Lovely that whoever posted this credited the designer, choreographer, and conductor -- but not this incredibly fabulous soprano!! She is Marnie Breckenridge, and she is amazing. Brava Marnie!!!!!!
It's fun to see her singing this song while wearing Marilyn Monroe's get up for "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The songs have similar concepts where they prefer the material riches over love.
I enjoyed this performance. The "Monroe/Blondes" setting is a clever and interesting addition. I wonder if this song is as much fun for the soprano to sing as it is for the audience, hearing it and reacting/empathizing with its fun spirit.
God bless her! She says with premise of character and sings every last 16th note with beauty. Her gentleman were wonderful, their participation choreographed beautifully without upstaging the diva. Though conceived as a soliloquy, this updated version may be what the aria needs to attract young audiences today. It was performed with great expertise. I congratulate everyone for a remarkable performance!
Absolutely amazing I now have a knew favorite soprano! This was a treat. She is gorgeous to look at and breathtaking to listen to. I am so happy I stumbled onto this version of Glitter and be gay.
Here are the lyrics. Marnie Brekenridge is so good in this! CUNEGONDE Glitter and be gay, That's the part I play; Here I am in Paris, France, Forced to bend my soul To a sordid role, Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance. Alas for me! Had I remained Beside my lady mother, My virtue had remained unstained Until my maiden hand was gained By some Grand Duke or other. Ah, 'twas not to be; Harsh necessity Brought me to this gilded cage. Born to higher things, Here I droop my wings, Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage. And yet of course I rather like to revel, Ha ha! I have no strong objection to champagne, Ha ha! My wardrobe is expensive as the devil, Ha ha! Perhaps it is ignoble to complain... Enough, enough Of being basely tearful! I'll show my noble stuff By being bright and cheerful! Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! Pearls and ruby rings... Ah, how can worldly things Take the place of honor lost? Can they compensate For my fallen state, Purchased as they were at such an awful cost? Bracelets...lavalieres Can they dry my tears? Can they blind my eyes to shame? Can the brightest brooch Shield me from reproach? Can the purest diamond purify my name? And yet of course these trinkets are endearing, Ha ha! I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star, Ha ha! I rather like a twenty-carat earring, Ha ha! If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are! Enough! Enough! I'll take their diamond necklace And show my noble stuff By being gay and reckless! Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! Observe how bravely I conceal The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel. Ha ha ha ha! Last Update: June, 10th 2013
regarding the staging of the aria: for people of my age (b,1946), the reference is instantly recognizable. The film musical: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and the particular song has been associated with Marilyn as a signature piece forever "Diamonds are a girl's Best Friend" (0bvious connection with the satirical content of the song). Lyric sample: A kiss on the hand May be quite continental But diamonds are a girl's best friend A kiss may be grand But it won't pay the rental On your humble flat Or help you at the automat See Marilyn Monroe is the song : th-cam.com/video/knLd8bfeWtI/w-d-xo.html So very apt and clever. And it is obvious that the choreography etc is lifted straight from the film, note the same pink satin gown. I do love the singing and I am glad someone pointed out how outrageous it is not to credit the main artist Ms Breckinbridge. Great showpiece for an accomplishe coloratura. Although I have seen many non native English speakers essay this song (great sopranos like Natalie Dessay and Sumi Jo), somehow I think only native speakers can bring out the full satire of the piece (which worries me when i hear Americans or British singers sing Lieder!!!)
HOMMAGE TO MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE … THIS IS THING ! SHE GOT IT UTTERLY ! WONDERFUL CUNEGONDE … FROM. HOLLYWOOD PERFECT. ! VOLTAIRE - BERNSTEIN 🤩. 🇫🇷 🇺🇸. 🙏🏻
Well the stage is designed like an old fashioned television so I would presume the production takes influences from famous Hollywood moments like Marilyn Monroe in Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend however I don't know much about the plot of Candide
Candide is one of those shows that invites creativity in interpretation. Open your mind. Watch every performance of Glitter and be Gay and enjoy the variety because every one of them is artistically valid!
She is good, very good actually. But her vibrato on the top notes (Ab5-Eb6)? It could definitely use some improvement. Nothing's wrong with a wide vibrato. But if it's too slow (like on those top notes), it produces a highly unnatural sound to the voice. It also poses a risk of singing a note sharp or flat (for example 5:30 sounded like it went sharp, 5:38 sounded like she went down to the next note instead of up to it, and at 5:50 these two notes are indistinguishable when they should be a semitone apart). Is a wide vibrato like hers something the voice can healthfully do? Yes, but it's just untasteful. This is the only thing I wish she would improve. Other than this, I love her performance, I truly do.
Then maybe don’t listen to arias? Lol. Imagine coming to listen to a piece of music know for being very high and very demanding and then bitching about the high notes. Do you also complain about all the singing in musicals?
+robert roberson And Cio-Cio San (Puccini's _Madama Butterfly_) is supposed to be 14. So is Shakespeare's Juliet (adapted into operas as _Roméo et Juliette_ by Gounod, _I Capuleti e i Montecchi_ by Bellini, etc.). Guess how often that happens in practice? There is no way any 17-year-old could possibly do justice to the coloratura parts in this aria, and that's far more important than getting someone whose age matches the character's.
