Leonard Warren O du mein holder Abendstern Tannhäuser Live

This video is in honor of the 49th anniversary of Leonard Warren's final performance March 4th, 1960, 49 yrs ago today. During a performance of La Forza Del Destino he passed away on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera...This is a live recording of my favorite Aria sung by Warren.

[@smumbert]

They don't make baritones like this anymore.The size, beauty and control of his voice is unmatched by anyone today. Quite simply one of the best that ever lived! bravo

[@unclelouie3828]

I heard him many times at the Met. He was magnificent. A huge voice that he could bring to a whisper. His sound was gorgeous.

[@stevendaniel5649]

I sang this aria in the Met auditions in 1971. If I had heard this recording before, I would never have sung it! LOL Utter perfection..........

[@sgnmath1234]

What happened at the audition ???

[@JoanLorraineN]

What a legato that man had!!!! Good Heavens! He had such a magnificent voice - and his interpretations were beyond phenomenal. With arias such as this and Il balen in Trovatore - he truly made them love songs ....he didn't use a declamatory tone, as most baritones do. No matter how accomplished or plush the baritone voice since then - no one has moved me as much as Warren!...

[@lyndalarkin348]

Absolutely.

[@francoisbessing]

Simply unbelievable voice....he is an unlimited Baritone...truly never heard a voice so free of tension ....amazing.

[@avajie]

This is probably the most appropriate 'last song" of any singer to sing. It makes him sound so at peace.

[@JonPowersMusic]

The pianist is supreme as well.

[@davidsolomon8203]

I cried on hearing him sing Ford’s aria from Falstaf, after learning of his death: how such a powerful voice could sing so softly and sweetly is a vocal marvel!

[@user-py1jg6bb2r]

This is why I love his voice much more, not only can be powerful and deep low, he is much more dynamic in such a detailed work, his understanding of composer and arias be obviously a way higher...

[@davidsolomon8203]

I never before heard him sing with such a hauntingly beautiful mezza voce!

[@ardeladimwit]

oh, he was unforgettable and incredible-- never missed a Met live radio broadcast with this voice Saturday addiction was MetLive

[@stevevandien310]

Given the enormous size and overwhelming resonance of Warren's voice, it's extraordinary that he also commanded such a pillowy yet vibrant mezza-voce --

[@UncleLouie867]

I heard Warren 'live' many times. The old story- unless you heard him live (in the house) well, i did and it was one of the most gorgeous voices i've ever heard. A big beautiful sound. Forza, Macbeth, Rigoletto, etc. The Forzas with Milanov, Tucker & Warren- i've heard recordings but trust me, "You Hadda be There". I think i heard Warren more than any other baritone. I'm surprised to hear this Wagner recording- i love it.

[@kensmith2282]

I envy you. I heard many great live but not Warren.

[@user-py1jg6bb2r]

Warm tone and richly creamy... the gigantic huge voice. How special and grand Warren's singing! I always tune in for his arias and songs, all simple songs turned into specials. Superb artistry, great voice and very fine man!!! RIP...

[@MRJAMES56]

Magnificent, beyond my power to praise!!

[@MrAristaeus]

Shout out to the pianist in this. The legato lines are given their proper due. It very quickly becomes an um-cha-cha by accompanists who aren’t 100% committed. Warren is on another ringing resonating planet in this. Exquisite to hear. It’s an obvious point, but it’s how he uses his vast resources of tonal richness that gets me. His phrasing is always refined... the apexes never jump out and yet one can hear the (considerable) reserves that are behind them. The truly heartfelt and delicately spun forte. Nobility and Innigkeit as one!

[@deltakappa7648]

One of the greatest baritones of the last century... indeed!

[@federic017]

Un uso del diaframma assolutamente perfetto, come solo i "Grandi "sanno fare... Meraviglioso!!! Caruso suonava così perfetto. Saluti

[@avajie]

Yeah! I noticed that no one commented one their tender musicality! The pianist could have made a novice sound great on this Aria. Warren, of course, took it soaring to new heights. It becomes easier to accept that I myself am a baritone (I always dreamed of being a tenor) when I hear the beauty and serenity in the Baritone voice that tenors just miss out on.

[@glb289]

Not all tenors!

[@legatofancier]

This live performance is very different from most of his studio recordings. It's far more musical than many of his commercial recordings. Wish he had sung this way on more of his commercial recordings.

[@Rigelcentauri58]

If God had a voice, it would be this one!!

[@hwh1946]

Heart breaking in his nuance. Unequaled.

[@kensmith2282]

Absolutely flawless singing!!

