NEA Opera Honors: Interview with Leontyne Price

[@sirjazlivs]

Anybody else come back to watch this a few times a year? Imagine her as your grandmother drinking iced tea, telling you life stories! Ugh! A jewel!

[@ronalddade3017]

DITTO!!!

[@sandralilly9644]

This is not just an interview, it is a "master class" for all voice students!! Full of wisdom and truth!!

[@JulianaBraziliana]

"Never let anything negative be in the way of your focus to achieve."- Leontyne Price

[@jacobeclayton98]

I loved that part !!

[@JewelsR4ever]

Even her speaking voice is melodic................just AWESOME!!

[@tina8796]

I could listen to her speak all day long. Very interesting and highly intelligent

[@ChagoWilson]

And just imagine.... the standing ovation that she received following her debut in Verdi's 'Il Trovatore', at the MET in 1961, lasted 1 minute longer than this interview!

[@erikm8372]

What a class act. Her very speech is just oozing with intelligence and wisdom. And more than that - you can tell that she’s brilliant, thus her talents lead to further enrichments and experience. She recalled her earliest memory of attending a concert, describing the singer as “this regal woman…” well, Leontyne Price, it is you who is regal. ❤️

[@danafripp4120]

I think I love hearing her speak and share about as much as I love hearing her sing. It is no understatement to say she is a true treasure.

[@JJKSeattle]

Elegance, dignity & class...our American Diva.

[@comparedtowhat2719]

Yes, Yes, Yes...our American Diva.

[@toddmcnugget8869]

Perfectly said.

[@venusbaptiste8210]

No....our AFRICAN diva

[@liedersanger1]

@@venusbaptiste8210 She would say American, above all!

[@venusbaptiste8210]

@@liedersanger1 her unique AFARAKAN DNA is why she is adept with SOUND.......notice how she had to STRUGGLE with AmeriKKKa's INHERENT RACISM throughout her career.....

[@Lederius18]

So poised and elegant; The way ALL people should be.

[@beachfanatic2010]

I hope you heard what she said about Callas very well.

[@superdevonator]

I love her older southern accent. It is so charming. I feel like I've known her for ever.

[@1985raymund]

I love to hear this woman speak....... She's so sassy and well spoken!!!!! She's a true living legend!!!!!

[@BetterMe981]

Sassy? Ugh.

[@starfoxx5862]

@@BetterMe981 "Sassy and well spoken." Ughhhhhhhhhhhh.

[@ritawoodfork391]

I wanted to BE Leontyne Price - lacked the talent and the tenacity - but I wanted to BE Leontyne Price. Still a woman I admire.

[@Masker91]

I'm a man and I wanna be leontyne price!

[@antimatterwave3747]

@@Masker91 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@adoris864]

I understand. I've always loved opera music and as a black woman, I've always admired black opera singers. I wanted to be like them. I was so attracted to their grace, elegance and style; I still am. I don't have the gift to sing opera, but I so admire what a career in opera seems to have done for greats like Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman, Shirley Verett and Grace Bumbry.

[@tobiasandrews3778]

Seriously. She's way up there with the greatest artists of all time. In any art form. Such a regal, smart, funny lady. One of a kind.

[@TheLEGACY1980]

There are no words in the English language to define how beautifully phenomenal Ms. Price is! ~Blake

[@thomasking8240]

I was in heaven listening. I was in awe. I was feeling so lucky to have her and her voice in my life for over 50 years. Yes, the lessons she gives for young singers, young performers, is most valuable. Commitment, strength, the joy of singing: She is all of those.

[@joshsantiago4397]

My God, even her speaking voice is grand!

[@MelegantMe]

Oh my goodness! I love the way she speaks... Like an elegant Southern Belle... so classy!

[@briansummers843]

Baby she said it all. I needed to hear this, on this day and time in my art world. Amen. Standing Ovation Miss Price.

[@art4kidsbooks]

This interview inspired me so much to press on in my art career. She is fabulous and pure golf

[@art4kidsbooks]

Me too

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

A Legend.Leontyne Price is an american to be proud of.

