Kathleen Battle - Somewhere Over the Rainbow 14 / 16

Harold Arlen & E. Y. Harburg: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Live from Lincoln Center
Avery Fisher Hall
"An Evening With Kathleen Battle and Thomas Hampson"
March 01, 1995
Kathleen Battle (Soprano)
Thomas Hampson (Baritone)
John Nelson (Conductor)
Orchestra of St. Luke's

[@JohnReitz]

When Kathleen visited her hometown she would perform a free concert at the high school auditorium and she always had my father accompany her on piano. He was honored to do so.

[@baritonebynight]

I saw here in recital in Portsmouth when I was fresh out of music school. Her high school choir directo Mr. Varney was there as well as her first accompanist.

[@russmaleartist]

Once in a lifetime, there is a rare communication between a performer on stage and an audience member. It was not intrusive or disruptive, but it was most definitely there and recognized after the performance back stage. When I met Kathleen Battle after a most beautiful and unforgettable recital, Miss Battle took my program, laid it down, and we had a short conversation that meant a great deal to me. She then took my program, asked my name and personally addressed an autograph to me ending in: love, Kathleen Battle. She shook my hand, said goodbye, and I floated out the theater with a priceless memory, that I never imagined would transpire that evening. That is my experience with this most talented and God blessed lady . . . and this is how I will always remember her -- gracious, sensitive, respectful, talented, exquisite, impeccably dressed, a diva most exceptional, and for a moment . . . my friend. Thank you, Kathleen Battle, for a most cherished memory, that I promise . . . I will never forget.

[@Diane574]

Such a lovely story! Thanks for sharing. ❤️

[@TheWriterWalker]

I love your story!

[@karenwaller1288]

Beautiful Just beautiful thanks for sharing

[@julavaughs1137]

Simply beautiful

[@Richard-dw4qo]

She is magnificent! Such beauty grace and what a voice!

[@dirkphilly]

Ms Kathleen Battle has one of the most unique and fantastic voices!

[@ES-uf7zp]

Absolutely stunning. I am so unfamiliar with her work. Well, not anymore after this. Her tone!!! Beautiful

[@piustwelfth]

I think she was America's top soprano of the 20th century, and that's saying a lot!

[@emesedus4283]

How can no one fall in love with this voice?

[@Richard-dw4qo]

Kathleen has the voice of an angel, the beauty of a goddess and the grace and talent of a great diva! Magnificent

[@Diane574]

I would love to add this to music on my phone, she never released it on an album, I’d buy it in a heartbeat if she ever did. Best version of this song I’ve ever heard, just beautiful.

[@ericholck3914]

I was a huge fan of Battle's back in the late '80s and early '90s. Alas, when she was essentially blacklisted, she fell off my radar and I'd barely listened to her over the past couple of decades. Thanks to KZbin, however, I've been revisiting her music recently and am reminded anew what a marvelous and singular talent she is.

[@Broadwaybuff-pi1qg]

And preserved her voice amazingly well. I've heard recordings from just a few years ago, at an age when many singers have had to retire, still sounding lovely and youthful, with that stunning beauty of tone.

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 75th Anniversary Of Life Sunday, August 13, 2023 Our Dearest Soprano Queen, Kathleen Battle!

[@zellenesmith5695]

Heavenly and beautiful and I am almost speechless at this angelic voice and the sounds

[@128wj]

I remember the student music teacher. Thanks for being the best role model a little child could have, you are amazing. Thank you .

[@bogofusion]

Such beauty. Thank you Kathleen Battle

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 73rd Anniversary Of Life Friday, August 13, 2021 Our Dearest & Most Precious Kathleen Battle You Are A Special Gift To Us All!

[@emzywillrich7243]

I always thought Kathleen Battle was such a classically beautiful and elegant lady.- with a voice to match.

[@ingenieroguzman3806]

she's fantastic, outstanding-beautiful voice! ...

[@marilesekoch6152]

Exceptional and beautiful!

[@rosesflowers4722]

Born to sing!

[@zellenesmith5695]

Look at these gifted instrumentalists

[@LeBasfondMusic]

Her voice is so beautiful, I SOB

[@Diane574]

Best version ever!!

[@jeanettelynch2455]

gorgeous

[@paulocarv4403]

Phenomenal!

[@lindanorris2455]

CHILLS UP MY SPINE. SO LOVELY.

[@GiftGeorge-xd7yg]

Flawless

[@Vwjl1207]

Absolute perfection.

[@user-de9ro1oy4w]

Ihre Stimme ist wie Seide ! ❤

[@mariannapapoutsopoulou182]

So lovely!

[@scmcdonald4920]

Angelic!!❤

[@josiedudley8451]

Beautiful.

[@piustwelfth]

She wore that dress with the same shocking pink satin wrap when she performed at the Kennedy Center honors in 1993. It must be the "Somewhere" dress because she sang that song (West Side Story) at the Kennedy Center event. It's on youtube, and it's spectacular!

[@TT-it2ic]

how shady and nasty

[@The1fan4life]

Pre-KZbin and social media, many artists wore outfits more than once. Nowadays, most only wear once due the reason you pointed out.😊

[@ardabatha8066]

Mama Africa's vocal gift had the whole worrlld in her hands!!

[@normanbonk8064]

Exquisite! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Prayers.

[@christophermore6844]

Kathleen and Ricky ; two exceedingly beyond amazing live performances at Grammy's

[@user-pp3yu1yx1n]

綺麗な声❣️

[@samman7324]

Just wow.

