Grace Bumbry's Sparkling delivery of Eboli's Coloratura

[@williesullivan3985]

Madame Bumbry at her best, glamorous, beautiful woman wirh that warm, huge creamy, luscious voice spinning around Verdi's glorious lines. This is Italian opera. Not the crap we have to sit through today. Rest in greatness DIVA!!!!!!!

[@jameslevister153]

Yes, a wonderful way to explain the display of her artistry in this scene.

[@СветланаКоломыйченко-ц1ж]

Присоединяюсь к каждому вашему слову!

[@leoszeto8710]

Rest in Peace, Ms. Bumbry, you are one of the greatest Mezzos of all times 🙏💖

[@lolo00265]

What a wonderful rendition of this aria. R.I.P. Maestra, your art and craftsmanship will never be forgotten.

[@judithverabutzberger]

She was just splendid !

[@Ruffiello]

One would be lucky to hear such a performance, in the theater, in one's lifetime.

[@rafaelalfonsoq]

God, save me from youtube experts. Why compare? We all have our favorites. But this voice was huge and lush and bright and beautiful, and she gave a masterful reading of this aria. Who cares it wasn't perfect by whoever's standards? This is LIVE! This is glorious singing! The sheer gusto of her portrayal should excuse any pet peeves someone might have with her performance here. Talk about nitpicking on greatness. Sheesh.

[@danafripp4120]

THANK YOU! All this comparison is so tiresome!

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Dana Fripp Indeed girl friend INDEED! Arnold Bourbon Amaral P.S. I'm guilty of that myself. It's called being imperfect. Later days 🌿🌍🌎🌏🌹🇮🇹🇷🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸🇩🇪🇫🇷🇪🇸🇨🇳

[@artdanks]

@@danafripp4120 Comparing is only natural! Comparison and criticism are 2 different things. For instance, 2 of my absolute favorite singers of all time were Maria Callas and Shirley Verrett. Two very different singers and artists, both great. Recently, someone posted a You Tube video of each of them singing different scenes from Cherubini's Medea. Each clip was back to back, so we would hear Callas and then Verrett in the exact same scene, so that we could compare them. It was wonderful! Both were absolutely amazing and yet totally different from each other...because they were 2 very different artists. Comparing them was a true joy, to specifically hear and appreciate the differences. So, how is this a bad thing to compare singers? I've never understood when people say that. It truly makes no sense to me. (And please forgive me if I am sounding flippant with this question. I don't mean to sound that way at all. If anything, I'm just admitting my own ignorance, because I don't understand why comparing singers seems to be such a negative thing to people. Although, I know that some will make comparison s for the purpose of criticism, which I would agree is wrong.)

[@rossmerchant8435]

@@artdanks I think it's "Singer A does it this way and singer B does it that way, and they both make interesting choices that illuminate different aspects of the character" vs. "Singer A was the best of all time in this role, so why is singer B even trying, and why is anyone listening to singer B when they could go listen to singer A do it the CORRECT way?" I think there's too much of the latter, especially when people come on here to enjoy and celebrate their favorites and all they see in the comments is b*tching that Callas did it better

[@artdanks]

@@rossmerchant8435 AH!!! Ok. I get it now, and totally agree! In fact, even though I'm a huge "Callas fan", I typically don't do much chatting with other "Callas fans" for that very reason! Thank you for that insight! Definitely cleared it up for me. Have a great day. 😁

[@rogerdodger8349]

That final high A is luscious. Her Grace is in great voice here and she looks gorgeous!

[@dramaturge231]

What a large, beautiful voice.

[@yisuah]

범블리 선생님 덕분에 다양한 아리아를 듣게 되네요.감사합니다.

[@mariakarenina]

Rest in Peace, dear Grace. 😢💔🖤 Thank you for memories and emotions we shared together with your amazing voice and art!

[@casimiralexander]

What a gorgeous, round, open throated, sound! Grace you are beauty.

