Aria Explained (Reaction): Vissi d'arte - *(contains spoilers)

[@robertn800]

Only Callas can sing this aria with such emotion, color, acting, voice and her gift from the Gods. They say every Soprano should start her day, drinking her coffee or orange juice, while listening to Callas. Callas’s voice was in between a mezzo & a soprano. She was not born with a conventional “pretty” voice. But her teacher, early at the Athens Conservatory, Elvira de Hidaglio recognized her unique voice & took her on as a Student, teaching her to reach the highest soprano voice & the Art of “bel canto” Maria soaked everything up and de Hidaglio became the mother she felt she never had. She lived Opera every day to perfect her voice, her acting & what she looked like, she truly gave her life for her Art but never got the love for Maria, and died far too young, but is now, a Legend. 🌹

[@operaanna]

Fully agree, she was a legend.

Agree. Extremely fond of Angela Gheorghiu, as well.

[@lesindorf-904videos]

Obraztsova's performance is better. Much better.

[@tarejso5632]

Young spinto tenor here. Many comments on B flat mamma mia...She used to sing Wagner and then Bellini in the same week...she over pushed but this is far from her worst days. Callas was a singing actress if you want just a voice perfection there are dramatic sopranos. But as an opera singer....singing actor that is what opera is about at the end of the day for me...she beats all of the others. Today we have somone like that...Netrebko...Even afther I have seen live Damrau, Mosuc, Semenčuk, Pirozzi, Hernandez,Yoncheva, Domingo, Kaufmann, Cura, Carreras, Garanca, Zannelato, Hampson and Netrebko...She and Domingo have that stage presence, they can act, charisma is there...just perfection...I agree with Franco Z. when he said that Domingo was male version of Callas and that Netrebko mite be Callas for the our time. But what I am trying to say is that...from 46_65 she did justice to the roles and she never sang performance without her heart. She tried her best...and yes she lived for art in those years it the the life that dissapointed her. Pay honor and hommage to her she deserves it

[@Tdvc]

Callas' studio Vissi D`arte from 1953 is a diamond in Opera history. The amount of raw feelings she imbued on that recording is just beyond human reach. The high note on "perché singnor" and the following note just breaks hearts. Butterfly's suicide scene from Callas is also one of the most dramatic things a human will ever hear..."Guarda bien"..

[@TiSofocaIlSangue]

I cried just watching this!!!

[@elisabetta611]

This woman whose eyesight was so poor she couldn't even SEE THE CONDUCTOR delivered the most exact, the most musical, the most dramatically RIVETING performances of ANY age. Like a thoroughbred RACING until its heart bursts in a breakdown on the track (IE Ruffian) she just plunged into those characters with damn near dangerous abandon and fire. What an artist, what a loss to us all that she is no longer here!

[@operaanna]

STUNNING

[@jnieuwerf]

The best video so far! Loved it.

[@operaanna]

Yay! Thanks, Jan

[@roxannecowlesrosado3449]

I LOVED this video and I hope you do more like this one. It is a great way for those who are new to opera to learn about it. Also, you are so entertaining, I'm sure you have converted those who decided to watch out of curiosity more than interest in opera. Thank you for sharing, and I'm looking forward to watching more videos as you continue your journey from student to professional.

[@operaanna]

Thank you so much for your amazing words, Roxanne! That's exactly why I started the channel, so I hope I've converted some people!

[@PamelaContiGlass]

I am from the future. Two years in the future specifically. I would love it if you did a longer form video on the entire Opera. Yes, I know it's Tosca and rivers of ink have been written about it, petabytes worth of MP3 have played this operal, not to mention "E lucean le Stelle" and the other arias. That said, I know for a fact that even some opera "lovers" (not obsessed but appreciative of the genre) know nothing about the whole thing. They enjoy the music, but completely gloss over both the history and the drama. For me Tosca is the one piece of music I'd take to a desert island. Why? Well, I was born and raised in Rome. From my ancestral home in trastevere (probably infested with hipsters obsessing on beard care by now) if I went all the way to the roof, I could see both "Er Cuppolone" (Romanesco dialect name for the Cupola of St. Peter, where a misguided cardinal once baptized me. If he only knew...) and Castel Sant'Angelo. How can I not love Tosca? How can you not love Tosca "nato e cresciuto" in Rome? Don't get me wrong, I have a (interrupted) conservatory education, despite mostly playing blues and 70's rock these days. I love many operas and my classical music collection is vast (I have, at last count, 35+ Requiems and scores of Baroque Countertenor works). I love, love, love Madame Butterfly. I cry like a baby throughout each time. Kind of embarrassing for an ex soldier (ashamed to have carried the same rank as Pinkerton). But Tosca! Tosca is unique for me. Rome is unique. A shame my mother lives there though. Nobody's perfect I guess. That aside, I'd love to hear Tosca explained by someone like you, with your passion, humor and lack of stuffiness everyone else seems to have. Your passion is infectious (not like COVID though, the good infectious). One can hope. Thank you for this video. I'll go back to the future now.