[@venusbaptiste8210]

Hildegerd Haugen she's AFRICAN

[@piustwelfth]

Miss Price would hate that you described her as "African" and not "American". Did you listen to this entire interview? Miss Price is/was EXTREMELY proud of her country and of being an American. She even said she was a chauvinist for America. You need only listen to this interview at 18:20 . Miss Price has tears in her eyes as she says "I felt so totally American .... so richly American". She was always promoting her country and telling young people that in America, you can achieve whatever goal you strive for.

[@phyllisasinyanbi1995]

Ms. Price is gifted, beautiful, intelligent, and a woman of her era.

[@65NART]

venus baptiste of African decent, sure. But she is American.

[@ChagoWilson]

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

[@mensabs]

She is SO regal, so sweet, such a great artist, one of the 4-5 greatest voices of the 20th century.

[@lawrencemays3926]

MY GOD She Is GORGEOUS

[@ZoraNH.dusttracks1891]

Since the first time I saw her on a video clip of Oprah’s Legends Ball, I just had to know who she was. She has such a strong presence....She just stood up and gave a strong salute. I was like, who is this?. When Oprah said her name, I looked her up and was just in awe at her voice. I’ve enjoyed so many of her performances...thanks to the internet, because I was just 1 when she retired in 1985. Well, she’s is 94 years old today! Praying she is safe and healthy in the midst of this pandemic. Happy Birthday to this Gorgeous Legend!

[@mauriceedwardj3112]

I could listen to her speak all day. She is so charismatic, animated, and full of life. I love it!

[@ChagoWilson]

Happy 93rd Anniversary Of LIfe February 10, 2020 Queen Leontyne Price Greatest Of Them ALL!

[@sheilamchugh6747]

I met Ms. Price after one of her concerts in Boston and she, along with being the very best in opera, is a wonderful and lovely gracious lady. She sang an encore that I am trying to learn the name of all these years later......singing it with the voice of an angel. Blessings to her.

[@pump066]

'when I graduated from gollege, -cum laude-, I might add'! You gotta love this great lady!

[@spenserbrown2219]

Leontyne Price, is the greatest voice I’ve ever heard. She has such elegance, grace, style, and class. I have loved her since I was a boy. I did understand the lyrics, but Ms. Price, with her stage presence I understood by her, facial expressions, that I understood what she was expressing. Ms. Price, has truly earned to be known as the Voice Of The Century.

[@mauricioszwerdszarf1455]

You cannot help but LOVE this monumental woman. Not just her voice but her grand personality.

[@peterlunow]

what an inspiration !!!! and what class

[@theresaheidel9878]

greatness...and no vanity..

[@BetterMe981]

Oh, she's vain, no question. But why is that a negative?

[@liedersanger1]

forcommenting No, not vain. That’s when someone puts herself in front of the art form and LP served the art form. She’s proud, yes, which is not the same thing as vain. And she’s humble at the same time. Important distinctions!

[@rossmerchant8435]

@@BetterMe981 Yeah I don't think it's vanity. The part at about 9 minutes where she describes the joy she gets from her own voice warms my heart. Rather than expressing arrogance or superiority, it sounds like she's really fulfilled that the act of sharing that talent is so transformative to her audience. I think it's so easy for an artist to get so sunk by nasty unconstructive criticism and internalize it that it ruins the joy of the art, so it's nice to see this defiant positivity. I'm so happy that she's on the other side of a decades-long career and is able to acknowledge to herself that she's amazing, that she made the world brighter. And I think she's right, you need to be filled with joy in order to fill other people with joy, otherwise why bother? You look at other artists like Rosa Ponselle, where she was so uncomfortable onstage, and just crippled by mean-spirited press, and it's a tragedy. I'm glad that Leontyne Price and opera fans can look back at her legacy as a celebration

[@amaranthann]

A GREAT lady. This interview verifies this fact. She has a voice from Heaven that she shared with the world. Thank YOU, Leontyne price.