Trivial, mean and ignorant comment. Actors male and female play roles much younger than themselves, particularly in classic plays, music theater and opera. No 17 yr old has played this or any other major coloratura role in a professional production. Knock, knock, it's fantasy.
When you have listened to the Tony award-winning production from Brooklyn College please get back to me. Most of the actors were in their twenties. Babara Cook was also in her early 20s when she turned this into the iconic piece that it is today. And they were considering Julie Andrews at one point who was 18 at the time. But she went on to do My Fair Lady.
This is not a literal interpretation of Voltaire's Candide, as just about anyone should be able to discern. The entire play takes place in a television set! She sings and interprets the song beautifully.
![[TH]FFWS SEA 2024 Fall - Knockout Stage Day 5](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/N2tl9xkQyyU/mqdefault.jpg)
Lovely that whoever posted this credited the designer, choreographer, and conductor -- but not this incredibly fabulous soprano!! She is Marnie Breckenridge, and she is amazing. Brava Marnie!!!!!!
That's me singing Cunegonde! Marnie Breckenridge
+Marnie Breckenridge Congratulations! You gave a brilliant performance.
Marnie Breckenridge Beautiful! They really should put your name is the description and give you cred for your performance
Brava! This is beautiful
Excellent performence
Amazing singing and beautiful looking!
It's fun to see her singing this song while wearing Marilyn Monroe's get up for "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The songs have similar concepts where they prefer the material riches over love.
I enjoyed this performance. The "Monroe/Blondes" setting is a clever and interesting addition. I wonder if this song is as much fun for the soprano to sing as it is for the audience, hearing it and reacting/empathizing with its fun spirit.
God bless her! She says with premise of character and sings every last 16th note with beauty.
Her gentleman were wonderful, their participation choreographed beautifully without upstaging the diva.
Though conceived as a soliloquy, this updated version may be what the aria needs to attract young audiences today.
It was performed with great expertise. I congratulate everyone for a remarkable performance!
What I wouldn't give to be a soprano just for a day so I could sing this song
What an excellent concept! Never thought of it as a Diamond's Are a Girl's Best Friend thing
I can actually understand a lot of what she is singing! Many of the other versions by other singers seem mumbled. BRAVA as well. A really good job.
Wow, I think this is my favorite performance of this song. The clarity of her voice is stunning! The staging is also so clever!
Yeap, she manages to be very clear while doing a lot of physical stuff. Not every performer can do that.
I think her dressing style is Marilyn Monroe’s 😘😘😍😍
Sim Pechchansophea it is, and the whole number is styled as “Diamond’s are a girl’s best friends”
you don't say...
Marrying this song with the visuals of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was a stroke of GENIUS
beautifully sung and certainly an original way of presenting it costume wise. Wonderful how the rest of the musical was costumed as well.
Absolutely brilliant! One of the best I've ever seen or heard!!
Every high note is a joy to the ears: well sustained, round though bright, rich, perfectly on tune. Love it.
That was absolutely brilliant. Wonderful!
Absolutely amazing I now have a knew favorite soprano! This was a treat. She is gorgeous to look at and breathtaking to listen to. I am so happy I stumbled onto this version of Glitter and be gay.
Beautiful!
Djeezzzz!! Brilliant performance and singing while following that choreography.... Amazing!
I'm so happy there's another great rendition next to Barbara Cook's of this aria! Thank you for your exquisite musicianship!! 🥰🥰😍😍😍😍👏👏👏
Wonderful! Thank you so much!
She was freaking amazing! Thank you for posting.
Wonderful!
fabulous!!
Excellent Performance. Great singing and Great acting.
Marvellous ! This must have been so much fun for you !
Here are the lyrics.
Marnie Brekenridge is so good in this!
CUNEGONDE
Glitter and be gay,
That's the part I play;
Here I am in Paris, France,
Forced to bend my soul
To a sordid role,
Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance.
Alas for me! Had I remained
Beside my lady mother,
My virtue had remained unstained
Until my maiden hand was gained
By some Grand Duke or other.
Ah, 'twas not to be;
Harsh necessity
Brought me to this gilded cage.
Born to higher things,
Here I droop my wings,
Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage.
And yet of course I rather like to revel,
Ha ha!
I have no strong objection to champagne,
Ha ha!
My wardrobe is expensive as the devil,
Ha ha!
Perhaps it is ignoble to complain...
Enough, enough
Of being basely tearful!
I'll show my noble stuff
By being bright and cheerful!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!
Pearls and ruby rings...
Ah, how can worldly things
Take the place of honor lost?
Can they compensate
For my fallen state,
Purchased as they were at such an awful cost?
Bracelets...lavalieres
Can they dry my tears?
Can they blind my eyes to shame?
Can the brightest brooch
Shield me from reproach?
Can the purest diamond purify my name?
And yet of course these trinkets are endearing,
Ha ha!
I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star,
Ha ha!
I rather like a twenty-carat earring,
Ha ha!
