Leontyne Price sings Madama Butterfly (vaimusic.com)

[@zacharylavender1568]

One thing I have learned, is to not compare singers. Every singer has a different personality, temperment and approach to a piece of music. I appreciate each one for what they can do and bring to the performance. Ms Price is an exceptional talent. Her instrument has been and remains to be one of this nations finest on every level of vocal excellence.

[@johnb340]

Nope. it's not fair to compare singers. They all have unique voice characteristics. I find I have favorite versions of arias based on artists.

[@HalisIstanbullu]

Perfectly put, Mr Lavender.

[@sparrow88310]

I agree whole heartedly with your summation on comparing singers. Each voice is a God given talent that is unique to the person he has given it to.

[@txauditor]

I wish everyone had this gentleman's point of view. Sometimes these comments comparing performers or personal preferences are childish and reflect poorly on the commentator as individuals.

[@72Yonatan]

Miss Price does more than justice to the material and gives us a glimpse into the higher world. But you are right that each singer has a unique gift to the world. They are like messengers sent to comfort us in the sorrows of this life.

[@andrewschreiber112]

I have to laugh at the comment that she had no power in her upper register. I was fortunate enough to see Ms. Price live a number of times - in recital, in concert with orchestra, and in opera - Aida, Trovatore, and Ariadne. She had the ability to float a pianissimo high note that caressed the ear in every corner of even a large house like War Memorial in San Francisco or the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and when she let loose with her high notes at full volume, it was a force of nature. She would often describe her voice as a "soaring instrument" and she was absolutely right. Not only was it the single most gorgeous voice I've ever heard live, but it had power to spare, richness, and a sensuality and native musicality and expressiveness that was uniquely hers. She is sorely missed on the stage, and I only hope she's doing well now at 88.

[@zacharylavender1568]

I so concur!

[@evonnedalton9141]

Andrew Schreiber a great and true comment about her voice. She was an extraordinarily gifted and intelligently gifted singer. Must be wonderful to be born with such talent.

[@ngatihine6072]

I heard Kathleen battle at Auckland NZ town hall 1999 and couldnt believe how beautiful her voice was but it didnt encompass the venue. I reckon leontyne would have blown me away in the same venue

[@photo161]

Nasty Ms. Battle had a notoriously big mouth which eventually got her fired from the Met. And yes you're quite right, her voice was very small.

[@khamikins]

which the Met's manager at the time later said was the biggest mistake of his life.

[@cinziacioni8891]

I am Italian, Leontyne Price thank you , you sing Verdi and Puccini so well, you make me feel proud and grateful, God bless you

[@veganista_life]

Weil die ist die beste mein Diamantenstück mein Schatz ich liebe sie so sehr !!!

[@jerrycallender9352]

Leontyne Price has been called Verdi's 'AIDA'.

[@leoedwards6289]

I was in the audience lucky enough to hear her final Butterfly at the Met. Throughout the evening, there were many spontaneous bursts of applause after shimmering high notes were floated, or a single note sustained as she walked slowly from stage right to stage left. At the end, the audience showed its appreciation with a 30 minute standing ovation.

[@410babygirl]

Leo, how lucky you are to have experienced her live! ty so much for commenting.

[@Dal-bm7xd]

You were profoundly blessed to have been present at her final Tosca. Puccini and Price. Words cannot convey my emotions when I hear Leontyne sing anything by this absolute musical genius.

[@liedersanger1]

@@Dal-bm7xdHe said “Butterfly.”

[@melissabeard5596]

Her longest standing ovation was 45 minutes. I heard that this evening. What talent! She was born exactly one month before my maternal grandmother.

[@Lederius18]

I have grown so accustomed to this level of singing that when I listen to other singers I often am left disappointed. Madame Price will always reign to me.

[@789truth]

You should hear Mirella Freni's version of Un bel di, vedremo. 1974 Puccini, they made it slower which made that version so dramatic but from Madamme Price's voice, I can tell she would have done a marvelous job the fact that she made this original version so smooth and powerful.

[@Cat-no8ts]

Absolutely agree 💯!!

