Leontyne Price sings "Ritorna Vincitor" from Verdi's Aida

[@HaasRegen]

She remade and redefined the possibilities of this role. Beautiful and eternal.

[@FairyForest87]

No she really didn't. The orchestra consistently drowned her in performance

[@shettywap]

​@@FairyForest87 tell us more about hearing her live!!! Also, some of your faves from this era that you liked!

[@WilsonWatt-q2e]

@@FairyForest87 What performances are you referring to? I saw her several times at Chicago Lyric, the Met. San Francisco, with the Chicago Symphony in Verdi's Requiem and in several concert venues including both Grant Park and Ravinia. Never once did the "orchestra ...drown her out".

[@solonka123]

She had one the most beautiful voices I ever heard.

[@AlineMayne1]

Leontyne Price is the perfect Aida.

[@anandy9292]

the opening chest notes. so free and powerful. and a beautiful upper register

[@lauriedesantis-staschik4915]

It's not encouraged by teachers now but I think that is wrong. It brings so much drama and she does it in a very healthy way and is able to flawlessly mix her chest and head notes!! Brilliant!

[@WilsonWatt-q2e]

@@lauriedesantis-staschik4915 It is the failure of current voice teachers to provide guidance on how and when to utilize the chest register to create dramatic inflection in opera performance. The teachers are afraid of the chest and therefore they fail to help their students learn to use it. It is pathetic how vocal teaching has declined,

[@divox9pqr]

Beauty, Power, Grace, and the indomitable royal spirit enough to unequivocally dominate the contest of love, country, and in the end her own emotions. This portrayal by Leontyne Price, the Prima Soprano Asolutta de Verdi will endure forever.

[@burnellbrowne4303]

bravo miss price thank you for sharing such A JEWEL with us all.

[@lf1496]

The richness of her voice even when it reaches effortlessly into the upper octaves is out of this world. Hers is a once in a lifetime gift. What a grand diva. She's absolutely gorgeous as well., WOW!

[@AndySaenz]

Wow, she’s an amazing singer! Beautiful lady too. 😍🥰😘❤️

[@misssir2373]

Y’all… I’m only watching this because my name is Aida and all of my adult life people have been telling me to listen to “my” opera. A friend just sent this to me and I got chills with this one! Beautiful!!

[@vinemp]

There's even a children's book (with the GORGEOUS illustrations of Leo & Diane Dillon)!

[@Shift.Shaper]

@@vinemp🤩

[@cynthiagraham9117]

Exquisite, the best Aida ever. No-one owns this role like Leontyne does. Bravo!

[@cynthiagraham9117]

Yes I did listen to her version and loved it but I just cant go past Leontyne Prices lyrical voice. Im in heaven when I listen to her!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Without a doubt

[@Lederius18]

She is so beautiful here!

[@tonyventura4605]

She's always beautiful!

[@mariezenaida]

Her dramatic opening gives me goosebumps. Her ensuing lyricism brings me to tears. The best version of this aria, bar none. This role was made for her.

[@domenicguastaferro7139]

Voices like Leontyne are like a rare jewel, that sparkles naturally. She sang throughout her tessitura with ease and constraint, singing on the "interest and not the principle..." as Robert Merrill would say. She embodied Michael Angelo's definition of beauty "The purgation of superfluity" or "the burning away of excess" and produced a purity of tone and power rarely surpassed!

[@spenserbrown2219]

That tepid applause at the end is insulting. This is Price in her prime, and there's nothing else in the world like her.

[@FairyForest87]

It speaks volumes about how they didn't like her interpretation

[@liedersanger1]

@@FairyForest87 who didn’t like it?

[@ThiagoLorpalBR]

There will never be a better Aida than Price's. She owns the role...

[@kitchavez]

The way the text is treated by Leontyne Price is beautiful and nearly made me cry.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Do phrasing is incredible to be sure. 🇫🇷🍷 Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@ChagoWilson]

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

[@TreblesBasses]

MY GOD WHAT A DIVA!

[@owenboi66]

An odd thought, but it makes me a bit sad to think Verdi never got to hear this. Surely, even in his head, he couldn't have imagined a more beautifully accomplished performance.