[@fs6887]

One of the greatest Eboli ever.

[@carlosdossantos9422]

One of the greatest singers area. Imagibe the odds of being born into a segregated, racist world and becoming one the the best singers. It makes her accomplishments even more impressive. Grace Bumbry did many roles and was fluent in several languages. There is only one Grace Bumbry. La Bumbarina is right up there with the other greats.

[@olivierpantel1682]

Grand souvenir. Tout était réussi dans cette production.

[@sharonstromley9350]

Mezzo vs coloratura...whatever... In either, this woman was brilliant. Pitch, breath, projection, acting... all of it was, is brilliant.

[@writerdirect]

she is the greatest mezzo in the history of the world so much so that her top is usable in soprano and coloratura ranges ; i saw her sing carmen live as a boy in 1966 thrilling

[@carlosdossantos9422]

Any voice part can exhibit coloratura qualities with with respect to flexibility and agility.

[@writerdirect]

@@carlosdossantos9422 you are correct in terms of musical definition qua musical definition; however colloquially as a working union director/writer who developes new operas for clientele on a world level; when we talk colloquially, we are talking about joan sutherland lilli pons minni ripperton; very high voice; she who can sing the bell song; but yes technically you are right; but there are other definitions in use en vivo such as i have just described; eg yes you are right; but i am not talking about marilyn horne doing a particular bel canto etc as coloratura? thanks for discussion

[@georgescott3652]

Wow! A stunning voice and a beautiful person!

[@seancoxen3329]

One of the most exciting and sensuous mezzo's ever - both in voice and physical presence. Wieland Wagner knew just what he was doing when he made the bold move to cast her as Venus

[@williamstadel6113]

😢rest in peace 😢

[@simonetalvela3292]

Un tenore poco conosciuto, ma dalla voce molto interessante. Un affascinante Nerone nell'Incoronazione di Poppea di Monteverdi, diretta da Harnoncourt

[@fredericjean7428]

I remember this beautifull performance in 1984 to orange festival with caballé, aragall, bruson, estes, Fulton conductor

[@agbramm5648]

Gorgeous singing by a beautiful woman!

[@bricecampo4833]

Orange 1984 j y étais un souvenir extraordinaire

[@bricecampo4833]

Une production exceptionnelle, Caballe,Bumbry,Aragall,Bruson et Estes .

[@fernandorivas7419]

Amazing voice color and wonderful very italian style of coloratiñura. Thanks you very much dear virtual friend Lohengrin O. Best wishes from Santiago de Chile. Dr. Fernando Rivas-Burattini.

[@jameslevister9081]

Listen to the commercial recordings- only Verrette comes close. I saw both on stage. Bumbry was a real singing actress. Her Eboli was a wicked schemer. And her singing was breathtaking.

[@vincebossi46]

Grande artista,splendida voce,grande interprete.indimenticabili le sue esibizioni alla SCALA.serate magiche.

[@PABLOGARCIA-gb5ih]

Grace Bumbry dando cátedra de como se canta Eboli... BRAVA!!!

[@mk5244]

....from her breathtaking Venus in Bayreuth over decades, La Bumbry preserved wisely her wonderful vocal potential. She always warned young singers to try to much too soon. The negative results of this permanent warning is audible on many opera stages.... What Eboli she did here!! Mi piace moltissimo

[@LohengrinO]

the best thing I have heard from Bumbry in her masterclasses is that when u try to reach top notes pianissimo-mode because you dont really have them forte, the top register soon becomes disconnected from the rest of the voice and exists as a separate Voice (brilliant!)

[@mk5244]

@@LohengrinO ...since my father introduced me to her voice I have always been a fan of that lady on stage. Thank you!

[@mrslucibel]

I just love hearing glorious voices doing what only they can do. It’s all about listen, love and learn. Huge thanks to Lohengrin O for researching and posting such wonderful stuff.

