Antonio Pappano talks about Leontyne Price

Excerpt from BBC documentary 'Classical Voices'
2015

[@donaldgrove1972]

This captures our beloved Miss Price at her most moving and beautiful.

[@m.antoniosims342]

Ms Price was simply unmatched in her prime! Her power, agility, breath control and technique was superb! Ms Florence Page-Kimble had to be a remarkable mentor & teacher! She was instrumental in developing the extraordinary Lady, Ms. Price and the world is better for it! 97 years on this earth and counting!❤

[@liedersanger1]

Florence Page Kimball.

[@allenjones3130]

Ms. Price is one of the greatest operatic sopranos of all time. Her portrayal of the title role in "Aida" is a classic.

[@mckavitt13]

"A voice that may not be too bad." Her modesty is thunderous. What a woman, what an artist, what a voice!

[@summermen]

Her handling of The Daisies is absolutely scintillating.

[@dennisdeemii]

She actually sounded like an American singer...I love it. Later in life she opted for high English pronunciation and I didnt like it.

[@GaryWh-js5vk]

Her sound is so naturally beautiful and expressive. I can feel her emotions by just listening to her.

[@christianlibrul]

America's greatest female singer. People talk about "voice." Her magic came from technique and artistry. Mostly artistry.

[@mckavitt13]

christian librul To me, she had everything,

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

I guess to each their own. I much prefer Shirley Verrett and Maria Callas over her.

[@lf1496]

@@lissandrafreljord7913 Then why are you here if you "prefer" others? I bet I know why🙄 No disrespect to either singer, I love Callas for her theatrical abilities, her passion and pain of her acting but her voice was small & shril NOTHING compared to Madame Price's infinite rich, sumptuously impeccable voice. Callas herself had expressed just that fact. Most people don't watch biographies of those they don't "prefer." Yet your purpose here is simply to be a hater, engaging in a passive aggressive racial competition that is a part of a 401 year old mental neurosis that is the bedrock of all of your culture's insecurities. Yet despite people like you, we rise. I see you and you are quite sad.

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

@@lf1496 Wtf? Calm down. The OP expressed his opinion that Leontyne was the greatest American singer, and I shared my opinion to his, as in my opinion Maria Callas and Shirley Verrett are two of the greatest American sopranos. No where in my comment did I express hate toward Ms. Price. I simply said I prefer Callas and Verrett over her, and even added to each their own, meaning everyone is bound to have their own opinion. I never insulted the OP's opinion, nor tried to convince him to agree with my beliefs. Also, wtf does race have to do with this? I never mentioned anything about race. Not once. Callas was white, Verrett was black, and Leontyne was black. So what? What does race have to do with their talent? You are assuming shit, and that is not a good look. And Callas was known for having a large voice. Most people who have worked with Callas would tell you that her voice was enormous, especially fat Callas in the 50s. Leontyne had a lyrical voice, and no where the dramatic size of Maria's. That is why she sang Liu and never Turandot.

[@liedersanger1]

@@lissandrafreljord7913Such a stupid exchange. It’s like saying, “The Rockies?! I much prefer the Appalachians and the Pyrenees.”

[@Cat-no8ts]

"Achievement has no color, no religion..it just has you!"

[@michaelroberts6894]

Heard Most greats in late 20th century, and her voice was the most beautiful and exciting of them all!

[@ubiestinsula]

I heard her final Aida and we shared the same Greenwich Village neighborhood in NYC. We often ran into one another shopping in the now-gone Balducci’s. A delight in every way. I adore her for her genius and kindness and the many times she greeted me, asked how I was doing.

[@paullewis2413]

Leontyne Price - the Aida for the ages. Fortunately I heard/saw her in this role when she was still in very fine voice, c. 1972.

[@mckavitt13]

Paul Lewis I never once heard her in any less than very fine voice. Even at the end of her career.

[@Nangis123]

@@mckavitt13 Then you have listened very selectively .Every singer has their less than fine voice moments

[@Nangis123]

​@@mckavitt13 Perchance you mean me and not Paul Lewis? Why is my comment insulting? Because I said something as commonplace as every singer has their less than fine voice moments? They do . Every performer has ,get a grip on yourself . I could have said *I* have heard her in markedly less than fine voice .Would that have made you happier or would that have been insulting too?

[@mckavitt13]

@@Nangis123 Ofc not. You assumed my ear was not up to snuff. I agree singers have their good & their bad days. As a music critic for many years (USA, France, Germany), I was witness to that many times. I really think I heard L Price on such rare occasions that I was fortunate not to have heard her less than good-sounding. Peace.