[@Cat-no8ts]

Absolutely agree 💯!!

[@janicetaylorwarne3123]

When I was a singing student with the Portnoi’s, I was given a recording of Madam Price as a birthday gift. It changed my life. I went on to become an opera singer, then teacher. She was my inspiration!! Brava, soprano absolute!! 💐💖

[@slimv2010]

I am so proud to be able to experience a woman of my culture who is also in love with opera. I will someday sing with an orchestra.☺

[@liedersanger1]

She is the product of our shared culture, fed by many streams!

[@unphazd5137]

@slimv2010 lol this woman has her own culture, find yours or you will be lost forever

[@adrianprota2105]

Leontyne’s butterfly is definitely one of the finest vocal versions out there. This women has given my ears more joy than I could ever have wished for. When I was 25 I saved all my cloakroom tips to fly to Chicago for one night to hear her in concert. She sang like a Queen. I went downstairs into the bowels of the opera house and she gracefully signed my posters. I have always loved her butterfly for it’s heart and sheer beauty of voice. I have loved her voice for over 40 years plus, and I still love it. A voice for all ages.

[@AstridSchlegel-u9z]

This woman is sublime. This is a divine gift from god

[@operaoaf]

Price had a voice that was so well suited to the Verdi and Puccini repertoire. Her voice was powerful while capable of producing delicate pianissimi and melting legato. She had a strong chest voice and her dark tones always made her interpretations so memorable and unique.

[@mizfrenchtwist]

I remember Madame Price , she had a voice that was other worldly. and the grace and bearing of a diva extraordinaire. and yes, she does have the range of a coloratura . we are fortunate, for her to have blessed us with her gift.

[@Vita9YouTube]

Ms. Leontyne Price is THE VOICE from Heaven above. Leontyne I adore you!!!

[@drplot1]

All I can say: Wow! How beautiful. I prefer not to compare. Only Leontyne sings like Leontyne; I was lucky enough to hear her sing live before she retired. It was unforgettable.

[@dlagrua]

Leontyne Price was an absolutely great soprano, an often overlooked talent but still among the best of her time.

[@trevjr]

My god the way her voice just soars!!! and you are right, the way she ends the notes, just fantastic!!! No one like her, I just want to cry when i hear her.

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 92nd Anniversary Of Life Sunday, February 10, 2019 Soprano, Leontyne Price Queen Of Them All! And She Shall Reign Forever!

[@WelshHomo87]

There are better sopranos than her. Callas and Sutherland

[@ChagoWilson]

@@WelshHomo87 One thing is certain; the essence of your comment is wholely encapsulated in the first word of your moniker!

[@guydauncey]

She is a goddess. A beautiful goddess out of Africa, which is where all we humans come from. We share the same genes, the same hopes and fears, and the same love of amazing music. I do hope you can overcome your upbringing, Alex, and open your heart to the beauty of other people, whatever the colour of their skin.

[@theRubyRunner]

They way she holds those notes at the end make her my favorite. I've heard other version and their beautiful. But they way she ends it just brings it home for me.

[@amaranthann]

Her voice, second to none, is a VOICE from Heaven. NO ONE can compare to her. She is always magnificent.

[@toberreilly5041]

You can count on one hand those few truly great singers that transcend their art. What a voice. What. A. Voice.

[@kathypeachs6847]

I got chills listening to this amazing diva

[@amaranthann]

there is no other soprano like her. Madama Butterfly is my favorite opera; Un Bel Di my favorite song, and Price, my favorite to sing it.

[@jrynds]

Thank God for KZbin! These historic clips are preserved for a new generation. Many people know of this prima donna as a name in a history book without experiencing the person. Too bad there's no clip of a Puccini interview!

[@GermanOperaSinger]

Her story is truly inspiring...from her poor background to become one of the greatest sopranos of the century...she proved America that success stories do come from that little southern state called Mississippi!

[@Vita9YouTube]

Bella Donna; Bello Canto. Molto Grazie Signora Price. Con Amore Sempre!!!