[@lungdoc]

Bumbry forever!

[@06ctenor]

Quelle artiste extraordinaire !

[@bathie2636]

It’s so majestic, captivating and strong... Just beautiful!...

[@JCSol]

Stunning performance

[@jamesgalloway6180]

Best delivery ever thank you. Especially the floating voice alla Yma Sumac.

[@danafripp4120]

"It's too bright!" "It's too dark!" "Not enough nuance!" "Improper dynamics!" Get in the gown, and sing the role. Do that several times, in different opera houses, with different conductors, with different casts, at different venues, at different altitudes, at different phases of life and voice. Come back to your little KZbin thrones, plop down and present your doctoral dissertation. Looking forward to it.

[@jlb9368]

AMEN!!!!

[@NLidar]

LOL so just because I'm not a mezzo I cannot criticize? Please

[@writerdirect]

youre wrong but shes a mezzo not a soprano given shes a low mezzo i think its extraordinary; but her song in this role is don fatale

[@tantagasbohungkitas]

@@NLidar Just because I'm a random guy I cannot criticize you? I would love to criticize your life and anything that you exemplify and express my disagreement of anything that described you. How would u love that?

[@direfranchement]

🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@emeseimre5252]

What a great voice!Rest in peace,great Diva.😢

[@grandsethiptah7656]

The perfection ! Sublim

[@ArminMöhler-b2x]

❤❤❤

[@robertcecilmorgan-wilde]

Here I am again. Enjoying your fine collection of my ole favorites! Happy New Year my YT friend!💝💝💝

[@LohengrinO]

...My aim is that you ll find some new favs... Best wishes, with health...

[@DHa-4u]

This is a terrific performance of an extremely difficult aria to sing.

[@victoriagrapsidou3474]

Amazing mezzo performance!!!

[@elsaasta5164]

.... Eccelsa voce!! I commenti tecnici sono materia di esperti. Grazie caro Lohengrin0 ed un affettuoso saluto... Elsa. 😭😭😭😭😭

[@Vwjl1207]

Absolute perfection!!!!

[@mariaruskova6054]

R.I.P. Grace Bumbry (4.1.1937 - 7.5.2023)

[@leemartinez1203]

Every single attack is PERFECT!

[@carmeloserafin5101]

Una delle interpreti che ...ridiede a questo ruolo il suo Folgorante Valore...chapeau!

[@michaelmiller1215]

AMAZING

[@daniel_5606]

Tan clara con una soprano y tan grave como una mezzo, agregando coloratura.. she's great..😄👏

[@rosy3385]

Belle femme et voix sublime !

[@juanitoalimana3131]

Una gola perfetta

[@cinziavidali411]

Beautiful, bravo

[@jordipanadesribera6890]

Brava, Maestra !

[@Bacchusmbt]

A goddess. The total package. ❤️

[@qsw-1228]

Saddened to hear La Grace Bumbry has passed, may you sing forever in heaven. RIP 05.08.2023 😢

[@cevozza]

The best!

[@lungdoc]

cevozza Couldn’t agree more with you!

[@biancacastafiore8760]

i think people often forget that eboli is a strange, schizophrenic role. in the beginning of the opera (as in here), it demands a light, lyric coloratura singer, whereas later she becomes a dramatic mezzo (most mezzos who sing eboli also do not have the climatic high note in 'o don fatale', like borodina, who had a gorgeous voice but no high notes). bumbry was not a true coloratura (who could sing 'puritani' or rossini roles) and most singers who sing eboli are not true coloraturas, but as with any singer assigned to a role, she attempted to fulfill the role's demands. but as pointed out, while she may not sound perfectly at ease in every note, she did it fairly well and competently, and she also sang elvira ("ernani") many times in the 1980's. in this perf., she certainly sounded better than in the 1983 live telecast from the met, with which you can compare. also, many people don't realize she always wanted to sing leonora ('trovatore'), but she only got to sing it in the met opera in the NYC parks concert series in 1982 or 1983. there is a live recording of one of those performances and she sounds quite good. bumbry had a more lyrical side to her when she was younger, she even sang elisabeth ('tannhäuser') in 1972, a role she was very fond of. finally, look at, for example, the latest ebolis at the met opera, one of the world's leading companies: smirnova and krasteva. would you like to compare them to bumbry? you don't know what we are missing these days.