[@carlbliss2398]

Many years ago I heard her recording of "O Holy Night". I haven't been able to listen to any other interpretation of the song!!! It is just heavenly!!!!

[@mgescuro]

Yes. I have a recording of that O Holy Night. I love it. But for me, it is a close second to Jonas Kauffman’s version of Cantique de Noel from Dresden Adventskonzert in 2008.

[@kevinwoplin9322]

Same here ! No one else comes close

[@nkwari]

I didn't know she had this accent! She is a hoot. And her resolve to not discuss difficulties--she is funny! I guess it can be painful to talk about the obstacles that I am sure she faced. She's such a fascinating lady.

[@Zva26]

That she stands as one of the greatest American sopranos in operatic history is a given. She was born with a magnificent vocal endowment and the glory of it endured for years and years. Her vocal greatness and her legacy is already enshrined in history. She's a national treasure -------------------- and SO loved, idolized, and revered.

[@2B88Player]

Her voice is the reason that I listen to classical music. My mother loved her voice. I am thankful for the exposure as I do appreciate this music. Thank you for an extraordinary instrument. You have served the man up stairs well.

[@jc6594]

Happy 90th Birthday Leontyne Price

[@kerryincolumbus]

I must have said WOW at least 5 times at the end of this video... just incredible! She's EPITOMIZES what being a REAL Diva is all about! TAKE NOTE you young performers of today, we are in the presence of GREATNESS here!

[@DrCarr-nb1tf]

She has no "accent" the manner in which she is speaking or should i say her intonation is quite well. She formulates her words and sentences just lovely. Im not certain why people would "nit pick" the manner in which Madame Price speaks here. Just lovely . eloquent and she certainly got my attention throughout this interview. Bravo

[@direfranchement]

+dalton Carr Actually she does have an accent. She was born and raised in Laurel, Mississippi, and I'm actually rather impressed that she has retained an accent after learning three additional languages. Her manner of speaking is rather unique because while she speaks English, she often throws in French, Italian, and German words when endeavoring to express herself. No one is nitpicking. Her manner of speaking is uncommon.

[@cmariah80]

exactly

[@coffeemachtspass]

She has lived abroad for years. Having various languages in your head will affect your way of speaking. It’s nothing to be annoyed at; she’s simply herself.

[@marlat1026]

I live in Laurel, Mississippi. Her accent is a beautiful educated Southern accent. She sounds rather like my Mother. Gorgeous

[@frogmouth]

Everyone has an accent. Only people who speak exactly the same as you do think you haven't got an accent!

[@reneea.middleton3856]

Listening to the Regal Ms. Leontyne Price is indeed "a total musical experience!"

[@tina8796]

I love this lady. Beautiful, intelligent and interesting. An elegant person and my favorite opera singer. PURE CLASS

[@noellearchives]

The way she speaks is so forward and uplifting......

[@adrianday3118]

She is absolutely entrancing 🤩 What a gem for this world.

[@rianalauren]

I learned a lot about how to write listening, Leontyne. You must enjoy whatever you're putting out. If you don't your audience knows.

[@McMullenCharlie]

I saw her farewell recital at The Orpheum in Memphis, TN in 1988. I can't explain how beautiful this was for me at that time. It was later that I listened to her more. Her 1964 recording of Carmen with Herbert von Karajan is one of the most amazing vocal experiences I have ever had. Miss Price is one of the greatest!

[@IrisMG]

There is no end of talent that comes out of Dionne Warwick's family!

[@liedersanger1]

Well, Leontyne Price is one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. Dionne Warwick was a successful pop singer who happens to be distantly related to Leontyne.

[@goldenfacejacob2393]

@@liedersanger1 you’re making it seem like she’s still not a great cousin of Whitney Houston

[@liedersanger1]

@@goldenfacejacob2393 They’re related to Leontyne Price, not she to them! ;-)

[@goldenfacejacob2393]

@@liedersanger1 explain I’m confused

[@mindstone6883]

@@goldenfacejacob2393 I think he implies that she's the greater talent than Dionne, Cissy, and Whitney so it should be said that they're related to her, not the other way around.