[@carissa813]

I've listened to different opera singers before... She is the first one to make me cry! I just feel love and passion coming through her voice. WOW

[@ddchil41]

WHAT A VOICE! that is all I can say!

[@aj92507]

amid the harsh lights and everyone and everything all up on her...this angelic woman not only delivered this aria with absolute exactness, she made me feel as if we were alone in the theatre. I love when artists are so magnificent they propel you to another place.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Absolutely great. What a tremendous voice!

[@silviafigueroa8813]

Extraordinary I've loved this song my whole life Classic. Love her performance

[@hudsonbailey674]

"Un Bel Di" fleshes Puccini especially when Diva Leontyne Price sings. Thank you, valmusic.

[@clb9980]

Whenever I want to hear something thoughtful and melancolic and full of heart, I come here. I only know 2 who can truly express this fight of knowing and hoping, fear and Courage, without hiding behind a mask of alleged strength, Mrs. Caballe and Mrs. Prince.

[@AstridSchlegel-u9z]

I think I'm in heaven. Bravo you grans special magnificent lady

[@fathijama]

Such an amazing voice, powerful and classy. Cant stop listening to her over and over again

[@rolandmartinez613]

Absolutely beautiful. Magnificent, simply a God given voice at which she used to mesmerize the world.

[@AnitaIzabel]

A voice of the 20th century...magnificent!

[@coppiainiqua470]

Tremendous thanks to all the people who keep YT alive. We are privileged to see, hear and compare, and enjoy. And then La Price...The greatest among the greatest.

[@gallantentry]

Stunning! It is nice to just enjoy the voice without all the harsh critique.

[@garyguyton7373]

I've heard many, many sopranos cover this Aria, one of the best ever written, and I've loved every one of them. This one is no exception.

[@meowey55]

oh my god i'm freaken crying lol wow awesome i loved the ending how she finished the touch lol it was like a cherry on top of this song

[@Tenorbravo]

Miss Price...... is amazing! Stunning performance..Love it. thank you for this geme.

[@loosetea]

Price's Puccini is one of the greatest examples of the true verismo style.She is in gorgeous voice, without the scooping and sliding that came occasionally, then more frequently in some perforamnces of this period. The legato, the musicianly fine taste of singing from the a heart, well informed by the mind, and disciplined from years of assidious practice and study, give us this glorious performance.SMALL VOICE?I heard her live many times, and she shook the rafters of Carnegie Hall and the Met.

[@SDSFG45]

Im 53...so I remember very well, disco coming to the forefront of popular music..and I can say the same about hip hop and grunge. But as Ive grown older, my ear yearns for pure beauty, when it comes to the genres of music that I listen to. So, classical music and opera have REALLY grown on me. And there are a number of performers that Iove. But when Im in the mood for pure beauty in a vocal, Ms Price is my 'go-to'.

[@gracetukuru2869]

Meghan's podcast brought me here. I had no idea that this woman existed. Thanks Meghan for sharing your knowledge!

[@leoperarm]

Absolutely beautiful. Great voice, you can actually feel the power and the theme of the story.

[@jocelyngardner5711]

I’m in tears with joy and Butterflies 🦋

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 95th Life Anniversary February 10, 2022 To Her Royal Highness, Leontyne Price Grandest Of Them All!

[@josephnucifora852]