[@primissimadonna]

It's not a schizophrenic role. It was written for two different singers. First Rosine Bloch (alto), then Pauline Gueymard (soprano). The result is a part that is almost impossible to sing correctly, both for altos and sopranos.

[@Dr__Feelgood]

Fair enough, but as an MD, please stop using the word "schizophrenic" to incorrectly imply "double/multiple personality" (which isn't even the medical term for the psychosis anymore either) because as you can see from there, those two psychiatric disorders aren't synonymous with each other. Schizophrenia can cause one to have hallucinations that are usually auditory, which can also be anything, not just a voice or voices. That is altogether different from someone unconsciously creating a totally different personality in their mind & then enacting it as if it's their real self in the more proper medical term of Dissociative Identity Disorder. I guess it's easier to use the first term as a metaphor but unfortunately, it also perpetuates a myth about Schizophrenia that has attached a stigma against it & mental illnesses in general.

[@dasingaman1]

All of this mezzo stuff is really interesting because yes, she started out mezzo. But, she spent the majority of her career as soprano...From the early-mid 70s to retirement basically with some mezzo roles she returned to near the very end.

[@virginiakramer9055]

Thanks for posting.

[@Xxx-xk3uq]

Love her

[@dardanustr1]

R.I.P She was great, great, great...

[@LohengrinO]

wooow she died today...

[@dardanustr1]

@@LohengrinO That's why...

[@thetenodd]

Rest in Peace Ms. BUMBRY

[@16toulousse]

Brava ❤

[@gerardcohen7780]

On voit de près son extraordinaire respiration abdominale.

[@michaelroberts6894]

Bumbry was splendid when she was singing where she belonged - a mezzo!

[@davegreene8588]

She was no less magnificent as a dramatic soprano, particularly as Forza's Leonora.

[@stefanovizioli]

favolosa Grace... ma TebaldA? I always knew he is a young page

[@LohengrinO]

Tabalda, Scatta, Cassata and Maffa...

[@mateomelendez3733]

EXCELLENT!

[@daniel_5606]

Soprano falcon..🥺👏

[@isaacdavidgiraldomendoza4728]

EBOLI Nei giardin - del bello Saracin - ostello, All'olezzo, - al rezzo Degli allòr - dei fior Una bella - almèa, Tutta chiusa in vel, Contemplar parea Una stella in ciel. Mohammed, re moro, Al giardin sen va; Dice a lei: “t'adoro, O gentil beltà; Vien', a sé t'invita Per regnar il re; La regina ambita Non è più da me”. CORO Tessete i veli, Vaghe donzelle, Mentr'è nei cieli L'astro maggior. Sono i veli, al brillar delle stelle, Sono i veli più cari all'amor. EBOLI “Ma discerno appena, (Chiaro il ciel non è) I capelli - belli, La man breve, il piè. Deh! solleva il velo Che t'asconde a me; Esser come il cielo Senza vel tu de'”. Se il tuo cor vorrai A me dar in don, Il mio trono avrai, Ché sovrano io son. Tu lo vuoi? t'inchina, Appagar ti vo'. Allah! la regina!”. Mohammed sclamò. CORO Tessete i veli, Vaghe donzelle, Finch'è nei cieli L'astro maggior. Sono i veli, al brillar delle stelle, Sono i veli più cari all'amor.

[@gerardcohen7780]

Bumbry est comme Callas : il ne fallait pas seulement l'entendre mais la voir. Nous la voyons : profitons-en

[@levieuxpiano]

Une reine !

