Shirley Verrett sings Isolde's Liebestod in 1977
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- A rare Death of Isolde by Shirley Verrett and Zubin Mehta at the Avery Fisher Hall (after her Exultate Jubilate by Mozart). Have a look at her Alceste too, here: • Shirley Verrett and Ba...
- Hudba
Verrett was tremendous in many ways, but to me, what set her apart was the complete emotional involvement. There was never any doubt that she felt the character, and the music, very deeply. She was extraordinary.
I would have thrown flowers on the stage..best version ever!
Shirley Verrett was truly a vocal force of nature. She sang mezzo roles and could still command the soprano roles as well. Her repertoire was incredibly diversified.......Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Saint Saens, Wagner, Beethoven, Bizet, and Mozart. Opera lovers adored her and with good reason. There will be no replication of her. Like Maria Callas, she's immortal.
Larry Mitchell I think in an opera book I read years ago said something like "only the Queen of the Night is beyond her...but hey there is still time..."
baritonebynight An amazing singer, one of the all time "greats" with the most eclectic repertoire. Still can't say whether she was a dramatic soprano or a dramatic mezzo soprano. She was a singer period, and there was very little that ever stood in her way. She was unstoppable and like Callas, in a galaxy of her own.
+Larry Mitchell She's mostly regarded as a Falcon, but I think she could've definitely sung as a dramatic soprano if she wanted to.
+TheDarkSongbird - You are absolutely right! She sang quite a few soprano roles as well as mezzo roles. She also had a formidable florid technique. Her vocal makeup was quite similar to that of Callas. In fact, I consider Verrett on a par with Callas.
The reason she sang mezzo roles for so long was that the Met didn't need any more sopranos and in fact they were upset when she insisted on the change.
Truly one of the greatest singers of all time, past, present, or future. A national treasure for sure.
She is simply one of the greatest singers of the 20th Century.
I could listen to this hundreds of times and never ever tire of it this is high artistry
This makes me cry every time I hear it
Crying here
This is a living testament of the art and beauty of the eternal Shirley Verrett. To command the Mild und Leise in such effortless performance is a proof of her many vocal and theatrical assets. Just pure art and good taste.
Rest in peace one of the greatest artists ever.
She was a truly, truly great artist. She is sadly missed.
One of the most beautiful things I've ever heard...
What a glorious surprise from this beautiful singer. I never knew she had sung this. Thank you so much!
I always get tears eyed during this performance
Heavenly... touching... What an artist!
"She is so locked in" (smile) I like that, and you are so right. She truly left us a gift.
Verrett's breath control is from another dimension here......Exquisite.....
i cried with her at the end...beautiful.
Sei tra le più grandi di tutti i tempi.ARTISTA MERAVIGLIOSAMENTE. MERAVIGLIOSA!
Unbelievably beautiful. Up there with Norman's and Nilson's. Brava Shirley, you are missed!
I had such a crush on Shirley when I was in high school back in the 70’s. Hard to believe she’s gone.
Shirley Verrett has always amazed me. She was too often over-looked. She emoted so freely, and naturally, and her voice was electrifying and beautiful. Her singing was meaningful. She amazes me again singing Wagner with such passion. Rest in Peace Shirley......well done.
Am I an ignoramus? I have never heard anything by this woman before, and here she is doing Wagner amazingly well. I like that she is aware of the emotion of this piece, as well as the technical skills. Really like this.
Such overwhelmingly wonderful, emotional music!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this very, very much! Thank you for this most enjoyable post!
Stunning.. she lived every word, every note.. Rest in peace angel
Exquisite, stunning. Brought tears to my eyes.
She always sang so beautifully and looked so magnificent.
The great Shirley Verrett - ah she could sing anything and make it her own. That was a marvelous performance.
Tears...
Verrett's "unbewusst" is a pure wonder... This performance might have been my 50iest Liebestod or so, yet it brought me to tears.
I've come back to this particular version of the Liebestod again and again, and still find it to be my personal favorite- even among the other great singers that have sung it before her. Her characterization is so exacting, and then to watch her as the piece resolves submit to the music is shattering. She is sublime in this. Brava La Verrett!
this is mind-blowing !!!!
One of my favorite arias with it's haunting orchestration that ends gloriously, and one of my favorite soprano's. What a great combination,, although I admit other sopranos have more robust voices who just blew this aria out of the water (like Jessye Norman) but still, I like what I heard..Wonderfull.
I love Her tremendous performance, and interpolation ! She understand the text !
I love you verret. rest in peace
The Hindus believe Shiva, the God of transformation, responsible for evolution, is the father of all artists. The feminine aspect of Shiva is Kali, the sacred mother of all the universe. I believe from time to time the sacred mother wants to sing for her children. Then she materializes in a human body and sings. This video is a permanent record of one such case.
A Colourful but apt description ! Although others may think Verrett wasn't a Wagnerian Soprano, this is my favourite version of the Liebestod.
I would have released my spirit in death at the end of that performance...who could do something as base as 'clapping'?? She has taken this aria to a new REALM!! I thought Margaret Price's was the best rendition but ... I have no words worthy of praising her! SPECTACULAR! Unparallelled!!
I can't get enough of her version of this aria. Shirley evokes so much passion and emotion with each phrase....BRAVO
The acting, the singing...Omg...such beauty. I think the reaction from the crowd was so incredibly lack-luster it was offensive.
I love Verrett.