I was fortunate enough to have my maternal grandfather teach me the beauty of music when I was pre school age. He began witb 78s that he collected (and I still have) of Enrico Caruso and choruses of old European and American Operas. I had not known at the time but later on had discovered in a sepia and white photographs in my families memories that he actually performed in a chorus of Rigoletto at the Met eons ago..( later on found out that they actually keep every single person who ever performed on that stage in an archive at the Met).... anyway I'm getting off the subject... I was growing up .. he was introducing me to more modern opera singers at the time his favorite being Maria Callas and he loved Joan Sutherland and Beverly Sills and he loved Leontyne Price as well and I just remember as a small boy hearing this particular Aria and saying to my grandfather ...what was that beautiful song about ... and he explained to me, in the most wonderful way, as he told me all the stories of the Opera . He would take me in the basement and fire up the old " Hi-Fi ", but before he would play the song he would explain to me the story in these wild animsted gestures of fear or love or war or pain, what was going on with the particular character and explain why they were either sad or happy or angry, etc..and then tell me the focus of the song as the finale of his story....for example...he would be telling me the story of Madame Butterfly at this particular time he would say something like...... and then she realizes that he didn't come back for her , he just came to see her anr bring his wife to see where he was, and she realizes he was married to someone else and she can't take the heartache, and she won't go on with this longing for this man she waited for all this time, for nothing and she won't go on in shame, because the Japanese are very proud people so she takes the hari kari knife (of course this led to the discussion of what is hari kari and the explanation of the whole thing) and just as the knife plunges into her she reaches that high note as the pain in her soul and the pain in her body reach a crescendo and that's the ending basically of the story......., then he would actually play the record and I'd be mezmorized at the song after knowing the story and wanted this more and more and........ dammit I'm going on ......just thinking about this brought me to tears .....I miss that man so much and he died way too early for me to appreciate every single thing that he was telling me at the time, but I am glad I have these few little memories that I do and the wonderful education on music and life in general that he gave me and when I see this clip and see the ease that Ms. Price goes from her Angelic mid-tones to this incredibly difficult High crescendo with EASE, it is like God took the the breath from her throat and pulled it up through her mouth without a flinch of a muscle as if it was somebody just saying "hello how are you" not even a hint of struggle.... I can't begin to express this pure emotional ecstasy and physical beauty in her voice and these notes. Seeing that, and hearing that and the chills you experience from the perfect note hit regardless of the emotion of the song is very very rare, and this woman is a true gift to the world with her voice and I'm so sorry that she has retired and I wish they were more with her ability, which threats are a very rare few, but there will never be exactly ,another, and anyone who doesn't agree that this is beyond talent and this is perfect pitch and a perfect example of what pure and 100% correct music should be and people should strive to be this good, is just absolutely looking for attention by making him or herself seem like a fool or just is truly one , who hasn't an incling of the emotion of music that makes it worth living for and not just the science and perception of a music note. Thank you so much for letting me stroll down my wonderful childhoods memory lane and for taking the stroll with me I hope you can understand a little bit of the joy and Fortune of growing up with music like this and a huge thank you to Leontyne Price for working so hard to be the perfectionist in music that she is but also provide the soul and the so important beauty and the emotion that she so eloquently provided in every breath she took in song.😄

[@nom9463]

Wow! What an amazing and beautiful story - your grandpa sounds very special...

[@josephnucifora852]

@@nom9463 He was, and thank you very much for your kind words and for letting me share my experience with you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@liedersanger1]

What a touching, wonderful story! I'm grateful you said every word.

[@sdyry]

4 minuts of beauty I'm Mooved!

[@sergiovarela8030]

... Divine !!!!!!!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@kenwall7484]

Beautiful woman BEAUTIFUL voice! Love you!

[@ruthgoldbergives6945]

❤ 😊💞💐🕯🕯💖🪄🌟😍🤩👏⭐ Thank you for this video.😊

[@BEG943]

Gorgeous and splendid. I am simply grateful to have heard her.

[@lorainegrace]

What a wonderful voice. Charming, such class. So utterly delightful

[@Sebastian740]

Breathtaking makes you want to cry.

[@cicc646]

The Stradviarious of Sopranos.

[@kenwall7484]

what a voice! beyond!

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 94th Anniversary Of Life Wednesday, February 10, 2021 To Our Grandest & Dearest Madame Leontyne Price

[@daveyeddie8176]

Beautiful experience.

[@H2obearer]

Absolutely Incredible!

[@AUGUSTALLEN28]

Crystal clear,just splendid.

[@britope16]

Não canso de assistir esta belíssima peça!

[@notcant]

she has the voice of a goddess! :-)

[@АлександрЯрков-ш2з]

Bravo bravo bravo

[@SilfredoSerrano]

Glorious!

