Leyla Gencer on Maria Callas

[@PBXVIILY]

Gencer was a very great singer!!

[@hermajesty52]

BOTH of these ladies were unique and amazing artists. I love them both.

[@TheRealAngelHeart]

Leyla La Regina shows much respect and appreciation for Maria La Divina: "She had in her blood, in her veins, in her subconscious, all the tradition of Greek tragedy - she was born like that.Her biggest satisfactions lasted about ten years, but the Callas myth continues of course:she did very great things. On stage you only had eyes for her, her magnetic presence. Others no longer existed.It is a gift of Gods, a gift of nature, this great talent....I think I had it too!" Nice sense of humor!

[@ritorenello]

Curious what made you classify one as la regina and the other la divina...

[@angelheart4366]

@@ritorenello it was their « nicknames « in Italy , just like la superba for Caballe and la stupenda for Sutherland.

[@martincancino6016]

Me gustaron las palabras de La Gencer a María. Leyla Gencer también fue una maravillosa soprano

[@sfopera]

Even commenting on this brief conversation by a great singer concerning another great singer indicates what a golden age has passed away. Callas was divine. Gencer was divine. Tebaldi and the others were divine. Making comparisons is a great luxury that makes minor distinctions between giants whom we will never see again. If Gencer were singing today, she would sell out every house in the world. Today I heard the Met re-broadcast of Leontyne Price's legendary 1961 debut in Trovatore. Fabulous. I then listened to one of Gencer's 1950s recordings of the opera. Also fabulous.

[@michaelroberts6894]

Was Callas greater than Gencer? Callas was a public figure and got lots of publicity . Gencer was a great singer but got none of the publicity she deserved for her great art. Both had unusual voices and had great unique performances never equaled! I listen to both and think how fortunate I am to have lived in their great years. Both were terrific and love both . Art is not a contest - it must just be enjoyed!

[@Saavedra99]

The "greatness" question is so useless. Almost everyone's definition of "great" is "the singer *I* happen to like." In other words, it's a manifestation of "me me me." To judge from your comment, your definition of "great" is Leyla Gencer.

[@kbhprinsesse]

Of course Callas was greater. She was superior as a musician as well as a technician.

[@celloguy]

Leyla had a huge career. Callas was a once a century artist, Gencer was a very good singer

[@Distefano5]

Maybe Callas got more publicity because she was more successful in the first place? Gencer was great, as a second rate soprano only. She was called poor man's Callas. To put her next to Callas, Sutherland, and Caballé is an overstretch, and you're not doing her art a favor. They say the supposed rivalry between Callas and Tebaldi didn't let her shine, but even when Callas was basically out of the picture and Tebaldi focused on the Met, she never stood as a significant soprano.

[@jcbsrm]

@@Distefano5 your opinion..

[@yenibirrumuzcahil8656]

Ne muhteşemsin. Nur içinde yat🤲

[@Darjaius]

"María, potencialmente, tenía en la sangre, en las venas, en el subconsciente, toda la tragedia griega. Había nacido así. En el fondo tuvo sus mayores satisfacciones durante diez años. Fue algo muy breve. Pero naturalmente continúa el mito… el mito de la Callas, porque hizo grandes cosas. Era una fuerza magnética en el escenario. Los demás ya no existían. Es un don divino, es un don de la naturaleza, es un don de Dios. Es un talento, un gran talento… Pienso que también yo lo tengo."

[@MrZehirok]

Diva Turca

[@SoulDeceased]

«Je pense que je l'ai aussi.»

[@henryv.macadamia6423]

C'est vrai?

[@correasilvio2010]

Ui​@@henryv.macadamia6423

[@BellaFirenze]

@@henryv.macadamia6423 Oui.

[@irinaermolova2232]

Для меня голос Лейлы Генсер звучит более насыщенно и более вещественно! В нем, как говорят, больше "мяса"! У Каллвс он более лёгкий, более воздушный! Для оперы голос Лейлы самый лучший! Как жаль, что я услышала её так поздно! Моё сердце наполнитель её неповторимым тембром, силой и красотой!

[@Jacob-ry3lu]

Gencer was an incredible soprano, she definitely deserved as much attention as Callas.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Truth

[@rickcabral6226]

When I think of Callas I think of Armida, Vespri Siciliani, Ratto dal Seraglio. Which we never got carefully done in a studio, but we have a Butterly and two Toscas. There were a few decent decisions, but too few realized what they had when they had her.