[@vinemp]

What grave melancholy, that sooo brilliant artists---O, heavens, why always the ones who bring us such joy?--- didn't/shan't live to see their art (1) fully realized and (2) fully appreciated.

[@you2candoit]

Beautiful in every respect!!!

[@SafetyPotato]

Sings like an angel!

[@AndySaenz]

Wow, she’s still alive today at 94! Most people don’t even make it to 80!

[@ohhenatural4996]

That was perfect

[@romelwilliams4649]

GLORIOUS!!! DIVINE GIFT FROM GOD!!!

[@jameslevister9081]

The liner notes to the first vinyls issued stated that Her Aida would have been chosen by Verdi. TRUE!

[@sayersbrock]

one of the biggest voices opera has ever seen...

[@BFPINHO]

A propria Aida!!! Voz e interpretação!!!! Perfeita!!!!!

[@jmiller05]

The final few bars is the most beautiful music Verdi ever wrote.

[@funtimesgirl]

+jmiller05....or maybe La Vergine degli angeli from La Forza Delstino ...

[@jmiller05]

+Nairatmya perhaps that too. I just find the music here so profound and with a such a sense if longing on the final bars. so visceral.

[@vettegaddia6234]

+jmiller05 That's a bold statement although it is very beautiful. But what about the prelude to La Traviata? And"La vergine degli angeli" from La Forza del Destino.

[@jmiller05]

Personal taste of course. Verdi's music has indeed glorious moments of music (Traviata prelude, La vergine, Ave Maria from Otello), but I feel all the melancholy in those dwindling few bars at the end of this aria. Music at its finest when you don't even need to explain or analyse it :)

[@vettegaddia6234]

jmiller05 The first time I heard Price sing "Retorna Vicitor" in a studio recording, i was blown away. And the way she sang the final lines of the aria is the most beautiful I've ever heard. Most ppl prefer Aida's other big aria "O patria mia". But I prefer "Retorna Vicitor". There are so many changes of mood and nuances.

[@alexanderzamora5930]

Always being imitated by others but no one can copy her technique. Such ease and beauty in singing ❤️

[@MrSwifts31]

Recorded when she was 39! Price was above all others the undoubteded greatest Verdi sopranos of the 20thC.and (for me at least) the greatest of all Aidas. She said Aida was her favourite role for many reasons,not least because she was "last in,first out" referrening of course toi the very simple make up she had to do as Aida. One of the very very few sopranos of the same stature as Callas, and Sutherland. A truly uniue original. Many aritsts are respected,but few loved as much as Ms Price.

[@fortezimo]

Where can we find such a perfect Aida like this nowadays ?

[@highfashionwins]

She sings this aria like it's nothing. La stupenda.

[@fredojoaquim4764]

Lovely.

[@Rebecca_0602]

WOW absolutely amazing!!! BRAVA DIVA

[@puma5471]

Perfect Aida! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🥰

[@berndsimon6491]

She is aida, forever!😊😊

[@uhmyeah3165]

wow!!

[@olgaelston5641]

Пожилуй, лучшая Аида! Без кривляний и бессмысленных телодвижений своим гениальным голосом передает всё, что задумано автором… Браво!!!

[@federricoilgrande]

Di artiste così ne nasce una ogni trecento anni, se ne nasce....

[@WBFbySteefen]

I want to see her 1958 or 1962 Ritorna Vincitor to go with those other-worldly O Patria Mia I've been listening to.

[@Juliaflo]

As someone who has sung The High Priestess in productions of 'Aida', I totally second that.

[@FoggyRoad81]

1:39-1:46 = a dagger into the soul.

[@donconhar]

Stunning!

[@julianjoseph2861]

VOICE, VOICE VOICE VOICE....CONTROL!

[@annpetty9209]

Marvelous!!! Ann Petty

[@jamesvandel2910]

The best Aida is Price!

[@elainecristinaneri7422]

James Vandel i agree

[@daniel_5606]

Tebaldi

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

Is this from "THE BELL TELEPHONE HOUR?"

[@M.Stabile]

Callas

[@alexmz123]

Sooo beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@FabioPBarbieri]

This is a much more spirited and fighting Aida than we are used to, and with the vocal chops to make it stick. Plus, this is not fundamental, but it's nice to have a black Aida.

[@AndreJorgeOliveira1]

It is fundamental to have a black Aïda. As well as a white Mimi or Traviata. And what an Aïda! A true Queen!!