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 97th Anniversary Of Life Saturday, February 10, 2024 Her Royal Highness Queen Leontyne Price Grandest Soprano Of Them ALL !!!

[@CherryBlossomskt]

Thanks for keeping up with Leontyne ❤

[@storm02s]

I saw her perform at I.U Bloomington Indiana campus... it was mind blowing!!

[@1968KWT]

Happy Birthday, La Splendissima! 🎈🎉🎂🥳

[@SirTenor77]

Simply Divine!!! Brava!!!

[@KremenaVenkova]

beautiful...

[@susanwilson8125]

DIVA OF ALL TIME!! MY HERO!! MADAMA LEONTYNE!! YOU POWER STYLE !! GIFT FROM ALMIGHTY GOD!! BLESS YOU FOR YOU DIVINE VOICE!! YOU ARE NOT NOT FORGOTTEN!! I CAN SING BECAUSE OF YOU!! SUZAN C WILSON

[@shepenupetawusidalasinani5221]

so beautiful

[@donteaujaeelsmith6459]

beautiful

[@operawhore64]

no no.. absolutely.. a friend and I say that her voice has a body of its own... all of the Greats have that... please use that when listening to other singers.. Joan had it, Freni..I seen them and it was unbelieveable...

[@nanai16951]

Sublime!!!

[@williamburnett4585]

I was fortunate to have heard perform the role of Cio-Cio San at the San Francisco Opera in 1961 with Sandor Konya ass Pinkerton and John Shaw as Sharpless. I even received an invitation to join a small group greeting her at her dressing room door after the performance. She sang only a couple of performances, which impresario Kurt Herbert Adler mounted for her in conjunction with her RCA recording. My first two "Butterflys" in live performance were Dorothy Kirsten and Leontyne Price. Memorable.

[@massimodepietro7005]

Voce carisma inimitabile insuperabile straordinaria divina diva diva diva per sempre prendete esempio da questi mostri sacri cari giovani cantanti se non volete essere delle piccole meteore.

[@liricobarroco]

i lover the dark and shiny voices!!!

[@SteveL2012]

A voice like the finest gem. ❤❤❤

[@summer3100]

a celebration of human talent. magnificent. i wish i had seen a live performance of leontyne price. a consummate professional.

[@Dan-vt3nk]

Awesome!

[@Marcelosopro]

UMA GRANDIOSA VOZ!!!! BARVA TININHA!!!

[@410babygirl]

Un bel di is a favorite of mine, and she is absolutely exquisite!

[@suzieqou8129]

Beautiful!

[@aprilvalente2146]

Simply the badass in opera, there never was a better singer, not even Callas reaches my heart like Mdm Price

[@WelshHomo87]

Are you deaf? Callas sang with her soul

[@thebes50]

So very Beautiful.

[@jameelboone4882]

Thank You

[@jmiller05]

Price is definitely a spinto. She has a flexible voice that can stretch over light and heavy-ish orchestration, without being drowned out. Plus her voice has sufficient covering of sound to sing both Verdi, Puccini and Mozart with great facility.

[@Herculeon]

She is Amazing!

[@shantavanee]

Thank YOU ❤❤❤

[@illfurter]

ce n'était pas la meilleure performance de leontyne que pourtant je vénère!!

[@AnthonyVona]

WOW! A GIFT FROM GOD SHE IS!

[@fashionistoxo]

Ms. Leontyne makes me smile☺️☺️

[@alvarobalcaceres3211]

But... It's a sad song 😭💔

[@fashionistoxo]

Álvaro Balcáceres Leontyne makes me smile I didn’t say the song....☺️☺️😉

[@ЯнаСкорнякова-ш1б]

Magnifique 😭❤️❤️❤️

[@ronz8063]

Saw her live as a child

[@1968KWT]

Happy Birthday, #LeontynePrice95! 🌹🌹🌹

[@cecilduncan8740]

Happy Birthday 🎉🎈🎂, Madame Price!

[@rksu747]

Immpeccable!

[@nicolasgarcia2894]

Convincente. Domina y engrandece el papel

[@jrwilliams5509]

Brava!

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

THE BEST