Lakme Battle Royale: Bell Song Coloratura

Nearly a full century of coloratura sopranos in this clip! 10 Sopranos sing the final coloratura section of Lakme's showpiece "Où Va La Jeune Hindoue", better known as the Bell Song or Air des Clochettes.
In chronological order (as always):
1. Luisa Tetrazzini
2. Amelita Galli-Curci
3. Lily Pons
4. Mado Robin
5. Maria Callas
6. Dame Joan Sutherland
7. Mady Mesplé
8. Sumi Jo
9. Tracy Dahl
10. Natalie Dessay
If you would like to hear any of these sopranos sing the full aria, I believe all of them have versions on KZbin, though many are not the same recording used for this video.

[@gcmacyman]

Sutherland's ornamentation was Superb ! I've never heard another soprano sing this aria better than her !

[@jmiller05]

Tetrazzini's agility was at times superhuman, but also she had recordings where she simply sang out of tune. I'd go with Callas for the sheer virtuosity considering the size of her voice, and the breadth of expression on every phrase, trill, run etc. I think Sutherland and Dessay win in the sense that this role fits them like a glove.

[@jasonuncle3175]

I like dessay most because she is the purest and doesnt try to be fast... She really sounds like a bell and has the most beautifull high e with the wonderful crescendi... She doesnt use the aria as a showcase but gives meaning to the coloraturA... I really like it

[@ChiangTino]

for people who really know Lakme, critics always recommend the one done by Mady Mesple, she's a truly french coloratura soprano, Mady has played Lakme all through her life. her voice fit the character the best, voice like a girl, sing like a bird. feel bad that not much people know about her, unless you really into opera world... anyway, love you Mady~!

[@TheAbnerCoutinho]

I'm just speechless!!!! Callas sings this with such a color, strength and great power. I also adore Dessay and Dahl.

[@moonlightelf591]

Maria Callas. Her E is the most powerful, thickest vocal chord, she sounded fuller, darker than others. And Joan Sutherland. Her trills were extraordinary and her timbre is beautiful..

[@amlirco]

Mady Mesple - infallibile. La Callas always with an insight and ever changing colours.

[@Tantraloverful]

all are wonderful singers, yet only three nailed it, each in her fabulous way: Callas with genuine musical magic, Sutherland with perfection and beauty, Dessay with finess and emotion. Bless You all.

[@DanielAlexis17]

lily pons' was so fast love the final note of mado robin i also loved the trill and crescendo of maria callas :-) joan's E6 is beautiful as her voice is dessays' performance is great too

[@fpngan]

Love Luisa Tetrazzini and Maria Callas...two of my favorites!

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

I am not old enough to have witnessed _La Stupenda_ as Ms. Sutherland was known, but I did see Sumi Jo perform in roles twice at the Detroit Opera House. Hearing her do the Mad Scene from _Lucia_ (covered in blood) had me weeping . . . Of course, I was in a state of advanced temulence at the time. Afterward, I pretended that I knew these wealthy patrons and followed them back stage where I snuck to Ms. Jo’s dressing room. She graciously came to the door to autograph my Sumi Jo souvenir T-shirt. She was taller (and older) than I had expected. I’ve never worn the shirt, but I may be buried in it.

[@crisha721]

Joan sutherland is my favourite, she captures very well the emotion of the character. and her sound is perfectly focused but never shrill, always a beautiful sound and full voice. I think Callas and Tetrazzini are wonderful too.

[@saxamaphoneguy1]

the best is SUTHERLAND! OF COURSE! she's so wonderful. I can always rely on Sumi Jo, however, to give some of the cleanest coloratura, and although I'm not normally a big fan of Dessay, she also stood out to me. I wish she'd quit her huge acting obsession, and focus on the music, she has the goods to be an incredible soprano.

[@DanyelHawkes]

dessay is the most secure in this range and to my opinion has the best E natural. but for callas to sing this( and do it well at that) is incredible. She should be given honorable mention.