[@mckavitt13]

@@Nangis123 Yes, that would have made me happier. I heard Callas Live only rarely in really good voice & in control of it. But loved her intelligence, multi-language fluency, incredible stage presence.

[@SONAKIvitaminSHOWERcomau]

First heard her in Carmen with Corelli and Merrill Magnificent recording and the best I’ve ever heard of this Opera But about Price she’s Priceless 😊

[@cliffgaither]

_You are RIGHT-ON about the recording of that opera ! It's the best she has ever done vocally ! Corelli is magnificent as is Merrill AND Freni ; in fact, all of the singers give the opera an incredible realism. The Quintet Scene has NEVER ! NEVER ! been better Harmonized. The Chorus of Opposing Female Factory Workers, sounded like Druids at a Religious Ritual !_ _Herbert von Karajan must have intimidated the best out of everyone. The Greatest Recording of that Masterpiece._

[@MrSwifts31]

Undoubtedly one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th Century,and THE greatest Verdi soprano of recorded time!

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I loved that! And I love HER!

[@cliffarroyo9554]

Saw her in recital once... I managed to get one of the last tickets behind a pillar in the last row... and it was magic. She really sounded as if she was sitting next to me. Wonderfully communicative singer.

[@cimbassovr]

AIDA all Arena di Verona.STRAORDINARIA!!!!e BELLISSIMA!!! LEONORA SUBLIME!!! Grazie di ❤👍per il filmato

[@cimbassovr]

E grazie al M°Pappano grande esperto anche di voci della lLrica!!!

[@SteveL2012]

Those shimmering high notes that she maintained throughout her long and luminous career. I wouldn’t say that Verdi ‘anointed‘ her, as she suggests, but rather that he presciently wrote Aida FOR her. ❤

[@wotan10950]

I only saw her once on stage, as Ariadne, of all things! But that sound was straight from Heaven.

[@dennisdeemii]

omg to have heard ein shones war

[@liedersanger1]

In San Fran?

[@dantewalston2755]

Simply brilliant!!

[@brandonburrell8517]

Da greatest.

[@burnellbrowne4303]

I THINK SO TOO!

[@Operacrazed]

A voice that was not too bad !!!! She had one, if not the most beautiful, exquisite and flawless voices of the 20th century. Not perfect but no one ever is. But to my ears her tone and evenness of range was unsurpassed amongst the lyric/spinto sopranos, not just of her contemporaries but of those who came before and after her.

[@paullewis2413]

Yes I agree. At her best, as in her 1961 recording of Aida, she was incomparable as a lirico/spinto soprano. Just love her spoken southern accent!

[@mckavitt13]

Operacrazed It was, imo, one of THE most beautiful voices in the world. PLUS she sang like a queen!

[@MySensualWorld]

You are right Leonytne had one of the most beautiful voices ever, especially in America, but Montserrat Caballe is almost universally known to have the most beautiful voice in recorded history. It’s hard to say, Leonytne may be one of the top ten voices in the world, during the 20th century.

[@brrehusebye7298]

Pure magic!

[@wallaceb9120]

Family and faith,,,imagine that

[@fideliofidelio1222]

Thanks for posting !!! What's with Pappano ? Nostalgia of Great Divas right !!!! Don't worry they'll be back !!!!

[@liedersanger1]

Waiting...

[@davidsimmons654]

Lets pray! 😅

[@MrSwifts31]

These clips of Antonio Pappano are from a BBC Series called "Classical Voices" each programme was devoted to a particular voice.Mezzo~Soprano~Baritone~Tenor.Where Pappano discusses and illustrates the history of various voices.So his comments here are out of context,and may seem odd.

[@mckavitt13]

A Paradox I would love to hear the whole series. Do you know of any way to do that? Thanks!

[@Nangis123]

@Fidelio No nostalgia ,and he's not the producer of the series .The producers want to sell ,that's all ,and famous names sells better than noname

[@jimbuxton2187]

I love this Aria. Notice how she changed registers at the high C! This is why it is so amazing! Most sopranos shoved the voice up to it. I didn't care for her personality but she sure is a legend ! In her prime so was almost perfect. The sloppiness later on was annoying to me.

[@Shahrdad]

She's one of my very favorite singers, though the older I get, the more I like her singing of American (and English) composers rather than her Verdi. When I watch her sing Verdi, I often get the feeling that she doesn't really know what the words mean, but when she sings Barber or Gershwin or Purcell, she connects with every word, and her diction is immediate and excellent. Her Bess is breathtaking.

