Grace Bumbry In Questa Reggia 1976 TRUE MONO

Grace Bumbry, accompanied by Rolando Nicolosi at Viareggio, 1976, inaugurazione Bussoladomani.
This video has been around and it's quite fantastic, but in the original the sound only comes from the left channel. May not be noticeable in mobile platforms but with speakers it's very distracting. So I got fed up and converted the pseudo-stereo audio to true mono. Exact same thing, but it now comes out through both channels, making it MUCH easier to listen to.

[@michaelinmass]

Extremely beautiful. Such clear vowels and consistent tone. The top is enormous!!!

[@StarRaft]

mille grazie! for uploading this video... it's clear that bumbry sang this role too late in her career (in the 90's), when her top notes were less reliable and the voice wasn't as light and pliable...

[@jameslevister153]

I don't think she sounds strained, but, one would had had to have been her to know. And, often, one can't arrive at such an understanding by one's self analysis. That aside, I believe she maitained access to her vocal expressivity for quite sometime after this. Her stage performances of Turandot were quite effective and memorable.

[@pedropires8829]

@@jameslevister153 I do wish I could have seen her Turandot... I've heard the live recordings, and I'm sure they don't do her performance justice. And that's just vocally; I totally wanted to SEE her Turandot.

[@correasilvio2010]

Fantástic interpretation, wonderful técnic, great dramátic soprano!

[@matOpera]

What a fascinating introduction! And thank you for posting such a rare performance!

[@chocolatesouljah]

I tend to not be a fan of offer recital recordings. But this was an absolute thrill!

[@moistlaugh]

Thrilling!

[@lukasmiller486]

That was amazing. Too bad she never recorded the role.

[@pedropires8829]

@@lukasmiller486 There's a few live recordings. I think London and Sydney.

[@smurf902]

She cannot sustain up there. Like Verrett, should have left the falcon roles alone. Totally wild, spread and cannot sustain on tippy top. She was a dramatic mezzo singing the most challenging soprano aria, with it's killer high Cs. Struggling. I love Grace. Also the recording is distorted, the top notes are spiking the mic and cannot be played on any device without it breaking up. She did a misstep in trying to do this.

[@chocolatesouljah]

I tend to not be a fan of offer recital recordings. But this was an absolute thrill!