[@muscleboi4use]

I was a boy treble in Westminster Cathedral choir and LOVED trying to sing this! Now, I am a Baritone and well... I can't sing this! Papagano here I come LOL.... THANK YOU again for posting and putting this together... SO much fun!

[@ludwigvanbeethoven5176]

Shoot Im gonna be baritone in a few years

[@Victoria0love]

I Adore Sumi jo!!!

[@paulwien65]

This competition is not complete without the magic voice und Staccati from Ingeborg Hallstein !!!! Best Lakme ever

[@4mithrandir]

You are absolutely right!!

[@beachfanatic2010]

I go with the only one from this list and recorded history who actually overshadows the orchestra with the gargantuan size of her voice and without any effort: CALLAS! It is very clear that she has by far the biggest, darkest and heaviest instrument from this list as she is the only authentic Abigaille, Gioconda, and Norma of recorded history yet her coloratura is very precise and she has an actual pianissimo trill, not all the other tin pot canaries do.

[@Anduril919]

Callas had a large voice but nowhere near as large as the Wagnerian sopranos and Sutherland. Her chest voice is ravishing, though - on the high notes for this piece, however, she sounds shrill and grating.

[@0ri0n77]

"Heaviest instrument"... yep, just like a steamroller. And as graceful.

[@Khalid7a]

+Aragorn Arathorn LOOL I don't know why Sutherland's fans stick her name in everything, her voice was not big at all! it was fair in size for a spinto but very small to be Wagnerian. comparing to Callas who sang Brünnhilde, Isolde and Kundry, she had a voice that even Bonynge admitted and said it was so huge and it poured from her mouth as flagstad's voice did.

[@JoanSutherlandFan]

Heavy, Wagnerian, etc...*but not exactly the voice to the role* ;) This mean that she could had the notes wrote in the score, but not the properly voice to sing it.

[@timsuffolk]

People should remember that later recordings - with up to date and improved recording techniques will always appear better. This isn't necessarily the case of course. Sutherland and Callas are the best in my opinion

[@manolis.799]

Pons, Robin, Callas, Sutherland, and Mesplé are my favorites.

[@matteolanecomedy]

Im not trying to be a "la Divina" obsessed fan. But I do have to say. Maria gives the most color, and emotions when singing. There are so many different sounds to the voice in just that 15 second clip of her vs all the other women.

[@robertn800]

Couldn’t agree more…🏆

[@jimbuxton2187]

Callas.....Lol... totally wrong for the role of a 14 year old magical Indian priestess. The colors you refer to I call unpleasant. Dessay wins. She's a musical genius and sings perfectly.

[@SuperJohnnykay]

I dont know how you would describe it in musical/technical terms but it is as though Dame Joan is more relaxed with this than the others. She owns the space and fills it!Great expression without unnecessary use of force or tension.The french sopranos across the ages also seem to put in a good performance, currently N dessay and P Petibon do exceptionally well.

[@AcousticallyYours]

I have the Luisa Tetrazzini and Amelita Galli-Curci recordings of this on 78 and when played on a good Victrola, they are exquisite! Thanks for sharing this comparison! ...Truly the "Golden Age" of Opera!

[@anarosareyes6269]

Lilly Pons and Natalie Desaay owns this aria

[@3F93]

I find Tetrazzini nice and very interesting to listen to, considering how old her recording must be. I wish it were in higher quality! In my opinion Sutherland is the best, her voice control and technique are so perfect and far by anyone else... and I just love her thrills. But Callas is great too, it's quite strange to hear a dramatic soprano with a so large and powerful voice like hers able to sing an aria like this, but she did it wonderfully. I also like Dessay and Sumi Jo.

[@reiskariimi]

Well, Callas' voice type was soprano sfogato, because she had a complitely wide vocal register, she was very good actress and she could sing almost everything from dramatic to highest coloratura.

[@remyparaskovia5499]

Sutherland and Pons handsdown, the best Lakme ever.

[@-giakhanh--kayden-8337]

Sutherland owns this from a technical point of view. Callas wins in terms of dramatic interpretation, with her melancholic tone heralding coming tragedy.