[@operaanna]

I love your comment so much! I read it out loud to my boyfriend because it tickled me so much 🥰 I have definitely thought about doing full operas, but Ive found the idea so intimidating! Maybe 2024 is the year for full opera analyses🙏

[@clement2780]

understanding italian french german whichever language helps audience understand drama theatre

[@lesindorf-904videos]

Obraztsova's performance is the best.

[@princekrazie]

Tossca should not feel the need to repent for killing someone. Judith beheaded Holofernes, Deborah fought against the Canaanites, and Jael hammered a stick into Sisera's head. Jael and Judith both used their sexual attractiveness to outwit and defeat enemies.

[@thesadavacantist5194]

Maria Callas is the greatest singer to ever live not just in opera but in history. R.I.P Ia Divina Callas.

[@stefanodepeppo]

Great video! If I I may, at this aria Tosca had not yet agreed to sleep with Scarpia. She will do that few minutes after, when Spoletta announces that Angelotti killed himself.

[@operaanna]

Yes, you're right! I must have misspoken, unfortunately ☹ There's the great moment when he discusses "come facemmo del conte Palmieri" for the simulated execution that is actually very real. Thanks for pointing it out!

[@markdrinkwater1508]

How can you cut the crescendo just to talk crap - that is sacralige - the greatest performance ever caught on film and you cut in at the crucial ending - shame on you.

[@operaanna]

Firstly, thanks for watching! And secondly, this is a reaction video. The whole point is to talk about and react to what's going on. If you want to watch the whole thing I always link all the singers I listen to (and more!) In the description box. I actually cannot let the video go too long otherwise I would get a copyright claim. I'm trying to share my love for this art form, so if you don't like it feel free to visit another channel that you feel does it better. Please think about what you're saying before you actually type. I have nothing to be ashamed of with this video.

[@artbucardo6246]

More of Callas reactions please

[@operaanna]

Absolutely!! I'll get right on it

[@Shahrdad]

Sadly, this is almost 10 years past Callas's vocal prime, when her voice had shrunk in size and power, and the top had become frayed and wobbly. And yet, she breaks your heart more than any other singer singing this aria. As you say, Callas had said in interviews that the Vissi d'arte should be cut, as it suddenly stops the action of the second act and doesn't add anything to the story. In fact, she really disliked this opera, which she thought was a basically a "Grand Guignol." Her great dislike of Tosca is even more ironic since it was one of her most famous roles, and even more so, her 1953 recording of Tosca (made with Gobbi and di Stefano and conducted by de Sabata) is nearly unanimously considered to be the greatest opera recording of all time by critics.

[@operaanna]

Love this! I want to do an entire series maybe of Callas. She's just such a legend and icon that quickly telling about her doesn't do her or her voice justice, but i wanted to put something of her legacy in this video! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@aiulina]

Legend says that Puccini wrote this aria specially for the soprano Hariclea Derclee

[@operaanna]

I think it's so funny that neither he nor Callas liked the aria that much...yet here we are 😅

[@clement2780]

tragic video recordings were not made of callas performing

[@operaanna]

Agreed, the handful we have are stunning.

[@AlysVictoriaWalkerTinson]

I have loved all of your videos but this was THE BEST! Omg - now I have to wait two whole weeks ........☹️

[@operaanna]

Once a week coming soon, i promise! Thanks so much 🥰

[@AlysVictoriaWalkerTinson]

@@operaanna Don't worry, the suspense adds drama !