[@carlosdossantos9422]

Opera fans can be evil and jealous. La Bumbry was world class, excelling as a mezzo as well as a soprano. People are entitled to their opinions, but Grace Bumbry is a Kennedy Center Honoree and she had a great career. All of these critics... did any of them do anything? Who are they? Lol, Grace Bumbry is still singing and her voice still sounds similar to what it once did. Obviously she did something right. As the great Leontyne Price always said, "It's your public that gives you a career." So at the end of the day, Grace was and still is well loved and cherished. She brought great artistry and beauty to every role especially Eboli. Even a non Opera fan can watch Bumbry's rendition of this aria and get the spirit and idea of what it's about. The same can't be said of many other mezzos who just kind of go thru the motions with this very playful and seductive aria.

[@LohengrinO]

who are u referring to though? everybody is praising her in this page

[@esterbruno8604]

Magnifica 😍😍😍

[@w.lauber2513]

Bravissima

[@paullewis2413]

Grace Bumbry`s best performance of this aria was her recording in the mid 60`s of the complete opera conducted by Georg Solti. Her voice, though obviously still very good, is not quite so secure on this video and the conducting is positively lame.

[@julesmanresa2302]

Do we have the full production? This looks great.

[@edivaD62]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYnEZWiOrcR7b7M

[@jaimeegusquiza8753]

Eboli forgat to wear her eyepatch ( on the right eye )

[@jmiller05]

Real falcon A5 at the end.... I feel like Bumby's singing could be very inconsistent, but she sings well here. The coloratura/melisma sections are precise and she's very much in character vocally, bringing out the imperious, devilish personality of Eboli (the whole point of the aria). I still think this is one of the toughest arias for a mezzo to sing. The intonation is so exposed at times that I hold my breath lol.

[@LohengrinO]

...the toughest, a Nightmare

[@NLidar]

I wonder if that hand placement at 1:17 was to check her attack via diaphragm was clean and that she doesn't go off-key lol

[@jmiller05]

@@NLidar I must admit, that's the only thing I disliked about this... You should never show the mechanism in singing, it completely ruins the illusion! Horne used to do that all the time.

[@NLidar]

@@jmiller05 Not to be rude but Horne sounded like a mechanism very often. Anyway.. you're right. "Opera should transport you to a place better than where you are - it is a fantasy" said Callas...

[@highbaritone]

Lohengrin O when you do hear this done well like it is done here, with a big rich sound it is very exciting. Holding the breath , hoping for the best, and then getting. I love it. ❤️👋

[@nathandavis3002]

I know you cant stand her american accent, but i feel like the best rendition of this murderous coloratura aria is shirley verrett. She sang this with such sparkling ease and clarity, as well as musical mastery, which makes it difficult to listen to this afterwards. I dont know if its true but I remember reading somewhere that the singer verdi was writing eboli for changed halfway through. Would make sense as the two star arias are seemingly written for two totally different voices. Most singers can do one but not the other. Mind you verdi ALWAYS demanded a lot from his mezzo.

[@LohengrinO]

yes I agree about Verrett but I always post an alternative but very good version

[@scottgrunow5201]

Yes. The singer was changed. And overall I think the role is more falcon soprano than a dramatic mezzo like Amneris or Azucena.

[@nathandavis3002]

I sort of agree. I think this aria is really a falcon aria, for a flexible coloratura voice. O don fatale, however is for a true dramatic mezzo. Very few singers have successfully married the two. Verrett i feel did. Elina Garanca did a fabulous rendition of this particular aria. Her o don fatale however positively stank. Dolora zajick who i adore on the other hand, did an explosive O don fatale, but her veil song was no more than adequate.