[@TheVaughan5]

Does your statement mean we have to rule out Leontyne's magnficient Floria Tosca? Of course not, just stupidity!

[@FabioPBarbieri]

I said it's not fundamental, just nice. But Aida's blackness is part of the story: she is an Ethiopian, a southern "barbarian" darker in skin than the brown-skinned imperial Egyptians. I have no intention to start the umpteenth kerfuffle about race and if this does not satisfy you you are free to rant without any risk of being answered.

[@BirdArvid]

Andre, what ridiculous crap! The voice and general ability tell us who sings what; anything else is a throwback to a time when people were very comfortable being complete racists. This story is universal!

[@AndreJorgeOliveira1]

Well, this my point of view. You can say whatever. Thanks for being nice.

[@AllenFigueredo5]

I like her beautiful timber, her dramatic intensity fits perfectly well with this demanding aria.

[@LaCheleWallace]

I _cain't_ understand a lick, but guess what? This is what can happen when you're *that* excellent. I just love her voice.

[@guitarlawyer75]

Happy Birthday, Leontyce Price!

[@leveganist]

I love she !!!! She‘s owns the rolle !!

[@sarahb.6723]

Now this is good singing!

[@lundilar]

Leontyne Price is only the world’s greatest living soprano, for all the nay-sayers. She stands without rival.

[@liedersanger1]

No question.

[@barbaramusina4158]

Brava!!!!

[@pilouetmissiou]

Anna Netrebko non arriva alla caviglia di questo, malgrado la sua bella voce....

[@1968KWT]

Happy Birthday, #LeontynePrice95!🌹🌹🌹

[@muzetta100]

Здорово!!!

[@NycBeauty]

QUEEEEEEENNNNNNN❗️ I LOVE U💖

[@메두사총사령관]

She was the right Aida. Aida was from Ethiopia so she must be black. Leontyne had the right role of this great opera and her voice was not clean and powerful but also sorrowful. She was the one of the best Aida.

[@wTrevorh]

Brava! Not a week goes by that I don't listen to her recording of the aria at least twice.

[@amiciopera]

Un vero peccato, cantante oggi giorno non canta cosi, sichiama pride, e ambitizione per la arte, in qui loro volano per anni, ..e anni, grazie al celo si nato L Price, grazie a Italia per Verdi, io non credo in Dio, ma dopo Price e Verdi, sono un credente!!!!!!! sauti da Giamaica

[@mrvn000]

Black people have such an amazing voices ..... :-)

[@luismontecinos9916]

When listening to her Aida, you must concentrate on her rendering and shadows. If you speak Italian quite well since you are a native speaker, good for you.

[@enrigoletto]

she's great, indeed, but in this aria there's no high C, maybe you are referring to the aria Cieli azzurri in third act?

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Surely you mean O patria mia?

[@aarenmarchi]

maybe you're looking in the wrong places....The Greats were once not greats but students working their way to be examples while following their generation of Greats.

[@ThomasTheBari]

It'll return...everything comes in cycles.

[@festivesucc3065]

I'm here for an assignment I swear

[@SaintPandemonium]

I swear to God I can't enjoy any videos from Opera singers because there's always this annoying proliferation of KZbin Divas offering criticism which is often nitpicky and unnecessary and sometimes excessively gauche. I swear, some of you folks down here, who the hell do you people think you ARE!? Ugh. Further proof that Opera fans are much more vicious than any American football spectator!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Have you actually read any of the comments? Find me one that is anything like the 'KZbin Divas' you mentioned? I really don't think any true opera fan would be ignorant enough to criticise Ms Price anyway.

[@LordMgls]

and netrebko! just kidding :-P

[@marapaltrinieri5667]

But Tebaldi in '50 is the best, Price is good but fraseggio mezze voci ecc, aren't so exellent. I loved Price till I heard Tebaldi 1951 or 1953

[@gabriellevampyre]

wonderful but her italian was good?

[@ofelianoir88ku]

+gabriellevampyre to be a opera singer you must know preatty good italian, french, german plus others alweys welcome.

[@mvaurelio]

+gabriellevampyre I wouldn't say it's perfect but it's very good (especially when she sings in the higher range of the voice, where she is stunning!) she is amazing!