[@tbhamdg]

What a lovely lady, inside and out.

[@evaaly7484]

tbhamdg l

[@musicjunkie7549]

What an Elegant and Classy Woman. I could imagine that her life would be an extraordinary moment to sit and listen too. Just magnificent I am in Awe Of The Beautiful Black Queen. Thank you for contributing Your gift to this world

[@timlange6373]

Was für ein wundervoller Mensch sie ist. Ich wußte natürlich seit Jahrzehnten, dass Leontyne Price eine der größten Künstlerinnen unserer Zeit ist, aber was für ein beeindruckender Charakter, was für ein weiser Blick auf die Welt von ihr vermittelt wird, erfahre ich erst durch dieses authentische Interview. Vielen Dank!

[@MsEcstreet]

Thank you Ms. Price for sharing your gift with the world--how blessed we are to have your exquisite voice to grace our ears, hearts and souls! This interview is one of the greatest teaching resources to any singer and musician above and beyond any music conservatory! Bless you Bella Diva Leontyne Price!!!

[@alexandroalvarez2464]

I admire her as a very accomplished Artist. Her beautiful singing and her approach to singing should be an example to young "express" aspiring opera singers. Also, the way she expresses herself is admirable. So humble . Her contribution to Opera singing has secured her place in history and the works of opera singing.

[@tenorjuilliard3572]

Priceless interview. I love all her interviews and her singing is a God's blessings to us. Thank you Leontyne Price.

[@jsproffitt]

What a privilege to hear her stories.

[@brucewalker6801]

Oral interviews on camera are unique histories that document character as well as a career. This NEA Opera interview with Miss Price is a fine example of both, demonstrating her vivid persona as she enthusiastically relates highlights of her career. The decade of the 1950s after Juilliard and soon with Maestro von Karajan included the NBC Opera performances, but two episodes in her meteoric rise were missed: her international success in the role of Gershwin's "Bess" and her first four seasons with San Francisco Opera (1957-1960) where Kurt Adler offered her five role debuts including Aida and Leonora in Il Trovatore. These, too, were defining periods, rich in details of her early career prior to the Met debut. In 41 minutes it was not possible to cover everything; perhaps these subjects were not included by the interviewer. One expects, and hopes, to read about them in her memoirs.

[@Tenorbravo]

EVERY who is an opera singer should listening to the "NEA Opera Honors: Interview with Leontyne Price ". AMAZING, A LEANING EXPERIENCE. WONDERFUL, MAGNIFIQUE...OUT OF THIS WORLD. THANKS FOR SHARING IT..

[@MichaelWhitmore425]

I could listen to her speak for hours. Such an inspiration and wonderful artist. I hope to meet her one day.

[@junelawson8367]

Words cannot express the joy of having the opportunity hearing and seing Miss Price in this interview. I remember the days

[@zakiahart3919]

Love how she expressive herself in this interview. I'd suggest to musicians no matter the instrument, listen to this interview..inspiration at its best!

[@alwaysnew189]

Feb. 10th 2017. #90 #HappyBirthday !!!

[@zabou1030]

oh my God! A real Masterclass. She is truely inspirational. Respect Thank you for sharing this with us. isabelle

[@27elt]

This is so inspirational!!! I can't find words to express the feeling I have hearing her sing and hearing her speak. She is UNIQUE!

[@markflajsner9944]

every wanabe singer should be watching this and get inspired

[@tremaine861]

Such elegance and class. I love how she speaks and sings!

[@baratheda777]

I thank Renne Fleming for leading me here. I had no idea..

[@vettegaddia6234]

She is one of my favorite singers. I first heard her sing Butterfly in the recording with Tucker and I fell in love with opera. She was the one who made me an opera buff. It would have been wonderful if she sang at Obama's inauguration. Then I discovered Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne who are my idols.

[@beverlybodom618]

I had no idea that this magnificent women existed. What a gift to us!

[@wisdomiswomenofcolor]

Ms Price was born in 1927. Amazing what living a joyful life can do.