[@dannyfletty]

SUMI JO was live too and she is the best... by the way natalie's last part was wonderful. but sumi is the best soprano ever !

[@edsonrabell6036]

Mado Robin fantastica como siempre!!!

[@Dadacomero]

Deassay and MAdo robin can go higher and hogher, but DAME JOAN is the only one who projected every freaking note of her range , she is the best example of breath support and voice projection

[@Victoria0love]

Love lily pon's speed!!! loved mado's trill! so original.

[@stephengneri2136]

Can you imagine having this talent? when you wake up .....OMG

[@henrytudor8537]

loved sumi Jo! loved the harshness to callas' version! they were ma two best

[@Hako2004]

When young Sutherland sang this aria it sounded like Divine Play.....a "leela". The pure joyous delivery of a bird. To ordinary sopranos it just sounded like hard work.

[@ms.chaewon9231]

Callas. With so much expression and the coloratura precise.

[@Garbo46]

It doesn't seem that my tastes are that far off from others. Sutherland is my all-time favorite, and her version is lovely. I also love Lily Pons. And, Natalie Dessay seems to be very talented as well.

[@MAGGIETA1]

Dame Joan is perfection...... !!

[@manolis.799]

1. Maria Callas - What can I say? 2. Joan Sutherland - awesome trill, amazing E, beautiful 3. Mady Mesplé - Ah, Mesplé, beautiful like a laser beam. 4. Lily Pons - a little fast, great E 5. Mado Robin - Fantastic 6. Tetrazzini - Great 7. Sumi Jo - Very nice. 8. Tracy - Very good 9. Galli- Curci - No trill? 10. Dessay - Couldn't hear the E, never been a fan of her's, would rather hear Gruberova in her place.

[@CS-kl5lt]

I’ve listened to over 50 recordings and Dessay is the reigning Queen of this aria. This is well known. Sutherland sings beautifully, but Natalie understand every nuance.

[@80Mrmirko]

Luisa Tetrazzini Luisa Tetrazzini and.... Luisa Tetrazzini!!!!!!

[@nortons7040]

Good to know that there is real appreciators of music aesthetics. Tetrazzini is a way ahead of others here.

[@marilynmichaels8358]

so flat.. horrible

[@giangualbertopi7381]

sumi Jo? she is screaming, is distasteful 😮

[@giangualbertopi7381]

Anna Moffo? Anna Moffo? Anna Moffo?❤

[@gcmacyman]

And so many sopranos SCREAM the last note, big difference in vocal control and delivery.

[@Hako2004]

No one, ever, had that dazzling bell-like tone of Sutherland.

[@robert13007]

The People who had heard Lakmé première said it was Mado Robin who sang like Delibes wanted it to be sung.

[@nortons7040]

Best version IMO kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIrVhqqll7dpmcU

[@WillyWonkaDoCs]

@@nortons7040 I love this version kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaOmlmNpeNRgpac I don't know why people never use the best versions of Mado Robin.

[@arbiterveritatis1063]

You are missing an exceptional artist who performed this aria with great sensitivity and technical perfection. Pierette Alarie. Sutherland's tempi are strangely sluggish in this piece. It's all about technical mastery, agility and bravura.

[@tonytony8747]

If you are talking pure agility, Sutherland has no rivals. If you are talking about sensitivity, Mesple.

[@Dion9646]

What a contest...!! Dessai and Sutherland in a dead heat with Pons in third but only a whisker behind.

[@Largo64]

1. Sumi Jo 2. Joan Sutherland 3. Lily Pons It's really subjective, and they're all wonderful. It's nice to be able to compare great singers so immediately. It is difficult, given the recording techniques of their day, to tell whether Tetrazzini or Galli-Curci had the vocal richness of Jo or Sutherland. Probably they did.

[@UYTRELLO]

1. Mado Robin 2. Dame Joan Sutherland 3. Nathalie Dessays

[@JK-xz6mj]

I cannot believe the Sutherland trill.

