Leontyne Price | Backstage & In Performance Opens The New Met | 1966 Documentary

[@sashineb.2114]

Thank you. I saw her in performance twice. In 1978, as we were leaving the hall, a small crowd of people was waiting near the stage. We went up and asked what they were waiting for. They said there was a chance that Miss Price would see well-wishers backstage, so we hung around. Sure enough, we were taken backstage. Miss Price was very friendly and interested in what people had to say, and she graciously autographed my copy of the program that contained her song selections for the recital.

[@sanfordpress8943]

She was gracious and grand and had no problem letting you know how great she was. Self worth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@qsw-1228]

WHAT! When I heard her mother talk I almost went insane, I always wanted to hear her mother talk call me a nerd WHATEVER! Also Leontyne said “there’s champagne in the ice box, leave me some” I almost exploded, WHAT Leontyne Price drank champagne! Just to see her come off a performance was superb THANKS, THANKS, THANKS to the producers of this post.🙇 🙏 🍾

[@NCinNYC]

Boy, am I ever lucky that Leontyne Price sang during my lifetime. And so grateful for every video, every audio recording. She was the Queen of all she surveys.

[@tomlarge3065]

My sentiments exactly. Amen!

[@colortura]

Leontyne one of the greatest diva's of all time.

[@delphineblue]

I know this particular video is a documentary you have shared. But I swear, the research you put into your videos should be in the Smithsonian. I am not a musician or singer, but I so enjoy your work on this aspect of our Black American culture.

[@smurf902]

This whole KZbin channel is a marvel! Some fantastic videos here.

[@HorsdSF]

"I'm not getting out of here with my life - I know it!." Great remark after being trapped in that pyramid. It would be awesome if there were a re-staging of this very same production, but with modern equipment. The Met does the most astonishing productions. The scene at about 8:55 has some "floating" horizontal elements, like those in Zefirelli's production of "Turandot", quite amazing. I was in a department store once by the perfume counters, when there were suddenly a lot of whispers and some applause. Leontyne Price had entered the room, regal, in a thigh-length cape and turban on her head. Smiling, saying "hello" and politely waving as she passed through. Magic.

[@paullewis2413]

Wow, it’s amazing what KZbin can bring us documentaries etc that we never knew existed. Though I believed the opera was not a success to see all this talent in rehearsal is wonderful. Schippers was a great conductor, died much too young and of course Leontyne Price, Franco Zeffirelli and Rudolf Bing are operatic legends.

[@WarrenHolly]

So many things to overcome right before opening. Wow!

[@divinesarah]

Thanks for sourcing this important archival film! I've heard Leontyne Price discuss this event but didn't dream there existed behind the scenes footage of rehearsal, and attendees like Price's father 🙏🏼❤️

[@JWP452]

I saw her in Doubleday bookstore in NYC. She was wearing a full length mink coat and was surrounded by an adoring entourage. :)

[@esquire2K11]

This was simply stupendous!!!! Literally History before our very eyes! I have always wanted to see this! Thank you for this!!! #LeontynePrice #blackoperasingers #ushistory

[@omrij19]

OMG thank you for sharing! Ms Price is the greatest American Prima Donna IMO ❤

[@mariateresaschniebs4929]

Corrección... UNA de las más grandes que dió el arte lírico ❤

[@omrij19]

@@mariateresaschniebs4929 Estoy de acuerdo ❤

[@Cyber_Diva]

Thanks for this gem, Milik!😊

[@divox9pqr]

I am astounded and shocked that no film exists to my knowledge to document the full length performance of this musical phenomenon.

[@johnrandolph6121]

What phenomenon? Are you referring to Leontyne Price of Antony and Cleopatra?

[@SistaSource]

This is so beautiful. Thank you!

[@corneliuswhite5139]

Thank you so very much for posting this. ❤

[@dantewalston2755]

Thank you so much for this, what a truly great artist she was!!!

[@priscamolotsi]

I love Leontyne Price❤! Thank you for uploading this great video!

[@maudale]

I saw a few clips of this on youtube and couldn't find the full documentary! Thank you for uploading the video :)

[@mc7playatease]

18:45 =99= oooOooo I love this video, thank you so much, esp when Her mom and she respond to the honor at this special moment in time. blessings of gratitude to all involved

[@Winysamuel]

Thank you for unearthing this treasure for us to watch. I am totally riveted. This a world another universe for a bird’s eye view…WOW! I’ve been transported ❤

[@janeyb1536]

Dionnes & Whitneys cousin once removed Cissy's 1st Cousin. What amazing talented family❤

[@coreyjamontsmith917]

Sadly, that’s not true based upon what The Price family has said.

[@mrlopez-pz7pu]

Cousin or not, Whitney should have went to Leontyne Price for classical lessons in correct singing (by correct, I mean physically), or at least Price couldve pointed her in the right direction to a great vocal coach. Whitney's wiggling jaw was one of many give aways of her abuse of her gift. The lack of such coaching is one of the main reasons why Whitney fried her voice at such a young age (Mariah Carey also) - yes I know she smoked everything but her shoes, but so did Sarah Vaughan, and Vaughan was belting beautifully into old age due to her early classical training.