[@forallyouknow]

This is a baritone. Others cannot even achieve in the studio what he achieved live.

[@suzannesadiiqa]

Superb! So sorry that I came to opera too late to have heard this wonderful singer live.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Wonderful aria sung so beautifully and with meaning and passion.

[@user-ic5xu4jh6z]

Sehr guter Sänger! Und er hat noch die gute alte Technik, die heute fast vergessen ist...bravo!

[@cappycapuzi1716]

beautiful aria and beautiful voice!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Thank you for explaining this wonderful performance so well. I learned a lot about WHY I love it so.

[@STUDIOLAFENICE]

Beauty and expressivity both beyond description. Thank you so much for this share.

[@Sledgehammer110]

Stunning ! ❤️

[@ludovicpaste9951]

En plus un pianiste coloriste très brillant ! grande voix avec les nuances très émouvantes... Merci du post

[@giovanniciafre3139]

Preciosa voz...interpretación impecable...sonido propio de un baritono...fraseo perfecto.Melodioso.Fue mi idolo

[@rationalsceptic7634]

Amazing Voice..could even hit a high C..one of the greatest of all time..sad he died young! RIP

[@forevernvmb2334]

Our sadness will last forever 🖤

[@giovanniciafre3139]

Inimitable...que voz! Grandioso...que fraseo...fue y sigue siendo mi idolo.

[@giovanniciafre3139]

Un grande con una voz grande y agradable...con sentimiento y dulzura.Mi idolo del pasado!

[@tenorschofield]

WONDERFUL!!!

[@agustinhervella9436]

,warren¡ qué voz, que expresión Artista tan grandioso y espectacular como la Callas. ¡no se puede interpretar ni cantar mejor! Pasarán años para encontrar otra figura tan interesante como Warren!

[@RichardMorrisonBaritone]

This man is legend.

[@GuidoKaiserBariton1]

Das war wirklich ein ganz Großer. Vielleicht am berührendsten, wenn er mit seinem Mezzavoce zauberte. Wunderbar, all das hier wieder erleben zu können !

[@FacePaster]

best. abendstern. ever.

[@vmm1472]

BEAUTIFUL

[@thomaskgeydan2528]

One of the greatest baritones of the last century! No other baritone, in my opinion, sang Verdi so beautifully and convincingly. His singing here is excellent; however, his diction is not the best! But I always appreciate his voice.

[@dilvishselar]

I agree with all you say about his voice, But hm... maybe i understood wrong. Did you confuse this aria from Wagner opera with some Verdi opera? :-)

[@thomaskgeydan2528]

How can there be confusion? In the first sentence I comment on his singing of Verdi roles. Then there is a full stop. The second sentence begins with the words “his singing here”; “here” clearly referring to this video with the aria from Tannhäuser, which is sung in German, and which is the subject about my comment concerning his diction.

[@bsb3339]

As a native German speaker I would say his diction is pretty decent here. Definitely one of the finest renditions I have listened to, though Lawrence Tibetts remains my favorite!

[@lheritierboris7866]

The great Warren passed away the March 4th 1960 during a performance on the stage of the MET, it's true, BUT it was when he sang la Forza del destino!

[@strad1944]

Excellent! Mack Harrell also stunning.

[@Agorante]

I believe that Warren like Ruffo sang the herald in Lohengin when first starting out.

[@yaelasha7405]

Bellissima Aria bella voce

[@MrFrancogianni]

voce possente!!!!!!!!!!!fantastica!!!!!!voto 8.

[@seishonagon9957]

Von Ihm fühlte ich mich nicht nur geschmeichelt, ich war sehr bewegt.

[@paulostroff99]

Beautifully sung! Bravo! TY.

[@axelmimi]

Que voz tan extraordinaria y que excelente interpretación tan dramática y fiel al pensamiento de Wagner. Y todo esto en vivo ... ! Pocos momentos antes de morir en escena a la edad (49 años) cumbre de un Barítono de Opera. No creo que pueda darse una versión más perfecta que ésta. Gloria al más grande y completo Barítono de la historia.

[@IRA77GEOTENORE]

Great head voice,

[@gracielacastellanos6937]

Gracias mil por compartir estas joyas

[@mmbmbmbmb]

Very touching ~ thank you!

[@sararosa9330]

Meu Wagner nesta voz é autentico......

[@luisnorbertogomez7058]

Sublime

[@BaroneVitellioScarpia1]

Dfd, Terfel, Gerhaher and Hvorostovsky left the chat.

[@saiserieht]

Thanks for the info!

[@danielbonning]

Stupendo ..............!!!