[@jonathankoskas1951]

Sutherland's trills have not be surpassed!

[@ransomcoates546]

@@jonathankoskas1951 Except by Sills in her prime.

[@nwdixieboy]

@@ransomcoates546 Sutherland could trill on every note. Sills had a great trill but she could only trill on certain notes. She could trill spectacularly but only selectively and some were definitely superior to others.

[@dianaventura7999]

By far, Sutherland. Her staccati were the most bell like. And no one can touch her high E natural. The yound Sutherland had the biggest high notes, just like Callas.

[@jimbuxton2187]

diana ventura the end of her high E goes Straight tone. Dessay's high E natural is better. Now Sutherland on a high Eb however...UNTOUCHABLE !!.....oh and Sutherlands voice was much bigger than Callas...

[@Richiesutherland]

One thing that some of the more modern girls don't seem to understand is that ALL the staccati should sound like bells--STACCATI. Jo and Dessay don't get this at all and sustain far too much. Joan, with her much bigger voice, understood, and I must applaud Tracy Dahl for the same thing. Joan is, to me, the absolute winner, but let's give great credit to Callas for her beautifully accurate runs--and I am NOT a Callas freak!

[@dangaines405]

Wow. I managed to read all comments, quite interesting points of view! I prefer Callas (most dramatic voice, not the best for this piece) and Sutherland (her voice fits like a glove for this piece). But Dessay and Sumi Jo get honorable mentions!

[@celiahashley7269]

Dame Joan speaks to me.

[@infinitum5425]

Dessay absolutely knocked it out the park .. perfect cadence & intonation...& the only one who faultlessly held that last note the longest. Callas was a good second followed by Sutherland & Pons. Bravo

[@asyared]

"Callas", simplemente la mejor, por algo sigue siendo "La DIVINA"

[@anaihilator]

Mesple. Sutherland. Tetrazzini and Dessay tied for 3rd. Honorable mention to Dahl and Jo and Galli-Curci.

[@yongsua1989]

I don't know how you guys determine who are better singer of this song. For me, I will evaluate based on my own acoustic analysis. Sorry for my bad English. Luisa Tetrazini : Okay with diction and harmonics, but the last high note was weak in harmonics and lost is diction. Galli-Curci: Clear diction and pretty rich in harmonics, for me her voice is quite beautiful, but unfortunately her last high note was quite weak in harmonics but better than Tetrazini Lily Pons: Same comment as Galli-Curci. Mado Robin: Clear diction and also rich in harmonics, finally she was able to maintain her harmonics well at the last high notes. Therefore, so far it is better than the previous 3 singers. Maria Callas: Clear diction and very rich in harmonics, her last high note was stupendous with strong singer's formant. The best! Joan Sutherland: I have no idea why my spectrogram showed her fundamental frequency as noisy but I think it was because of the crazy trills. Anyway, okay with diction and harmonics just as Mado Robin. Mady Mesplé : Same as Joan Sutherland, the fundamental frequency went noisy. Sumi Jo: Okay with diction and harmonics, but her last high note didn't do so well. Tracy Dahl: Okay as Mado Robin. Natalie Dessay: Okay as Mado Robin but her last high note didn't do so well too just as Sumi Jo.

[@forallyouknow]

Ugh. So true. Sutherland just owns this, with Mesple a close second. Dessay did this very precisely, but didn't particularly impress me. Amelita Galli-Curci was quite interesting actually. The disappointment for me was Sumi Jo, because I heard even less warmth in her voice in this one than usual.

[@tenorschofield]

All of them are extraordunary artists!!!! Wow!!!! I guess I am happy to be a tenor (it is almost impossible to sing this kind of coloratura for any human voice!!!) I liked very much specially Pons, Callas and Sutherland (also Sumy Jo was great).Bravooo!!!...thank you so much for this!!!!!