[@coreyjamontsmith917]

@@mrlopez-pz7pu Teachers tried; but, she declined according to my former teacher who knew her teacher who briefly taught her in the eighties.

[@mrlopez-pz7pu]

@@coreyjamontsmith917 really? I suspected as much. That's sad. With as much raw talent as she had and with proper training and care, her voice would have aged like wine. Sad

[@anonymouss974]

amazing so far! very appreciative to experience this, thanks!

[@katharinaheckmann4962]

Love your work! ❤

[@ferrisburgh802]

This was truly great..

[@DHa-4u]

This was tremendous. "Wow! What a night!"

[@sheenabees]

Thank you again, Milik! You're a gem.🥰

[@tonyandrade8131]

Outstanding!!! Thank you so much for posting!! What a triumphant achievement on everyone part that must have been. All the behind the scenes drama really paid off in the end.

[@findingfreedom-definingtru4818]

Thank you, what a treat!!! 🤩

[@Arnold3135]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. for this rare and riveting documentary performance.

[@bskeete]

Loved it!!! Thank you!!!

[@sanfordpress8943]

Elias !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful

[@lyndawilliams4570]

Brava! Brava! ❤❤❤

[@2906nico]

Truly wonderful.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Omg omg. This is a treasure

[@VanTheeBrand]

The Drinkard family produced some vocal prodigies; Leontyne, Cissy, Dionne AND Whitney! 😮‍💨 That bloodline was divine vocal royalty! 🫶🏾

[@coreyjamontsmith917]

Sadly, this isn’t true; The Price family has confirmed it.

[@nathandavis3002]

What part isn't true? Where did they confirm it?​@@coreyjamontsmith917

[@darnellanthony41]

Wow

[@revmiguel2000]

Schippers was gorgeous! ❤

[@sanfordpress8943]

Thomas Schippers! Imagine him your bed

[@paullewis2413]

A great talent who died far too young, but unfortunately that doesn’t appear to be unusual.

[@stache1954]

She is just a regular gal. Saw her going into a stage door and she said "Hi guys!" - 💘

[@noellearchives]

MOTHER!!!!!

[@FaustinaBordoni]

You know it!

[@talismon63]

YES MAME!!

[@kennywesley]

sight read!!!!

[@caninbar]

Too bad we have to see those words and digits throughout the video. Wonderful documentation!

[@HorsdSF]

This looks like an excerpt from "The Opera House", a full-length documentary about the building and opening of the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln center.

[@smurf902]

It's unbelievable they'd smoke right in the presence of the singers. Do you realize how any little thing can mess up the voice?

[@kem6429]

It must have been hideous for Prima DIva Leotyne to inhale that cigarette smoke on rehearsals. Shows the ability of.superb talent in a sub-standard environment. Bravo!

[@michaeltres]

Price did an amazing job. Too bad the production overwhelmed and the music underwhelmed.

[@liedersanger1]

The music written for Cleopatra is very beautiful!

[@michaeltres]

@@liedersanger1 Parts of it are nice, but there's a reason the only performances since 1966 have been of Barber's revised version.

[@jonhi1]

SIR southern I Know - lolol

[@MarieRoque3985]

Geez! Leontyne sounds so GLORIOUS here. None of that constricted and whoofy singing that started with her in the 70s and by the 80s made her borderline unlistenable. THIS is Miss Price in her GLORY!

[@caninbar]

I adore Leontyne Price and admire all of these great artists, but the music of composers like Barber could only be temporary and receive limited and local success. This music tires the ears and soul. The great opera composers have no rival in this sort of music.

[@smurf902]

I agree. To have opened the Met with the subpar, atonal work? Lord ...

[@robertgordon862]

@@smurf902 This music is about as far away from atonal as you can get. Probably you don't really know what the word "atonal" means.

[@gabriellebernard198]

Ill never forgive nyc for destroying the Old Met and building that famously ugly lincoln center. Going to the opera should be a grand affair, not like an airport

[@jaysoulxselah8260]

She and cissy houston look like they could be related 🤔

[@rbaltimo]

They are related

[@omrij19]

They are cousins ❤

[@JColeman-if9cp]

No we are not.

[@FredWic]

I was at the opening night performance. The singers were great, but the opera was a flop..

[@jean-jacquessimon6703]

Avec le recul, on impute ce retentissant échec à la mise en scène et à la pitoyable machinerie.

[@SvenErik_Lindstrom3]

Structural racism has done me wrong! I am entitled to reparations!

[@djgualtiermaldeCO]

what a dreadful opera. no wonder it was completely forgotten

[@smurf902]

And yet we have Glass's AKHENATEN and the other bullshit operas and everyone thinks they're amazing.

[@djgualtiermaldeCO]

@@smurf902 akhenaten i like, at least has some melodic line

[@liedersanger1]

@@djgualtiermaldeCO Cleopatras melodies are extremely beautiful.