lot more beautiful than Flemings although I do like Fleming's singing. I've heard Battle live and unmiked, and while its not a booming voice, the voice does carry and is loud enough.
this is all subjective and your opinion ONLY.
@@latinfreestylesoulvinyl7151 did you hear her live? She was inaudible from beyond the first 3 rows of seats.
@@boltoht I've heard Battle sing live, and although it is a light voice, her voice is able to be heard. This was some time after the MET firing. Nowadays her carrying power is not as strong, and her voice is rather "raw".
It's nice, if a singer looks great, but her job is not being a model, but a singer. And therefor the voice the voice should be the first thing, which should function - and hers is a very special one, with many not to beautiful parts. For me is has nothing of magic and raffinement.
this is not her piece of cake......its to low for her. she makes even a wrong entrance in the first song. it needs much more refinement instead of her usual operatic exagerations. As often in German music Renee lacks here taste. beatiful voice of course.
surchoix Give the woman a break!! This was a live performance. By the way, she DOESN’T lack taste!! Singing in French really suits her voice.
@@janetflier6192this has nothing to do with live sining, I hear her usual manierisms and if you follow her masterclasses than you know, its all on purpose. And its so tasteless, American tastelessness.
surchoix Ah-Ha! I figured when I read your previous comment that you were not an American! I am one of Ms. Fleming’s most ardent fans. Whenever I read a negative comment about her, I feel I must come to her defense, not that I have to! If you are going to diss our American idol, at least make sure your negative comment is spelled correctly!!
I fucking love Fleming but wtf was going on here? She forgot the lyrics, missed all her lines, and constantly sounded like she was running out of breath ::sigh:: just gonna go back to listen to her Poemes album where she did a much better recording.
Lewis Julien I found that the coughing going on between the numbers was much more distracting than any of Renee's mistakes!
Lewis Julien I found that the constant coughing between the numbers was more distracting that any of Renee's mistakes
Regine Crespin.
some very ugly sounds,wierd breaths just not a great performance
at 1:56, is that the video or is that her?