[@ramonvecino4658]

Las notas altas finales que he escuchado que me parecen mejor logradas son las de Lily Pons y la Sra, Shuderland. TODAS FANTÁSTICAS porque se necesita domino de técnica para abordar tal complejidad en el canto. GRACIAS.

[@TheMathias456]

Lily Pons owns this aria for sure

[@preppybeast6293]

JOANNNN SUTHERLAND rocks my life!!!!!! the greatest... love her!!!!! this contest just proves it. EVERYONE should also check out the diana damrau version of this aria. its really worth listening to.

[@1079walter]

IMHO: Lily Pons owns this one. Followed by Joan Sutherland, Sumi Jo and Natalie Dessay.

[@aryapujon7511]

Mado Robin,Lily Pons,Natalie Dessay,Maria Callas,and Joan Sutherland. but,where Silvia Voinea?

[@martach4257]

Bella exquisita música excelsas voces!!!mis preferidas callas y shouterlan,,todas Maravillosas!! Gracias por compartir, gracias por compartir el arte, gracias!

[@barkingbabs]

Ingeborg Hallstein and Rita Streich... for the clarity of their voices and beautiful enunciation.

[@deannachurch4911]

Mady Mesple and Mado Robin❤

[@greve]

How interesting Callas makes this coloratura! 1. Callas 2. Tetrazzini (beautiful, perhaps not bell-like)

[@Shahrdad]

Tetrazzini is great. Galli Curci has no trill. Pons can't sing the scales at the end. Robin is very nice. Callas is the only one who sings the aria as the sadness tinged song sung under duress. Sutherland is great, and doesn't transpose down here. Mesple is a textbook old fashioned coloratura, though her scales are sloppy. Jo is good too, though the E sounds flat. Dahl is new to me, but she's an excellent old fashioned coloratura. Dessay is also good, but has the smallest high E. I wish they had included Callas's 1952 live version from the concert where she opened with Lady Macbeth's first aria, then sang Lucia's mad scene, then Abigaile's letter scene from Nabucco, and closed with the Bell Song. She sang it with a voice of Wagnerian proportions, with hurricane force trills, and with the biggest high E I've heard from anyone.

[@cantanteporsiempre]

Thank you for the video. Wooo, I guess we should listen the whole aria to have a better judge, but in this video, for me: Dessay, Dahl, Joan Sutherland, Mesplé and Callas.

[@MusikPiratCH]

Where is Ingeborg Hallstein! None of these has "it"! :P

[@4mithrandir]

Yes, she definitely has "it."

[@cantanteporsiempre]

que trino el de Sutherland!!!

[@michaelabeetle]

Dame Joan Sutherland and Lily Pons, beautiful.

[@tripleaxell]

i don't want to compare sutherland to callas.. i love the both of them in different ways, callas' emotion, vocal power and amazing musicality. sutherland's Ringing voice, amazing coloratura and trills and pure tone... the best opera singers!!! may they rest in peace! they are both singin together with pavarotti and di stefano

[@Apulia2001]

I enjoyed listening to these ladies. I love Callas, but preferred Sutherland to her in this. Sutherland's voice was truly pure. Also, up there for me was Sumi Jo, a singer I'd never heard before.

[@4mithrandir]

Sutherland also has the best recording, which adds to the performance.

[@LorrieDoriza]

it also depends on the recordings, i have a different callas recording which sounds amazing. but this one goes to dessay who is BY FAR the most effortless and musical. Sutherland of course a close second, her version is very delicate.

[@RafaelEspadine]

Mady Mesplé and Tetrazzini!

[@vanemoon]

love this aria!!! all the singers are amazing but I prefer Sumi Jo, she sounds so clear!!!!

[@dianaventura7999]

Yes.

[@Victoria0love]

Just watched, Agreed. It's amazing!

[@usnhorn]

Well I was sure I was going to choose Sutherland, exact chromatics and shimmering trills, by far the closest to an actual trill from a piano (etc) But then Mespie had the most graceful ends to the notes, which is difficult to not have them sound chopped or screamed, esp. But Dessay had the best dynamics... so, in the end I guess my favorite is still Sutherland. Thanks for posting!