If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are!
Enough! Enough!
I'll take their diamond necklace
And show my noble stuff
By being gay and reckless!
Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha!
Observe how bravely I conceal
The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel.
Ha ha ha ha! Last Update: June, 10th 2013
Wonderful performance by Marnie Breckenridge. And what a fun “Marilyn” concept. Lovingly directed, too.
Wonderful in its own way.
Bravissima!
BRAVA, DIVA!!!
More like (from We Are Women) brava divina to balletophiles
regarding the staging of the aria: for people of my age (b,1946), the reference is instantly recognizable. The film musical: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and the particular song has been associated with Marilyn as a signature piece forever "Diamonds are a girl's Best Friend" (0bvious connection with the satirical content of the song). Lyric sample:
A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand
But it won't pay the rental
On your humble flat
Or help you at the automat
See Marilyn Monroe is the song
: th-cam.com/video/knLd8bfeWtI/w-d-xo.html
So very apt and clever. And it is obvious that the choreography etc is lifted straight from the film, note the same pink satin gown.
I do love the singing and I am glad someone pointed out how outrageous it is not to credit the main artist Ms Breckinbridge. Great showpiece for an accomplishe coloratura. Although I have seen many non native English speakers essay this song (great sopranos like Natalie Dessay and Sumi Jo), somehow I think only native speakers can bring out the full satire of the piece (which worries me when i hear Americans or British singers sing Lieder!!!)
Love it
Bravo
The best version I've seen/heard in a long while. Thank you!
She really reminds me of BARBIE in this pink dress!
¡GRACIAS!
Beyond the planet around....
Well staged and performed :)
I liked it Marni as Marilyn in Gentlemen prefere blondes.Very good
Bravissima
Brava, Marnita!!!!
HOMMAGE TO MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE …
THIS IS THING ! SHE GOT IT UTTERLY !
WONDERFUL CUNEGONDE … FROM. HOLLYWOOD
PERFECT. !
VOLTAIRE - BERNSTEIN 🤩. 🇫🇷 🇺🇸. 🙏🏻
Why is she dressed like Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes while it's Candide? Good performance anyway
Well the stage is designed like an old fashioned television so I would presume the production takes influences from famous Hollywood moments like Marilyn Monroe in Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend however I don't know much about the plot of Candide
I love this staging. While usually not a fan of updating the Libretto I think this is very clever and cute and it works!
Candide is one of those shows that invites creativity in interpretation. Open your mind. Watch every performance of Glitter and be Gay and enjoy the variety because every one of them is artistically valid!
@@joemiller6975 This suits Candide quite nicely. There's room for interpretation. It's called art.
After Kristin, this is my second best choice (and i heared about 10 versions/divas)...
4:32
She is good, very good actually. But her vibrato on the top notes (Ab5-Eb6)? It could definitely use some improvement. Nothing's wrong with a wide vibrato. But if it's too slow (like on those top notes), it produces a highly unnatural sound to the voice. It also poses a risk of singing a note sharp or flat (for example 5:30 sounded like it went sharp, 5:38 sounded like she went down to the next note instead of up to it, and at 5:50 these two notes are indistinguishable when they should be a semitone apart). Is a wide vibrato like hers something the voice can healthfully do? Yes, but it's just untasteful. This is the only thing I wish she would improve. Other than this, I love her performance, I truly do.
Where are the H's in hahahaha??
Shahrdad Haha! ;)
Lillian Groag
This is great... apart from the acting 😅😅😅
Vibrato you could drive a truck through.
Marilyn goes Opera? Not my idea on entertainment. And besides that, My ears are bleeding from those DAMN high notes.
Then maybe don’t listen to arias? Lol. Imagine coming to listen to a piece of music know for being very high and very demanding and then bitching about the high notes. Do you also complain about all the singing in musicals?
Too old to play Cunegonda. She is supposed to be all of 17 not the Marylin thing is brilliant.
+robert roberson And Cio-Cio San (Puccini's _Madama Butterfly_) is supposed to be 14. So is Shakespeare's Juliet (adapted into operas as _Roméo et Juliette_ by Gounod, _I Capuleti e i Montecchi_ by Bellini, etc.). Guess how often that happens in practice? There is no way any 17-year-old could possibly do justice to the coloratura parts in this aria, and that's far more important than getting someone whose age matches the character's.
Trivial, mean and ignorant comment. Actors male and female play roles much younger than themselves, particularly in classic plays, music theater and opera. No 17 yr old has played this or any other major coloratura role in a professional production. Knock, knock, it's fantasy.
When you have listened to the Tony award-winning production from Brooklyn College please get back to me. Most of the actors were in their twenties. Babara Cook was also in her early 20s when she turned this into the iconic piece that it is today. And they were considering Julie Andrews at one point who was 18 at the time. But she went on to do My Fair Lady.
This is not a literal interpretation of Voltaire's Candide, as just
about anyone should be able to discern. The entire play takes place in a television set! She sings and interprets the song beautifully.
If you like it, that is fine. It doesn't mean that is good. It means that you like it.
Wonderful!!!