June Anderson - Rossini: ARMIDA, D'amore al dolce impero, Live in Concert

THE SONGBIRD: June Anderson rose to the top-tier of coloratura sopranos soon after her professional debut in 1978 as the Queen of the Night at the New York City Opera. Though she sang many roles in the standard repertoire, she had a specialization in obscure French operas and Italian bel canto works. She first assailed Rossini's majestic and rarely performed "Armida" in 1988 at the Aix-en-Provence Festival (selections of which can be found on KZbin for comparison). This recording is from a live concert (there is an orchestra, but no chorus or other vocal interjections); however, I don't have information on the location, date, or conductor. I recorded it from a webcast in 2005, but it very well may have been a replay of a much earlier concert or an intermission feature segment. If you know the details, please comment below.
THE MUSIC: This is another example of Rossini using the theme and variations format in an opera setting to showcase the vocal talent of his wife, Isabella Colbran.

[@magicmonkichi]

Thank you for sharing this. Anderson was truly under rated! Brava!

[@jovi1715]

We miss her a lot!! Thanks for uploading

[@orion8835]

This role was weird for Anderson. In many ways it was fine and and in many ways it was wrong for her. She simply didn't have any tension in her sound mid range leaving most the role a snooze fest. Transposed up it would had become more energized. She also took this deathly slow with no accents.

[@maycrepaldi8789]

omg she's SO amazing!

[@michelklein6961]

After Callas it's quase impossible to sing armida!!

[@bvdswqawe11]

Klein u r silly...

[@stefanocautavera]

This is quite good, but she doesn't shine quite as much as she does in other roles. Her Lucia and Semiramide are nothing short of phenomenal.

[@operaloveringlasgow]

I have been a great admirer of June Anderson's singing since I first heard her, in the 1980s, in the recording of Rossini's "Maometto Secondo". I also have a recording of a concert which I think is the one this aria is from. I will need to check. An aria from "Guillaume Tell" is on youtube, uploaded by operara, and is dated: August 12, 1986; and the location: Pesaro, Piazza del Popolo, Rossini Festival, Julian Reynolds Conducts. I am pretty sure this is the concert I have on DVD. I really appreciate the range of music you have uploaded.

[@misscameroon8062]

I love June from the first "sight", Her sense of humor and above all just the shear coloratura fireworks she so readily produces.

[@crisha721]

She had a big sound, but her singing was always delicate and musical, very much inspired by Joan Sutherland, I guess. Besides Callas, she's the best in this aria.

[@nickbigd]

Agreed!

[@andreaocello1833]

Maria Callas in Armida è davvero ineguagliabile.

[@charlesrhodes1358]

Deutekom is fabulous in this aria as well.

[@stefanocautavera]

@@charlesrhodes1358 Deutekom definitely had a voice, but her coloratura technique was beyond atrocious.

[@nostoon4332]

@@stefanocautaverait was miraculous.

[@christophecesar4761]

Very good in this very difficult part. She sang a little bit too slow for me. But it's a (bad for my taste) habit of her. If you like this aria with variations, lesson for sure Callas but also the alien a. ka. Deutekom!

[@ransomcoates546]

Only Callas sang every single note in absolutely perfect rhythm. Her metronomic accuracy provides a great deal of the incredible impact of her 1952 performance.

[@cadoh8143]

Callas was unique in Armida and after Calllas Anderson is, for me, the best.

[@GianlucaMargheri]

This is the pesaro concert in 1986

[@jamesmiller6244]

The Fabulous June simply the best very underrated

[@songbirdwatcher]

What do you mean by underrated? She had/has many devoted fans, a major international career singing star roles at top opera houses in important productions across the globe, many high-profile commercial recordings including a half-dozen solo recital discs. To me it seems like she was appropriately rated.

[@nickbigd]

This is from a televised concert she performed in Pesaro in 1985 or 1986, all Rossini as I recall. I have the DVD somewhere. One of these days I'll get some of the best bits posted. I think they used to be on KZbin somewhere but I cannot find them now.

[@ciociosan]

That concert was incredible. Legend has it Pavarotti saw it on t.v., and asked Ms. Anderson to sing Gilda to his Duca.