[@qklq42]

Because of Callas (and Tebaldi) all other great sopranos of this time (1950-1980) were ignored bij the record-companies! We missed a lot. Leyla Gencer, Virginea Zeani, Magda Olivero, Renata Scotto, Clara Petrella and so on. Hans NL

[@Saavedra99]

I realize yours is a very old comment and I don't expect a reply to mine. Let's go down to some hard facts. Callas didn't record that many operas, there are more broadcasts and pirated performances available than commercial recs, all in all about 50 items depending how you count. Tebaldi left about 22 major items I am aware of, mostly Puccini and verismo (there might be others I am not aware of). The combined legacy of Gencer, Zeani, Olivero and Scotto amounts to about 60-65 major items. Scotto was much younger than Callas and Tebaldi anyway, about 30 years old when Callas retired in 1965. To imply she was ignored by the rec business in her youth is quite a stretch, Callas herself started recording in her late 20s. Magda Olivero was about 12-13 years older than Callas and Tebaldi, plenty of time to establish herself before Callas or Tebaldi were even thought of. Her prime time was before the LP era, and she recorded many arias during those years. She also left at least 6 non-Tosca verismo full lengths I am aware of and no less than 9 Tosca's. Do you really need more Tosca's from her? She was basically a verismo singer, non particularly well suited to non-verismo rep. With about 100-120 hours non-Callas and non-Tebaldi at my disposal (and about 250 hours including those two) I don't feel in the least bit 'deprived' but each its own.

[@DCFunBud]

I am no expert, but it seems to me that most of Callas's recordings were live. Not like the well-prepared studio recordings of Sutherland, Moffo, and L. Price.

[@jondavwal13]

@@DCFunBud Sutherland has a good mix as does Price. Both were better live than on recordings.

[@user-ic5xu4jh6z]

but there existing a lot of records about callas and many of them are digital remasteres today:-)

[@ir3356]

@@Saavedra99 Renata Scotto LMAO, I'm sorry, she was the worse soprano at the 20th century, you can relate her to the Anna Netrebko of our time hahahh, compare to the others she had no talent

[@jefolson6989]

Gencer didn't insinuate herself into jet set society , date shipping tycoons or insult the crowned heads of Europe. Nor did she seek high profile record deals or huge recital tours. She was content to be the "pirate queen " with a legion of opera Queens worshipping her every note. She was the greatest soprano we never heard. Heard ABOUT her, but....if she had had the kind of late career debut as Olivero, it would have been a sold out sensation.

[@irinaermolova2232]

Все верно! Поэтому и не было рекламы! Она была занята только оперой ! Великая Лейла имела в репертуаре более 70 партий! Вы можете это представить? Она трудились, а не саиорекламировалась! Царство ей Небесное!

[@sanfordpress8943]

Callas could do anything. The size of the voice ,the versatility and expression made her great. I'll always believe she satisfied her needs from the press and public as well as music.

[@kenavo2103]

Excellent translation!

[@h0h1h2h3h4]

I am afraid Gencer and Callas are incomparable.

[@ioSonoCallas]

Inoubliable, immortelle Leyla! Je pense que de toutes les cantatrices contemporaines de Callas, c'est elle qui a le mieux compris le message de Callas. Sur scène elle s'est donné avec feux et passion tout en restant consciente comme le disait Callas: "Sur scène vous devez tout donner, mais vous devez toujours rester conscient car vous devez garder le contrôle, toujours!" Elle partagent en effet ce don de Dieu! (Gencer a en plus un sens inné de la drôlerie) Merci uyildiz

[@kaiserjager2754]

Je m'excuse, mais j'ai une question. Que-est que dit Mme. Gencer: les autres ne existent plus ou ne existaient plus??? Je me vergogne en peu, mais certain finesses francaises je n'entends pas... :(

[@alejimenez76]

pero obviamente lo tenía y lo tiene...esa mirada de turca profunda y con perfume a canela, mirra , pasas y datiles.......y ademas la calidad vocal.....dos divas en toda la extension de la palabra

[@Shahrdad]

@fabrizzzio48 I think the role's personality dominated Callas' voice, not her own. Despite an unusual voice, Callas had an incredible technique, but it was one that was perfect for her larger, stronger body. Once she became skinny and lost that physical strength, the technique didn't match the body as well, and deterioration ensued. Musically, Callas was a genius, but even from a technical standpoint, she was able to do things with her voice that have yet to be matched by anyone.

[@Saavedra99]

Thank you for posting this interview. As to Gencer's 'magnetic' stage presence and acting skills, she was filmed in Aida at a very good age for an artist (in her mid-30's), so it's quite easy for everyone to make up their own mind. There are also scraps of Callas footage available in Traviata, Medea, Norma, Butterfly, 2 complete Tosca Act 2, also 4-5 concerts, so again it's possible to asses Callas' stage presence & acting skills. I realize filmed footage isn't exactly the same as live stage presence, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances, certainly better than to borrow someone else's opinion.

