Jessye Norman - Mozart: Concert aria K.528 Bella mia fiamma, Live 1974
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- THE SONGBIRD: Here is a snapshot of soprano Jessye Norman (1945 - 2019) very early in her career from a radio broadcast of an all-Mozart concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in February 1974, conducted by Colin Davis. This was only five years after her professional debut in Berlin in 1969, and you can hear the lightness in her timbre and approach with this challenging Mozart concert aria. Obviously, Norman is not a coloratura soprano, but I could not resist including this rare gem in my Black Coloratura Sopranos playlist since it has florid elements.
THE MUSIC: Mozart wrote the aria in 1787 for Czech soprano Josepha Duschek. He had written the concert aria K.272 "Ah lo previdi" for her ten years earlier. The story told was that Mozart had promised her an aria, so when he was visiting her in Prague she locked him in a pavilion with ink and paper until he wrote it -- and when he presented it he insisted she had to sight sing it perfectly or he would destroy it. We are very glad it worked out!
I met Jessye Norman that year at an art museum in Madison, WI. I had no idea who she was or even that she was a singer. I was about 10 years younger, had just graduated high school and was backpacking cross country. She stopped to speak to me for a long time, and invited me to go into the art museum with her. I wish I had said yes but she was such an elegant lady and dressed so fine and I was a raggamuffin and didn't want to embarrass her. She was sweet to me and I wish I had gone with her. I also wish I had told her the truth when she asked me what kind of music I liked. I never told the truth because I was the only kid in high school who sang, "The Messiah" in an adult chorus with my Daddy. Other kids made fun of me. I should have been brave enough to tell her. I think our conversation would have been much longer. It was many years later I saw her on tv, after I had gotten into Pavarotti and opera. I was in my 40s. When I looked up at her on the screen, I knew that I knew her from somewhere and eventually realized who I had the privilege of speaking with all those years ago. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I have yet seen in my life, and was so kind to me, who was no one.
Of late, I am finding a plethora of thrilling arias sung by Miss Norman. I never tire of devouring them! Thanks to all those who post these wonders!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. She had such beautiful tone and style early in her career.
@@songbirdwatcher I don't think she ever lost those "beautiful tone". She simply add needed dramtaic nuances and power.
I had the pleasure and luck of attending a concert at Barbican Hall in which she sang. The accoustics were absolutely dreadful but her velvety voice was so powerful it perfectly arrived to the remostest corners of the hall. A rare treat!
Often overlooked what a wonderful Mozart interpreter she was - I also love her performance of Ch'io mi scordi di te?...Non temer, amato bene. (As found here on CZcams). In both, the tempi are a touch slow - not sure if that's her choice or the conductors' - but it does allow you to relish every nuance. Such delicacy in such a big voice, such intelligence in her phrasing and interpretation.
Thank you for posting this!
This should be performed more often by Donna Elvira! Beautifully sung by Norman. I would never have pictured her singing such florid passages. Thanks for posting! Her early voice is gorgeous.
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Thank you for sharing.
Small correction. Her Berlin debut was in 1969. This is wonderful -- thank you for sharing!
Thanks for that! I misread her Wiki page -- Oops.