[@milycome]

If forced to choose my all time favorite aria (very difficult to do) my choice would be vissi d'arte. If vocal performance is combined with dramatic performance the gold standard is definitely the clip shown. Callas over the top outstanding. However, from Only vocal performance standpoint my choice would be a performance given at the Kennedy Center at a tribute given to Grace Bumbry and uploaded to You Tube. Angela Gheorghiu is the singer. And yes that is President Obama in the audience (brief shot). If you play this video please turn up the volume full blast. It's clearly a full head to toe goosebump experience !! To view, go to the You Tube address bar and blank out the info. Type in "Vissi d'arte," (Tosca), Angela Gheorghiu, Washington, D.C. (2009). Then click on the magnifying 🔎 icon to the right. Enjoy. Turn up volume. I believe the greatest performance of my favorite aria. Aside : Opera Anna looks somewhat similar to Angela Gheorghiu.

[@princekrazie]

Absolutely love that costume... It's a cute Regency Era Look!

[@operaanna]

Gorgeous right??

[@ganson560]

Very informative!! Now i do want to blast the opera!

[@slagan100]

Gwen, you should totally blast it.

[@ganson560]

@@slagan100 special speakers for classical music, and doors open to the Pyrenees!

[@Ursaminor31]

The greatest gift of an artist is no separation between material and the delivery. There is no ability to resist the intensity of emotion being transmitted through these divine vibrations. This is what ‘it’ is. Huge love for sharing.

[@nicolettemitchell3146]

Callas is so beautiful only she can sing this aria with such richness and velvety word per word she is so gorgeous

[@operaanna]

Wholeheartedly agree!

[@berchtfa]

Wow!! This is such an amazing content!! Thank you very much!! I was dying to find a chanel like yours explaining opera content! Could you help me understand the "mamma morta" song? Callas sings a high C on the end, but i read in some places it was written for a B6... Congrats on the video, one of the best opera content ive seen.

[@operaanna]

Hi Fabien! Thank you so much for your amazing comment. I'll see if I can't make an Ari Explained soon for this aria! 🥰

[@stefanodepeppo]

@Fábien Bercht in La mamma morta the final climatic high notes IS a B6 natural. The two times Callas sang it in her career (studio recording 1954 and live performance 1955) that’s what she did

[@berchtfa]

@@stefanodepeppo thats perfect! Thank you very much. Unfortunatelly, i dont have a good listening to define that by myself..

[@mromeorm]

I prefer kiri version

[@gigivasile5513]

Angela Gheorghiu ist auch gut...

[@operaanna]

Naturlich, sehr gut! Wollte aber mehr über die Arie reden als Sänger*innen...über verschiedene Sopranen reden ist natürlich auch eine Idee... 🤗 Noch viele Aria Explained to come!

[@ransomcoates546]

What a shame to show Callas with her voice utterly wrecked - the B flat is beyond excruciating. Do you understand what beautiful singing sounds like? Do you care?

[@operaanna]

Hi! I wanted to show Callas singing a piece that I love and that for all of her faults she also sings beautifully. The Bflat isn't her best note, i agree, but I was focusing on the piece and not necessarily Callas. Maybe I'll address her technique versus her artistry in another video one day. Thank you for your comment, because I care a lot!

[@stefanodepeppo]

@Ransom Caotes There is no need to be condescending. Yeah, we know, her Bb is wobbly (beyond excruciating?…Exaggerated! 😄), but who cares when the analytical rendition of the aria is totally heartbreaking? I think Anna made the perfect choice to show this video especially to neophytes, who don’t really are so concerned by how much she wobbled in 1964…

[@markdrinkwater1508]

You are a soulless philistine. This is the greatest performance ever caught on film and the night that Callas - whom the critics said would fail after spending two years partying, drinking and smoking on a boat - sang her way to immortality with the greatest Vissi darte ever sung on stage. It isn't about vocal perfection - it is about feeling and expression and soul - Callas sang from the soul of humanity itself and I can only pity the soulless who simply can't hear it because they're too busy looking for clinical perfection and beauty which when it comes to high art is utterly meaningless. Apart from your grotesque statement - the bigger crime here is that the crescendo is cut - and that is vandalism of the most evil kind. Shame on you.