[@saiserieht]

Beautiful! There seems to be some very quite violin-like sounds in the background.

[@jcbaritone622]

Unfortunately, this was not the last song that he sang before he died, he passed away during a performance of Verdi's La Forza del Destino..he collapsed right before he went into the cabaletta of the aria "Urna Fatale".

[@stevendaniel5649]

Dropped dead. Center stage. What an exit !!!!!!!

[@andrzejbator7708]

GRANDIOSSO BARITONO

[@davidsolomon8203]

If that singing doesn’t make you misty-eyed, then, perhaps, you were not really listening!

[@user-py1jg6bb2r]

yes, it is really, real

[@songsofscarlet]

@hgbrown20001 beautiful story, so amazing that you were there... in NYC at the time

[@curation123]

@Fegen I agree. For more pleasure on this aria, I strongly recommend the version of Pasquale Amato, the most beautiful baritone voice that ever existed.

[@54Alesha]

Блестяще!!!

[@paulostroff99]

@Kievest -What a range and totally different to Tibbett performance. They are both truly great performances. This one more subtle but equally brilliant. TY.

[@jericlindsey]

you can look on Wikipedia and then check the website at the bottom for his bio

[@jordipanadesribera6890]

❤

Absolutely captivating. I mean, i don't even like the pronunciation, i wouldn't agree on the phrasing but it's still a mesmerising interpretation. Wondrous

[@moishemillerr]

Pronounciation is good!

[@wkasimer]

I believe that this was a live recital in Moscow.

[@saiserieht]

Yeah, my headphones are pretty revealing ;-) Its not that distracting though. Thanks for that recording btw, I think I have never heard Warren sing Wagner before.

[@jericlindsey]

he died during la forza

[@user-sb3nb5fe8c]

Это лучшее исполнение

[@jefolson6989]

Wonderful, but if the recit were any slower I'd need an intermission!

[@stevevandien310]

Was this recorded during Warren' s concert tour of Russia in 1958?

[@BrianDonaldMcKay]

@Belcantooliver I agree, unfortunately. But nonetheless a great, great baritone

[@songsofscarlet]

I know it's annoying... so possibly a recital at a conservatory... where a violin recital was going on next door? I really haven't the slightest. I was hoping no one would notice!

[@gianfrancocastelli2324]

In Italia ( rigoletto alla Scala )non fù apprezzato perchè il pubblico italiano è parecchio ignorante in fatto di musica e bel canto. Per essere considerati ottimi cantanti, occorre avere la voce stentorea, urlare e gigionare. Per fortuna il tempo ha dato ragione a Warren che attualmente è considerato,giustamente, uno dei più grandi baritoni del 900.

[@bodiloto]

Gianfranco Castelli è ovvio che lei e' un ragazzo giovane e per questa ragione non ricorda il gusto del pubblico italiano degli anni 1960 ... per la sua informazione mi ricordo che negli anni 1958 il pubblico italiano era un pubblico intelligentissimo ben preparato nella materia lirica chi conosceva à memoria tutto il repertorio italiano . per sfortuna da anni il pubblico italiano degli anni 1958 non esiste più . Warren aveva una voce meravigliosa, purtroppo quando cantava il suo italiano era poco perfetto ...

[@3maumaumau]

grande cantante e grande interprete,tecnica da manuale, ma a suo tempo alla scala non piacque, questo la dice lunga sul gusto di un certo pubblico...

[@Dadacomero]

+mauro quetti verissimo. Può essere perche aveva un brutta pronuncia in italiano? Mi pare avesse cantato il Rigoletto alla scala

[@veraintuizione6497]

👼❤💕😘

[@thelyricorchestra]

@monpitt500 I disagree...and who do you suppose did please tell.

[@kostisgreece]

Nice slow tempo, nice timbe r, unfocused voice as is the norm... Best version , in my opinion is by Friedrich Schorr

[@federricoilgrande]

Ho appena ascltato la versione di hermann Prey, bé il paragone è impietoso...Warren non era un wagneriano? E chi se ne frega ! Con quella voce straordinaria poteva cantare tutto, da Olympia al Grande Inquisitore !!!

[@songsofscarlet]

@Belcantooliver dramatic interpretation... Wagner would have wanted it this way

[@BaronScahpia]

@Belcantooliver You have no clue. Wagner's tempi? He mark's quarter note = 46 at the beginning and gives us nothing else until the meter change, which simply says the dotted quarter is to equal the half. I challenge you to find me ONE SINGLE RECORDING of this aria in which there is not a tempo change at measure 21 ("Da scheinest du...").