[@silvanero]

Shahrdad Dear one!! Leontyne spoke Italian very well and also lived and owned an apartment in Rome for years!! Of course, she understood the texts she was singing!! Come on now!! She was an consummate artist of the highest caliber!! Why don’t you ask her if she understood the words??!!! Ugh!! The nerve!! You need to check yourself....speaking untruths!!!

[@Shahrdad]

@@silvanero If you read the comment, I did not say she didn't understand or speak Italian. I said "I often get the FEELING that she really know what the words mean." When she sang in English, she colored the words in a way that she never did in Italian--or in German, French, or Russian. There was a generalized expressivity, but not the word pointing and fine verbal details that she brought to Gershwin or Barber. She just connected to the words of the English text in a way that she didn't in other languages.

[@silvanero]

Shahrdad Uh... go back and read YOUR comment!! You say , “ when she sings Verdi, I often get the feeling that she DOESNT really understand what the words mean”!!! That’s an insult because Verdi was her specialty!! Of course there was more verbal/ word painting in Gershwin because that’s the style and also her native tongue!! She did the same thing in Verdi but according to the style of the music!! Again, check yourself!!

[@Shahrdad]

silvanero My comment said I get the FEELING that she doesn’t. That’s the key word. Many critics have also pointed out that much of the expressiveness in her singing is very generalized, rather than specific. In the English language, I find her to be very specific with the expression.

[@Shahrdad]

silvanero And of you listen to her talk about her own singing, she always speaks about the beauty of her own voice, her love of her voice, and never about expression. Voice and beauty of voice were what dominated her thought, and that is where her greatness lies.

[@michaelcaliplip8908]

Part 2 please

[@voilosapete4731]

Are there any excerpt about tebaldi?

[@JoanSutherlandFan]

Yes! But I think is less than one minute :(

[@frankrobertson1972]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2XIiqBqpJh_eas

[@pilouetmissiou]

È stato la più bella voce soprano del XX secolo ed era nera.....molto, molto bene ....

[@fabriziogarzi9892]

Beh, mo non esageriamo, Callas,Caballe,Tebaldi,Sutherland.....

[@pilouetmissiou]

@@fabriziogarzi9892 Callas bella ? Proprio non direi....straordinaria tecnica sì, meravigliosa interprete sì, ma bellezza del timbro... Le altre grandi voci tutte certo ma il timbro della Price, per me, dico solo a nome proprio, era sontuoso...

[@fabriziogarzi9892]

@@pilouetmissiou ,io sono un grande ammiratore della Price e l'ho pure ascoltata dal vivo ma Caballe e Tebaldi non erano da meno.

[@pilouetmissiou]

@@fabriziogarzi9892 oui..c t juste une préférence... Entendre chanter "pleurez mes yeux" par Callas est une expérience émotive intense que seule elle savait me donner...avec cette intensité... Mais si vous relisez, c t bien de la voix que je parlais, pas de l'artiste...

[@dennisdeemii]

pappano drives me crazy. he never says anything of substance. it's all fluff and meaningless.

[@afrothiti234]

I totally disagree! I find all his talks captivating and insightful.

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Does Fleming comment about any other singers in this show?

[@peteradaniel]

Great moments of opera I know she absolutely adored Price and their friendship is incredibly close. Price was an enormous influence on Renee's Career.

[@burnellbrowne4303]

WHY?

[@giorgiojvladiqt6060]

SHE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SOPRANO, OF ALL TIMES, THIS GUY TALK ABOUT SINGING, HE THINKS KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT SINGING, I DON'T THINK SO.

[@Nangis123]

You think he doesn't know but you think you know? And in caps to boot. Sigh. Maybe you should try thinking less... He might be talking fluff but your contribution is even less.

[@mvcpastkambcstccr8563]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@steviyah4924]

Il famigerato, operatic, americano castrato !!

[@brandonburrell8517]

Nonsense.

[@mckavitt13]

Steviyah 4 UTTER nonsense.

[@massimoturrini9146]

manca la base fondamentale della lirica stessa a questa donna, la sua voce era sublime mah......LA PAROLA.....LA PAROLA innanzi tutto!!! non si capisce niente quando canta......avvolte neanche la lingua in cui sta cantando.......questo vanifica tutto il resto!

[@joseabraham8038]

I understood everything

[@massimoturrini9146]

@@joseabraham8038 bravo 🤣🤣🤣🤣