[@liedersanger1]

A dedicated and generous life, too…

[@QRtwoful]

I just love to hear her speak as well as singing. My Lord. what a voice

[@watchalot39]

There are no words to explain how this lady moved me. She is what it is all about.

[@123pailin]

Wonderful what she says about Maria Callas and Marion Anderson....But of course it was a golden age....so much insight..I love her....I think that Leontyne Price was alongside Renata Tebaldi one of the most beautiful mesmerizing voices ever!!! ....

[@27elt]

Thank you for this! She is the absolute BEST!

[@milesgroth2236]

Ms Price is the last of the great singers of the 20th century. So wonderful!!

[@t.r.9542]

Misses Price, untill today you inspire me in so many ways. You are my example... thnx so much

[@novaa706]

“Nothing will keep me from being as successful as possible. It’s an enjoyment to be successful. “ - Leontyne Price

[@urherman1]

A great artist,musician, singer and human being speaks Magnificent interview

[@ColettaRenee123]

Truly truly inspiring! God is amazing!

[@Tsuruta1]

This lady is exquisite! 💎🌹

[@ethana.8653]

It's amazing - she can stil perform like a beast when she wants to. Her singing in the last ten years, though limited, is still brilliant, well controlled, and powerful.

[@liedersanger1]

@@robertcecilmorgan-wilde That’s what opera singers say when they compliment someone they admire who has an enormous talent.

[@JamesKoenig]

I'll never forget hearing Leontyne Price in a stunning recital in Santa Barbara, CA one evening-- then watching her sing at the LBJ Funeral in Washington D.C. the next morning on television. So many wonderful recordings-- perhaps my favorite is the Verdi Requiem with Price, Rosalind Elias, Jussi Bjorling, and my teacher Giorgio Tozzi.

[@DHa-4u]

I watch this interview/lesson frequently. As with reading scripture, I learn something new, I understand something repeated, and I absorb wisdom from experience.

[@antoniocarlosmendesamerica3936]

A beautiful interview, my congrats to NEA.

[@photo161]

"...you've got to have great singing. It was in my day..." Indeed it was. And tragically it is no more.

[@dorseylandria6119]

to be such a legend, she is really down to earth

[@joylynne8]

Thank you for posting this! It is so encouraging!

[@Ellatigojusticiero]

That is what I call discipline, courage, and persistence in the achievement of a goal….a Diva!! I love you!

[@kgarmaker123]

What a wonderful artist, singer, and human being.. and so honest too.. This is great stuff.. thank you for posting.. I kneel at your feet, Ms. Leontyne!

[@TheLanard]

What a great interview by such a wonderfully talented, gifted, intelligent, spiritual, and well-connected woman. As a singer, I definitely walked away with something special. Thank you for posting.

[@reddalchemy5970]

I bow humbly before this woman......Just Magnificent! Truly wonderful!

[@junelawson8367]

I remember as a young singer I used to purchase her records , I still have them!. Bravo Miss Price. Thanks to KZbin for this wonderful post.

[@classicaldame4372]

These NEA Opera Honors Interviews are a treasure.

[@DwightDowson]

Miss Price is a great Lady!

[@soulfullsongbird88]

i love her,she's a beautiful person/individual inside/out.... amazing amazing voice-talent....

[@taj2134]

I'm taking notes. Thank you for this 'masterclass'.

[@markwaldonjohnson]

What a wonderful woman! Awesome!

[@Paddy818]

Unbelievable! What an incredible interview!!

[@SoulfoodSeminars]

I Love her musical wisdom, I have always said it’s about having fun! Thank You so much posting!

[@jamesz.williams8746]

This interview is amazing. I could listen to her all day

[@peterhind9401]

Leontyne Price is above all a proud American who loves the country that gave her the opportunity for her God-gjven talents to flourish. What an inspiration she is and what a contrast to the whining poor-me 'victims' we see so frequently in 2021. She is an inspiration.

[@wmpetroff2307]

How intelligent!!!!! I really feel her spirit about the arts.

[@goodboy12ify]

I could listen to her talk forever