[@tantagasbohungkitas]

You are the reason why young people rather listen to TikTok songs than having an interest in opera. Who cares if Verrett is better than Bumbry on your personal taste what matter is the opera tradition will continue and people fill the theatre seats to give the singers a paid job. An African-American singing opera is a big thing in an industry that still prefers caucasian skin to take the main role. The fact that a human could produce a loud ringing vocal music is already magical.

[@BellaFirenze]

Vuelan los velos a causa del viento español. Ana de Mendoza los perderá todos más adelante. Espumosa interpretación, como diría Carlos de Asturia.

[@carmeloserafin5101]

Una delle artiste che hanno ridato à Eboli il suo ruolo di antagonista ....di Elisabetta e non un mero cardellino di corte

[@gerpoels9935]

People who are reacting so negative here ( mostly women who cannot sing themselves) are simply jealous.

[@dandyfreeman5282]

What is this piece called ? Absolutely incredible work by this incredible singer 🥰

[@jefgong]

It's the "Canzon del velo" in the 2nd act of Verdi's Don Carlo.

[@dandyfreeman5282]

@@jefgong thank u !

[@NLidar]

Plus, why are Verdi's dynamics always ignored in this aria? It is an atmospheric masterpiece that shows off all the possible colors of voice and it's abilities... This aria is supposed to have a light/shadow effect (veil) using dynamics

[@magicmonkichi]

I totally agree! For some finer details we can always refer to Maria Callas' masterclass on this aria, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaasaJ2ppaufbZY

[@NLidar]

@@ian1856 Caballé sang (as she said herself) her greatest performance ever recorded (Norma Orange 74) also during a wind storm. Try again.

[@tantagasbohungkitas]

Because you prefer to hear only from the reference of one singer. I love Caballe but you should focus on her videos in your channel and not criticizing Bumbry. There are so many things that affect a singer during production. Sometimes a singer needs to undergo so many real-life emotional challenges during their performance day. Anyone could also dump a series of critical negative comments of Caballe singing to all the videos available on youtube but it is not fair for her because we don't know what she had to go through that may have affected her performance. For a serious vocal-art lover, Bumbry is amazing and it took her years and commitment through pain to have that voice. Perfect? Neither you nor I am perfect, but we can do our best. Can anyone criticize? You dont have her permission to do so. Let her teacher(s) and directors/conductors do that criticizing for her.

[@gianerajohn436]

@@NLidar yes but did she trill or enunciate word during that performance? 😂😉 also these little details are in the scores

[@ryan.engstrom]

I love this music but she doesn't connect to me. It's hard to hear her after Shirley Verett. Looks like a fun production though.

[@jaroslavsojka8266]

I've just listen to several versions with Shirley Verrett and for me she is also much better than Grace Bumbry.

[@rohiho44]

🙄

[@ryan.engstrom]

​@@edwardtodd9734 I enjoy comparing, as do many other people who are passionate about this music. Just look at some of the lengthy, heartfelt comments in Lohengrin O's videos! Comparing is usually how we express our love. I don't care for those who compare with animosity, but it's otherwise very healthy and helps keep the art form fresh. If it was more polite to enjoy all recordings or performances equally, then wouldn't we eventually get bored with such monotony? Perhaps then the art form would phase out, a great fear among those who love the music. Perhaps you don't have the ear training to distinguish the subtleties of one singer from the other, which is fine. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying both equally, but as a longtime great admirer of this music, I enjoy my opportunities to praise and criticize.

[@Sir.Larselot]

I like Bumbry very much as a mezzo with her opulent, strong voice. She's a great Eboli. But she didn't convinced me in her soprano attempts. She had a very good top as a mezzo, but to guide her voice through the soprano tessitura let it sounding forced and knaggy often.

[@fernandorivas7419]

Coloratura

[@writerdirect]

why does she not have the eye patch on in this scene? is her losing an eye part of the dramatic action of the opera?

[@hashatz]

Bumbry sings the aria beautifully but the coloratura is not difficult and singers on her level should be able to negotiate it without much difficulty.

