Federica Von Stade : Cherubino's "Voi che sapete" - 1980

From a wonderful "Le Nozze di Figaro" conducted by Georg Solti at Paris Opera Garnier in 1980.
The very famous stage production by Giorgio Strelher.
Fabulous cast : Jose Van Dam (Figaro), Lucia Popp (Susanna), Gundula Janowitz (Contessa Almaviva), Gabriel Bacquier (Almaviva), Federica Von Stade (Cherubino), Jane Berbié (Marcellina).
Frederica is ideal vocally physically... and Lucia Popp is just the most delicious Susanna to me...

[@museofcolgate]

Love it, love it, love it! Von Stade is the best Cherubino out there--simply amazing. I have yet to find a better singer in this role.

[@IrnielForever]

Oh my god, I'm in love with this Cherubino. The most sensual rendition ever. Makes you forget that it's a 35-year old woman singing, it's like a young boy singing a serenade especially for you.

[@monkEE071005]

Ahhh...Flicka! Such a wonderful voice!

[@omalmi]

I was among the lucky ones who was able to see her in this role in Paris that summer. I remember thinking how wonderful it must have been for her to be able to pull this aria out of her hat, night after night, and bring the house down every time. She was the darling of all Paris. There has never since been a more gracious or endearing Cherubino. This aria is hers alone.

[@petertard]

This was when she was 35, at the height of her physical beauty and the peak of her vocal prowess.

[@Dennis1900]

I can't describe with words what I feel when I hear Mozart's music... It's indredible

[@Tiydoiy]

Incredible!!! She is perfect.

[@CantoErgoSum]

She is so cute in this!!! Such a sweet face. What a gorgeous voice and what a great performance.

[@Zerlina12]

This is I think the best singing of this aria you can hear. You really hear the "boys" feeling.

[@leoperarm]

Beautiful voice and acting, my favorite Cherubino ever!

[@Gypzytoz]

so, so pretty...her voice is beautiful! I am 54 and just learning; I hope to be half as good as this once...just once :)

[@ellenpchams]

I really love this Aria, especially the low note at 3:06.. its always been my favorite part, for some reason. I actually like the slow pace, each note is so beautiful that they all deserve more time :)

[@Fuchsdame]

Das ist eine wirklich traumhaft schöne Stimme!!

[@Madflyhalf]

A parte l'esecuzione fantastica... Rimarrò sempre perplesso dall'incredibile musicalità delle composizioni di Mozart. Per qualunque strumento, voce o ensemble, chiunque ascolti può immaginare già quale sia la nota successiva a quella che sta sentendo, una naturalezza e un'armoniosità senza mai però essere banale o semplice. Puro genio musicale!

[@petertard]

She looks so handsome and is so well dressed as well as singing like an angel.

[@Sochilinda]

Such a lovely voice!

[@chookiechooks]

"Flicka" had always brought an unusual understanding to singing the role with her voice - to see her act it now, I see this is extraordinary role.

[@enzadel]

I've watched 5 times in a row. Her voice is like velvet. Thank you for posting it. It is by far the best one.

[@sandrine1]

Best I heard uptill now. Heartbreaking beautifull

[@Galexiel]

beautiful voice !!!

[@rhcb1]

It seems that more or less everyone who has ever known, worked with or listened to Flicka is in love with her, both as an artist and as a human being.

[@andreamoboe]

Wonderful!

[@chente1985]

Her voice it's so sweet!

[@hillbillyrox1122]

Gorgeous!

[@tametataphysika]

this is really really good and beautiful

[@motzartiana]

No-one can beat Flika!!!!!!!!!:-)

[@Thianha]

Perfection.

[@AndraDanArtist]

wonderful...the best cherubino i`ve heard on youtube::D

[@burtsbees2]

beautiful voice, and she's so pretty here!

[@Otellogv]

Brava! Brava! Brava! Has there ever been a more delicious Cherubino?? Flicka is ideal; exquisite voice, sparkling personality, superb interpretation and very easy on the eyes!!

[@bellinivernon]

Muy lindo !! ;gracias , desde argentina.

[@LjubljanaSI]

trully stunning!

[@Lilith89ibz]

Beautiful =)

[@bellinivernon]

Muy bueno !!! Gracias , desde argentina.

[@suzanneetmoi]

I had the great fortune to hear Flicka in concert and a Master Class this past May, and she is just as lovely and gracious as ever. DoryViolet- this is NOT too slow, it is the way Maestro Solti directed. That may,indeed, be different from the way you were taught to sing the aria, but, there is a reason why Flicka and this production are immortalized on film and those of us writing here, are not!