[@zamyrabyrd]

Yes, Sutherland is the only one who got it ALL right. Pitch inaccuracies are rampant in some of the older singers but at least Tetrazzini and Galli-Curci do not have high E's that pierce like a knife. Some of the singers sound downright aggressive at times like Sumi Jo. What fire Mesplé and Robin were running from in their roulades is a mystery. It is a pity that most of Callas' rendering is missing because her character, la jeune hindoue (in Italian), actually has expression.

[@Rudmyrth]

I just adore this song, whoever compiled this he/she is a genius. Ur really spoiling art lovers like me and opera wannabes lol

[@joseluissarre1015]

long live La stupenda!!!!!!!

[@califfaluz8707]

Belíssimassss!!!

[@magheramoll]

Thanks! I'll have a look for this one.

[@gabriellecorinne]

La Stupenda!

[@ritchiereech]

Well I really liked all of them, my all time favorites are: Callas (because I adore her), Sutherland (the recording for Decca), Mesplé and Dessay (who adds to the aria her own personality). Could not decide who's the best singing this particular aria... it is really hard to score perfect with l'air des clochettes. Bye!

[@CappellaNovohispana]

the best pitch and the final note is for mesple...Sutherland have the best trills...Tracy Dahl is so good...sumi jo is the forza... and Dessay is the interpretation.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Joan Sutherland!!!The Incomparable!!!

[@girlzrmine]

ah ... Joan. My hero. Unless you have sung this song, I don't think you may fairly judge. There are things she does which happen naturally for Dame Sutherland. Amazing.

[@aohawrylak]

Tracy Dahl teaches at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. I recently saw her give a recital and it was awesome! She's done Candide, Despina in Cosi, etc., etc., she's really talented! She reminds me a bit of Kristin Chenoweth (in looks and personality).

[@eugenelohks]

@AdvocateToTheAccuser Yes but I think it is amazing that Callas can do this aria in the first place... I mean she could also sing Brunhilde!!! And the scales are cleanest in her rendition, in my opinion, as well as the last high E, which I think is more in tune and better sustained (and definitely more powerful) than Sutherland's. My favourite is Mady's!

[@costingeorgescu3314]

Callas...forever and ever!the supreme!!

[@hautecontrre]

When I was listening this, I had some douts (one or another), but Natalie just swept these 9 incredible previos singer at the end. She's not just a singer, she's a music fairy.

[@nortons7040]

Luiza Tetrazzini is the only one here who sings in harmony with the music and is not trying to overshadow it to "show" her voice. So in terms of aesthetics she is out of the competition. Others maybe have greater voices but they are overdoing instead of collaborating with the music.

[@lamentofhorde]

Maria has a tendency to flat more, but she does have a heavier voice. I do do like her slower vibrato at the end. :)

[@fs3detf9m]

You forgot Silvia Voinea.. go and check it out please ..

[@kngiht84]

I agree, although Jo has a very "lovely" method to elaborate coloratura (which I think is one of a kind in today's soprano league), her voice is so soft that it's almost drown out all the time (her high E in Spargi d'amaro is in no way traceable); and I agree that though Lakme is no Callas's nor Sutherland's trademarks, they are still invincible, love the classic trills of Callas BTW.

[@Alleeexoscm]

Mi favorita en el Air des Clochettes(Aria de las Campanillas) es Natalie Dessay, pero no se puede omitir a la gran Maria Callas, a Joan Sutherland (hermosas notas y coloratura aqui), así tambien Mady Mesplé (que interpreta de maravilla el dúo Lakmé, lakmé c'sto, c'stoi) y creo que Tracy Dahl no esta tan mal. Pero tanto Tetrazzini (una de las mejores en la sonambula) y Galli-Curci, Lily Pons y Sumi Jo, o son muy rapidas en la coloratura o no usan las mejores notas (algo fuera de tono).

[@sschimel]

No survey of this is complete without Kathryn Grayson! (total snark. :-)