[@hansmiller664]

Idiot.

[@Thono17]

✨🤍

[@twainhouson-frederick1847]

Name of this aria please

[@LohengrinO]

Anakonda by Niki Minaj

[@twainhouson-frederick1847]

@@LohengrinO lmao

[@CASantos]

Nel giardin del bello (also referred to as the "Veil Song") from Giuseppe Verdi's "Don Carlo". I also highly recommend listening to Shirley Verrett's renditions of this aria and especially the other showpiece aria ("O Don Fatale"), she is considered by myself (and many) to be referential in this role. Bumbry is also one of the top Ebolis as well though!

[@tharold8639]

Bumbry's Veil Song is magnificent.

[@rodrigoramos3600]

Local e Data alguém tem?

[@rodrigoandrade1807]

Orange, 1984

[@levbiazrov2084]

Замечательно, брава! Но исполнение Ирины Архиповой мне более подходит.

[@vincebossi46]

Ricordo ancora con rimpianto le sue serate alla SCALA........strepitose ed indimenticabili.

[@jimcadena8533]

So many critics here and experts on the voice.

[@NLidar]

I'm sorry but this isn't a true coloratura technique... Watch what happens to her mouth at 0:45. Plus she skips many rests and cuts off long notes here multiple times.

[@ThomasDawkins88]

I certainly wouldn't teach somebody to do that, but I've seen other singers do it and if they could sound as good as Bumbry does here, I'd be willing to (literally) look the other way. A lot of singers have their idiosyncrasies and if they have as long and successful career as she did, so be it.

[@NLidar]

@@ThomasDawkins88 Perhaps, but then once you compare it to the true coloratura technique of other singers it simply crumbles... The swiftness and easiness of a bel canto technique would abolish all the uncomfortableness that is very visible here with Bumbry. Sorry for having to bring Callas up, but when she demomstrated this to a student in a masterclass she blazed through this like it was the easiest thing in the world, and managed to give it dynamics, color and meaning (to the coloratura itself!!!). And that was just a demonstration...

[@ThomasDawkins88]

@@NLidar Who do you like as Eboli? I feel like a lot of people come up short. I like Bumbry better as Amneris or Carmen.

[@NLidar]

@@ThomasDawkins88 Good question. I do think that Agnes Baltsa was incredible! (not my usual) and in this specific aria Troyanos does a stellar job combining technique with interpretation. I've been desperately looking out for Ludwig's best Eboli since she performed it many times and she sounds perfect for O don fatale..

[@ThomasDawkins88]

@@NLidar Baltsa is indeed very good in this role; can't say I adore all of the casting choices on the Karajan recording. Verrett with Caballé and Domingo is also very good.

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

I don't care much for Grace Bumbrys voice, but she was good here.

[@LohengrinO]

...for me she is fabulous here although too cautious and not-free-to-enjoy-it... but in general I love Black Goddesses (their faces, their talent: Jessye, Leontyne, Shirley, Grace, Billie, Ella, Nina, Sarah...)

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

@@LohengrinO Aretha

[@jmiller05]

@@hildegerdhaugen7864 Whitney.... They were all blessed with gigantic talent.

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

jmiller05 True!

[@arnoldamaral3814]

@@LohengrinO You forgot someone Theo. Arnold

[@57monks]

A bit too light-hearted and sparkling, unlike Verrett's smoldering, more nuanced, darker rendition. But still quite nice.

[@LohengrinO]

I love when I hear heavy voices deliver very clean, spot on stacatti... just love it... Overall I find Grace fabulous here but you can feel she is not free to enjoy this... she is too cautious (even the mentioned grabbing of her diaphragm proves how hard this was for her)

[@philipc67]

Yes, really terrific. May she rest in peace. Having seen Grace a few times in performance and concert, l find her mannerisms rather artificial. I much prefer Shirley Verrett’s Eboli.