[@MarinaSamoylovich]

that's a very sweet Cherubino=)

[@6sushi66]

Pretty ,very pretty!!!

[@scslocum62]

Not only is her singing perfection, but her interpretation is believable as a basically well-meaning teenage boy. (I think I heard she based her interpretation on her nephews.) Watch how she maintains her body, how and when she turns her head, the development of her facial expressions.

[@yuizakisakura]

best performance on Voi che sapete aria

[@mark1504]

Thanks. I'd have loved to have seen this production.

[@TheBelcantofan]

magnifiquement chanté, il faut bien le dire...

[@dorotheafayne]

Wonderful! Dorothea

[@tmuxor]

!كتير حلو

[@MaxwellsDemon9]

as marvelous as Flicka is here, her best Cherubino is possibly on the studio CD with Solti, Popp, Ramey, te Kanawa... every time I hear her I could swear I've left Earth and entered the heavenly firmament...

[@karine6081]

vós que sabeis que coisa é amor muito bonita extremamente boa a canção

[@Otellogv]

Actually I have to agree with you there. She is very much a modern day Flicka ... although perhaps not quite as internationally renowned yet. However, I do admire her very much too.

[@tottie007]

All I can say to the critics of PACE and DRAMATIC DELIVERY and PRONUNCIATION ........... CHERUBINO belongs to F.V.S - she made her debut with this part - 1971 - Santa Fe Opera - along with another newcomer, Kiri Te Kanawa. The interpretation is down to the DIRECTOR. Please watch her in the GLYNBOURNE production with all the Santa Fe cast - directed by Peter Hall. Passion & pace a-plenty, and that beautiful voice. Heaven.

[@Kerlerot]

Sans farine alors car cela gratte sur les cordes vocales ... Federica chante une minute de plus que Teresa. Les deux sont merveilleuses. Pur bonheur... Philippe

[@ivelosthewilltolive]

@ioleilaltra Very true to the period it's like stepping into a Watteau or Fragonard...

[@TorontoIam]

I enjoy reading comments by discerning commenters

[@libriosqui]

Excelente dominio vocal de Federica, aunque el tempo muy piano, ¿para demostrarnos su magnífico fraseo y su absoluto dominio de su registro de soprano?

[@tottie007]

Ah - I didn't know about the NYC bash? Is it available on DVD yet? Glad to find another devoted fan!

[@loverflicko]

Opino lo mismo. Aún siendo un prodigio, como no podía ser menos viniendo de Frederica von Stade, la versión (¡la versión mil veces recordada, con razón!) de 1973 en Glyndebourne era más vital, mas... "Cherubino", y no olvidemos que Cherubino es un muchacho de no más de 16 o 17 años. Por lo tanto, si hubiera que elegir, lo cual sería dificilísimo, yo me inclinaria por la versión de 1973, donde además Flicka "representaba" y "creaba" a un personaje, su personaje, para mí nunca superado

[@crowjr]

¡Me encanta, me encanta! Mucho mejor que Berganza, lo que ya es bien difícil. Quizá la versión es un poco lenta para mi gusto, pero increíble de todas maneras.

[@swanningaround]

How about Edith Mathis? I love Chrisine Schaefer and Frederica (Flicka) von Stade too.

[@tenoreDB]

@softboy24 your ears must be out of tune!! This is simply superb singing. Pure beauty of tone and phrasing that seems to coming straight from heaven. Are you a classical music hooligan or something??

[@suzanneetmoi]

Is this available on DVD? I keep looking and can't find it!

[@cherubinozefiretto]

Pamela Helen Stephen

[@SeiraVonKarma]

@softboy24 no she is not

[@CzarDodon]

quale carriera? mi sembra che e sempre rimasta entro limiti decorosi (non e mica stata come la Riciarelli per intendersi)

[@operamusicfan]

She really looks like a boy here (and not a man), not like some other mezzos who pretend to be all macho.

[@ramirogorriti]

Justin Bieber y nueve fans le dieron al "no me gusta".

[@Desigovia]

@softboy24 Surely you jest. You are just joking aren't you? Tongue in cheek stuff? You would have to be tone deaf otherwise.

[@civileso]

The way she pronounces pienti desir bugs me so much...

[@cleareyedwolf]

Amazing voice, but such a slow tempo!

[@mangana215]

i prefer her in cenerentola but shes amazing the best cherubino is Maria Ewing ^^

[@zegermans750]

it's a bit of a shame having someone that beautiful dress up like a guy but at least it has good results

[@baroqueandbeyond]

Not as wonderful as that of Teresa Berganza, in my humble opinion...