[@Distefano5]

I rarely disdain an artist but I didn't see a more delusional person than her. She couldn't resist comparing herself to Callas when she makes fun of Callas in nearly all the other interviews🤣

[@miyavlayankaplan3107]

Ne güzel fransızca konuşuyo maşşallah

[@Sopranodilan]

Operada italyanca, fransızca ya da ispanyolca dillerinden birini ana dil gibi konuşmak zorunludur.

[@kzlalev7330]

@@Sopranodilan italyancası zaten ana dili gibi ama fransızcası da çok iyi.

[@eradesso]

The sad thing is that nowadays many great sopranos don't get recorded because many sloppy performers (ie: Netrebko, Bartoli, Gheorghiu etc) get over-recorded. So at least in the past, you would get recordings from great artists - don't mean to say it was fair to ignore other great talents though. But we can be happy that we have many pirates, though quality may not be great those are the recordings that capture the real essence of Opera and artistry, certainly not studio recordings.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Sloppy?

[@kenavo2103]

Absolutely!

[@MrYonexguy63]

not a slam of callas at all. its the highest compliment, that her stage presence was so great that the other players did not exist.

[@TheRealAngelHeart]

Thanks!

[@Faust075]

L. Gencer : "Maria had in her blood, in her veins, in her subconscious all the tradition of the Greek Tragedy. She was born that way. She had in fact her best time during 10 years. That was very short. But it will continue for ever of course the "Myth of La Callas" because she did so much ! She was a magnetic force on stage, the others didn't exist anymore. It's a gift of Nature, a gift of God. It' a talent, a great talent."

[@Darjaius]

Me ha llamado la atención tu comentario, pork, sinceramente, siempre me han llamado la atención los ojos de Leyla, su mirada. Me parece que tenía una de las miradas más profundas y mesmerizantes que he visto jamás. Un saludo ;)

[@oooooo2062]

Ninguna soprano está sobre otra, Leyla, fue tan grande como Callas y sus voces se separaban de manera abismal, increíble.

[@andranik77]

Légendaire modestie des Divas ! Cela peut prêter à sourire... sauf que Leyla, elle, peut se permettre ce genre de commentaire, car, à l'instar de la Divina, Diva, elle l'était vraiment, elle aussi ! Et aussi Magda, Dame Joan, Renata (les deux), Virginia, Montserrat, Beverly, Leontyne, Shirley, Grace...

[@Operanobility]

I think it is fair to say that neither could act. They were singers...gorgeous voices...but not singing actresses. Callas and Gencer were great actresses with voices capable of expressing the most intricate nuances of the music.

[@pryan5183]

They acted through their voices!

[@РаузалияГиваргизова-ъ3ж]

Лейла Генчер- великая певица! Ее вокальная техника превосходит технику Марии Каллас!

[@vivianbelissima]

Kķkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[@acitipo]

Por favor no comparen LA CALLAS , CON LA TEBALDI, NI LA SUTHERLAND, y menos no se atrevan a decir que una es mejor que la otra, porque entonces me sale la sangre genovesa etc jaja, La Callas canto solo una década bien, luego paso lo que paso con su voz, la Tebaldi, canto un poco mas, y la Sutherland un poco mas.. Pero son colores de voz distintos, timbres diversos, repertorios diversos, cada una ha tenido éxitos en épocas diversas. Han escrito paginas maravillosas en la Opera.

[@MarioJimenez-hk5sy]

callas fue un genio las demas fueron buenas cantantes

[@laprimmadonna2341]

@@MarioJimenez-hk5sy ❤❤❤Bravo!!! Muy buena respuesta. Saludos cordiales

[@correasilvio2010]

​@@MarioJimenez-hk5syLeyla Gencer was a great Singer! A vocal miracle !

[@alejimenez76]

Sutherland and Tebaldi to...or not?

[@jondavwal13]

I think any discussion opera singers just has to remove Sutherland and Callas, for the sake of civility and to just acknowledge they were each so special in their own way that it's silly to discuss them. Tebaldi had the most beautiful voice in her prime though.

[@fabrizzzio48]

Callas was more personality than voice. Her personality dominated the voice. Layla had a much more refined and secure technique, and much more beautiful sound than Callas. But, Callas was beyond sound, her bet was on expression. And, expression, ladies and gentlemen, eventually wins the day.