[@edwardwheeler197]

are you asking or telling? I hate when people ask questions but don't actually ask the question

[@MarvPontkalleg]

(I'm an Italian native speaker) eeeh kinda, sometimes it's pretty good, sometimes it's more on the bad side (this tends to happen more in her live recordings, obviously). I still love her though

[@luigigiovanelli8929]

Not so much, but her singing is outstanding

[@jordifuentesandres226]

Quizas se puede interpretar como un deseo, un amor poco edificante,no muy agradable al espíritu.

[@yk5148]

I don’t like her singing, but she sings very well here !

[@beachfanatic2010]

The voice is TOO LIGHT for the part. She lacks the metal, weight and squillo this role requires.

[@jacksongreene3687]

You have no idea what you are talking about. This is esquisite and perfect in every way. Go back to Callas' videos.

[@beachfanatic2010]

@@jacksongreene3687 Callas has nothing in common with Price vocally. Callas was a dramatic soprano. I would highly encourage you to listen to Milanov for how this role needs to be properly sung when you possess a lyric soprano like Milanov was!

[@jacksongreene3687]

@@beachfanatic2010 Nobody sings Aida better than Leontyne Price. Nobody. Pass any us by with your bias and lack of knowledge. So tired of seeing you post salty comments on Price's videos. Go away.

[@beachfanatic2010]

@@jacksongreene3687 Why do you believe the commend section is here and I am able to post commends? CAUSE EVERYBODY IS AND AHOULD BE ENTITLED TO IT! Price was not a great opera singer and neither did she ever possessed half or even 1/4 of the voice to sing this MONSTER of a role. You need to get delivered from your colorism shit and start appreciating voices for what they are and not put Prive is a pedestal only cause she black. GET DELIVERED IN THE NAME OF JESUS: 1). m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIfKdnSCi7F7hJo THIS IS AIDA: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGXZhJ94hbCVpNU

[@jacksongreene3687]

@@beachfanatic2010 Thanks for revealing your racism which is apparent from your bitter and completely delusional comments all over Leontyne Price's videos. Price actually won a Grammy for her recording of Aida in 1972, back when Grammys meant something, were based on merit and were very hard to get, and won 13 Grammys from 1961 to 1984, and then a lifetime achievement Grammy. She is the most Grammy awarded opera singer in history. So she possessed not even 1/4 needed for the role yet she was given the most highest honor in her field for its recording? So Price was not a great opera singer? Are you insane? I think you must be to say one of the most legendary opera singers in history wasn't a great singer. This shows you know nothing about musicality or what great sound is, and is some fanboy on the internet spewing ridiculous views on the internet because you prefer Callas' harsh and wobbly instrument, oh and because she's white. Do you want to know how many Grammys Callas won from actual recordings? *ZERO* The only Grammys she won, were 2, and they were lifetime achivement honors. She was never the best technically and her voice was not beautiful, and it seems many others agree because she wasn't close to Price's acclaim. Her voice was deterioating before she was even 40, compared to Leontyne singing just as good at 60 as she did in her 30's. I still wouldn't dare say she wasn't a great opera singer, because she was, tackling all types of roles but she was imperfect and clearly not on the level of Price's technical excellence and beauty. So again, go away, and get lost because clearly you are out of your depth.

[@ghostofyeats]

Beautiful voice, at times inspired, but not the best. In the lyrical section, for instance, she distorts musical structure by overemphasizing the last note of the phrase (as well as too much of the 'r'!). The legato is often smudged. The problem with her chest voice isn't the voice, per se, but that she leans on it and doesn't let it vibrate naturally, and so it sticks out. And often she doesn't exactly follow the note values in the section starting "chi dissi"

[@silvanero]

ghostofyeats Wow!!! Aren’t YOU the authority of singing, legato, chest voice and how Ms. Price uses her voice!! How many opera houses have you opened or performed at, concert halls, recordings, doctorates and accolades have you received??? It’s easy for people to criticize, but until you’ve sung or lived in her shoes, you couldn’t truly understand all the stress and hardships she endured to become the Worldfamous sucessful Assoluta Diva she became!!! Bravissima Leontyne!!!

[@julianjoseph2861]

VOICE, VOICE VOICE VOICE....CONTROL!