[@JWP452]

OMG, I teared up!

[@TheWriterWalker]

What she begins to do at 4:18! My goodness!

[@aspis6397]

The only version other than the one by Judy which I like

[@paulgreen6921]

Some kinda gorgeous beautiful! PWG

[@georgeroesser974]

WOW!

[@DORITO737]

Voce e occhi di Fata!

[@norkeshiabrown2281]

❤❤❤

[@amourdem]

Oh my.. 🌺🌈

[@Tiffany-fp9rt]

💗💐💗

[@antoniocoelho7628]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@royberridge9039]

why does she need a microphone?

[@Broadwaybuff-pi1qg]

Because it is a softer, gentler pop song than the kind of opera arias she would usually sing, and it could be difficult to hear in a 2,000-seat hall without a microphone.

[@michaelstewart7285]

utterly amazing voice. totally unforgettable. What a pity that she is such a difficult person to work with.

[@roseroyce15]

She's NOT.... And has NEVER been. What's a pity is that people believe everything that they see in the newspaper & on TV... even the Internet - as the gospel truth. Just GULLIBLE. And actually SAD & pathetic too.

[@ChagoWilson]

Let us just be totally honest here. ANY Black person who is self confident is considered "difficult"! I can testify to that on a personal level!

[@edhalse5913]

Sad remark. It's usually envy or jealousy....The average, and the good, need to recognise the best, and cooperate...

[@edhalse5913]

(I was replying to michaelstewart

[@willgraham8878]

sigh...

[@renegaderunner332]

She may have sang this better than Judy Garland.

[@jayonnaj18]

Ms. Kathleen's rendition of OVER THE RAINBOW is simply beautiful and exquisite----but she can't sing it the way Judy Garland did with wistfulness and longing, so real as Judy did!!! That song belongs to Judy Garland, and will always be associated with her!!! Still, Kathleen did a fantastic job, and I love it!!!

[@TheWriterWalker]

Forget the excellent voice. That dress! Lol.

[@Broadwaybuff-pi1qg]

She was known for her stunning stage gowns. I don't recall ever seeing her in something and thinking "what a mistake." She always looked as beautiful as she sounded!

[@TheWriterWalker]

@@Broadwaybuff-pi1qg I hope you don't mind my sending you a song someone made up about Kathleen. In it, the writer refers to those gowns. Lol. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foSlnZmNhKmMd6csi=dtwc_SW5hOhdPW9Q

[@user-on7fo4nr4z]

i am a singer and my favourite soprano of all time is kathleen , but she was very demanding and a diva who ruined her career at the met, she was friends with james levine and she thought she get anything she wanted. the met finally fired her because she was so psycho ,shame because she was so talented

[@bird401]

Not quite as good as Jerry Lee Lewis, but pretty darn good.

[@ifluvinguiswrong]

True, just much better.

[@DDumbrille]

Garland still sang it better.

[@ifluvinguiswrong]

To you. Kathleen sang it better to me.

[@dralinwilliams1691]

She is fantastic, the best, just love her voice haven't got time to notice the negatives.

[@renegaderunner332]

So do I !

[@saritsiribud]

Heavenly voice. Amazing

[@xraybravo6234]

Amazingly beautiful!

[@ValettaBrinson]

I adore that voice.

[@hermanjoseph2043]

a beautiful great song that most singers think that their modifications and improvisations are superior to Harold Arlen's genius. It is wonderful to hear Kathleen Battle sing this treasure straight like Harold Arlen wrote it-- thank you for posting

[@Rainbows571]

Exactly!!

[@AnnaMorgenstern]

Yes she gets it spot on, one of the few that doesn't flatten it out or bend it.

[@MusicLoverForever59]

Couldn't agree more, I hate when singers change the song thinking they make it sound better than it was written!! Ms. Battle's beautiful rendition is definitely one of the best. Audra McDonald's rendition is also beautiful, give it a listen if you have a chance. Of course for me, no one does it better than Judy!

[@willgraham8878]

By contrast Rene Flemings version totally tortures this piece! What a mess. You can't gild the lily!!!

[@richardwright9665]

I'm in tears

[@Dr.DivaMa]

Beautiful!

[@utudira]

BEAUTIFUL !! - SP. TO THE EARS !!!

[@naseem1949]

Yes a wonderful rendition

[@313AKA]

I would love to have this on my ipod but I can't seem to find it on itunes. Bummed.

[@GT-Oldschool]

wow man.. why isnt this song sang more in opera..? this was the only opera version ive found..

[@Twisterjoe]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGS8hZh6bJZ2rdE

[@cskillet2003]

Amazing voice. There are quite a few stories about her Diva tendencies though. Quite an ego on this one!

[@The1fatpanda]

And what is wrong with that? She cannot help it.

[@debbiecunningham3594]

Yes, she was a handful at the met and they fired her. But if you had to have a surgery and the best surgeon in the world acted in the same way, you'd still want that surgeon.

[@r0c87]

The very word "Diva" originates from opera singers who can be pedantic in order to preserve and sustain the quality of their voice. Kathleen Battle is no exception. Her voice is splendid, and that's all that matters at this point considering her reputation was over 20 years ago...

[@The1fatpanda]

I agree fully. Kathleen Battle

[@The1fatpanda]

It may not be appropriate comparing the two. And yet I feel that it is appropriate, considering the strong vocal emotions they both convey.