[@Shahrdad]

What Callas's voice could do before she lost all that weight was far beyond Gencer's ability. Gencer could have never sung Isolde, Brünnhilde, Kundry, and a few days later, sing Puritani. She had neither the range, nor the power of Callas's "fat" voice. And though not conventionally pretty, Callas's voice could be exquisite. As for technique, Callas's technique perfectly matched her bigger, stronger physique. After she became so skinny, she no longer had the strength to provide the proper breath support to her voice, and things began to fall apart slowly.

[@jondavwal13]

@@Shahrdad Nobody should sing Isolde, Brunnhilde, and Kundry and then sing Elvira a few days later. All that shows is that she was an idiot with no respect for her instrument, completely arrogant and narcissistic. All this talk about her weight. She didn't know how to breathe without being fat. Muscles control the voice. If she had spent maybe ten minutes trying to figure it out and not done moronic things like you describe she might have lasted longer than a 4-year peak, with ten years of decline.

[@Saavedra99]

@@jondavwal13 I'm sure you have put all that superior knowledge about breath control to good use. Where can we hear you singing?

[@jenylogan1]

Jonathan Wallach Four years or forty, art is not measured in longevity, thank god. Callas legacy speaks for itself !

[@arepo]

​@@Saavedra99 Jonathan is just one of those arm chair "specialists" peddling copypasted mumbo-jumbo on youtube. You don't expect he actually knows how to sing? Hasn't seen the inside of an opera house, never mind setting foot on stage.

[@davidramanzini4629]

Care.

[@alejimenez76]

nono, las comparaciones siempre son odiosas y no llevan a ningun lugar,María está mas allá de toda racionalidad, las demás grandes cantantes tienen que probar su valía con talento, María abría la boca y salía todo ese torrente de sufrimiento de vida y toda su rabia y toda su inseguridad personal mas todos sus anhelos y su necesidad de amor, en forma de notas musicales, no siempre limpias o firmes pero siempre tocaban las fibras del alma del que la escuchaba a fin de cuentas para eso cantan no?.

[@correasilvio2010]

Ascoltati Leyla Gencer?

[@rammmin1]

Title is English but content French.

[@ioSonoCallas]

They were vocally endowed but were not great performers of the dramatic point of view!

[@LUISOSSC]

Por favorrr !!! Compararse con MARIA CALLAS!!!!!!!... encima se lo debe creer

[@correasilvio2010]

Leyla Gencer is great!

[@Itoldyouso15]

She seems jealous

[@arepo]

Gencer, the alleged bel canto singer, is a paradox to me. There's plenty of live recordings, in her prime no less, in which she sings off pitch for longer periods of time, and there's plenty of bel canto live recordings (Bellini, Donizetti) in which she goes full verista, shrieks, sobs, the full treatment. So what gives? I believe she "landed" the bel canto repertoire by mistake, someone did cast her in one of those operas during the revival going on in the 50's, and after that she stuck to it because the voice wasn't robust enough to stick with verismo. (I am not of the opinion verismo singers need a very robust voice, but the verismo sopranos of the 50's were obviously of a different opinion, they used to scream at the top of their lungs. Gencer couldn't compete with them in voice, just in mannerisms.) A most uneven singer. I wonder if this is the reason why recording companies bypassed her.

[@hodgrix]

I agree. I think she was a wonderful singer with a beautiful voice and dramatic instinct. But I can only listen to her in Verdi and later. Not exacting enough for bel canto

[@Distefano5]

She just wanted to be the new Callas without the enough vocal or artistic resources.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Other than callas,belcanto got put on the map by Joan Sutherland. Gencer took her mentors advice and went with bel canto . Her vocal problems as you say were as palatable as Callas's strident upper register. It was all just good theater.

[@begumaydn970]

😍TURKİSH😍

[@nacht98]

shit turkey

[@vedatcoskun4983]

nacht98 fck you.

[@Michele-zp1tx]

l'arroganza della Gencer

[@Tkimba2]

davvero senza limiti!

[@pleaseenteraname4824]

... Perché?

[@kaiserjager2754]

Forse tu dovresti imparare francese un po' prima di parlare stupidagini

[@eugeniogentili1048]

Fenomeno vocale e presenza scenica ai massimi livelli come Virginia Zeani.

[@antben8992]

@@Tkimba2 Trovo giustissimo il paragone che fa la Gencer con la Callas. Quando dice che quando la Callas era sulla scena gli altri non esistevano più, vuole semplicemente dire che la personalità della Callas schiacciava tutti gli altri e il pubblico vedeva solo lei. E la Gencer, sulla scena, era la stessa cosa.