Here, here... Your comment is beautifully written and 100% accurate... I am ecstatic every time I look at /listen to this..
Well I've always thought she had superstar status! She can sing everything fantasticly
RIP Baby you were wonderful.
Actually, from what I've read about Shirley Verrett, she only sang the music that was comfortable for her voice to sing and do. As the saying goes, "As long as the music you sing doesn't hurt your voice, no harm in singing it".
YES SHIRLEY!
oh my god! its like taking bath in sound.
Thank you with all my heart
how did the audience not jump out of their body after such art?!
Radiant singing, and a radiance from her soul. A brilliant artist.
Verrett sings this with soul and passion! Just absolutely beautiful.
Beautiful rendition, great artists, soprano and conductor.
I JUST LOVE IT!
Verrett is always amazing. Very few singers can match her range or versatility. I've don't remember ever hearing her be less than completely persuasive in any role or song.
OH MY GOD!! :-O Thank you Shirley x
How wonderful! Thank you very much for sharing this - pure delight!
Nice interpretation of one of my favorite aria's, and the voice has to be agile and strong enough to rise above Wagner's deep and overpowering orchestration. I think the audience might have thought that this aria wasn't as great a fit for Ms Verrett's voice, compared to that of Jessye Norman or Birgit Nilsson or Waltraud Meier. The darkness of the Wagner repertory can dominate the vocalist so she has to have a strong voice to master it. Zubin Mehta knows how to regulate the orchestra so that the voice can be heard to it's max ability. I love Shirley Verrett and have heard her voice in much more stellar roles than this one. Regardless, the haunting imagery of this aria and it's lyrics puts anyone in a trance, especially me lol...
Absolutely.. it was fascinating to take on. And I quite enjoyed this ..coming back to it over the years.
Daniel Raphael
For sure Daniel, It's one of my all time favorite arias (along with Casta Diva and I'o son Lumila Ancella and a bunch of othes) and it's always superbly performed in the voice that matches the tessitura of the piece. I think Ms Verrett's voice isn't a great fit for this one in particular but it doesn't underestimate where she is strongest in other roles at all...
Astonishing and stupefying. An emotional and spiritual expression of wonderous beauty. Brava Verrett.
Glorious!
Reduced to tears everytime it's sheer ecstasy, abandon, celestial eternal.
glad to see one of my relative doing so great..the extended
verett family.( simply beaytiful.)
brought me to tears...
Beautiful woman. An angel. The true artist. Lots of love.
ooooo that was wonderful, thanks for the upload! thanks Shirles!
Wow this is fabulous.
beautiful!
Definitely right up there with the other fine renditions on CZcams.
Magnifique. Magistral. Superbe.
This music of Wagner is very lead for singing (duet singer plus Wagner). Often i think that in this aria i like Jessye Norman...for a example....but no...Shirley Verrett is so more best for me!!! She is very high level good singer!!!
Superb!
I have heard Verrett sing roles from Azucena to Norma. She was a force of nature. This is perhaps one of my favorite Liebestods. This woman could sing just about anything, and was an amazing actress. Her technique was, IMO, flawless. She took so much flack for singing dramatic soprano roles. People wanted to pigeon-hole her, but she was having none of it. She sang what suited her. I so miss her.
I completely agree. Opera-goers will be quite lucky to ever hear live-singing like this ever again. I'd clear my bank account for a chance to experience this.
Superb! TY foropera for posting.
I've listened to many versions pf the Leibestod and to my mind Shirley does the most emotional, powerful, sincere and beautiful version. Gorgeous!
Her pronunciation is so so so good 🥰
The pacing of this composition is unparalleled. The three mini-climaxes from 5:19 to 5:31 are followed by an almost unbearably long build-up that even lightens up at 6:00 only to build up with even more fervor until it reaches one of the most beautiful moments in all music at 6:20 with the fourth sustained climax. The music then lets us down gently, as if on a bed of roses, in a long dénouement. Absolutely enthralling, goose bump music.
Stunning, heart taking. Love it!!!!!
Gorgeous tone & control - love love love it - thanks for this video!
This is....BRAVISSIMO! Comes deep from the heart.
That was a wondeful version,I can't imagine a combo of Mozart and this....Those were the days.Grazie.
Magnifica!
beautiful pure voice. passionate and true to Isolde
Wow! Stunning. Never heard her before.
her voice brings me to tears
I have a lot of catching up to do .....thank you Shirley and thank you, ForOpera for uploading
so beautiful and heartfelt
I am not an opera snob.. all I know is that she was wonderful and can sure as hell sing well, and the last 3 minutes of this song have me in tears.
It looked that she was almost going to cry 😘👍❤😢
Exceptional!!!
Love you, Shirley!!!
i was watching this with the volume off and it was still neat
Thanks for the reply. Her students must be proud of their professor!
Brighter than the sun !!!
Simply brilliant!!!
Rest in Peace Ms. Verrett. I miss you already.
Es un deleite escuchar la maravillosa voz de Shirley Verrett
I *love* the look Mehta gives the audience like, how dare you not leap to your feet.
LOL you’re right..he was pissed! Well spotted.
Seems a sleepy Sunday afternoon post-lunch crowd. Not ideal. It’s always shocking every time I come back to this.
If sshe is a mezzo, then this is an astounding performance... right up there with jessy norman and bridgit nilssson! Amazing!
sublime
Chills. Omg.
amazing
overwhelmingly wonderful,
sensationally good.. what a perfomance/what a performer