Ruth Ann Swenson - Je veux vivre

Gounod's Roméo et Juliette
Metropolitan Opera Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary 1996

[@smurf902]

I am proud that Swenson reigned, even if for a short time. She was and is phenomenal. American, down to earth, musical, gorgeous tone, diction, comportment.

[@jetpackmonkey315]

Just came from a Callas version of this and it's always so interesting how different singers will interpret this song! Maria's version felt like a wild fire; a rambunctious youth that yearned for a grand life changing love. Swenson's on the other hand feels more dreamy; like she has already fallen in love with the idea of love itself. Such amazing and talented singers to take the same song and score, but make me feel such different things about the character they play!

[@piustwelfth]

Ruth Ann was a fan favorite. She was much loved in San Francisco.

[@brulhilde]

BRAVISSIMA, I love her clean coloratura and perfect legato!! No unnecessary stress and strain on the voice compared to many other singers these days unfortunately... She's a an amazingly elegant lyric coloratura!!

[@smurf902]

Now we have to deal with the caprino of Oropesa or the indulgence of Sierra. Sierra being the better but nothing like the pearly tones of Swenson. She truly was spectacular. Really. I'm very critical. And a HEALTHY voice.

[@katelynpatterson2407]

I have just discovered Swenson through this aria and oh my goodness! She makes it effortless. This is why we take our lessons seriously, people. We want to be just as effortless as this performance right here.

[@yuki_t_soprano]

Yes, I am just dicovering her (discovered her on her Lucia) I think she's my new model !!! Her voice is just velvet and, as you say it, so effortless !!! I am just amazed.

[@marcocito]

Non seulement la voix est magnifique de même que la technique, mais son français est impeccable. Bravissima!

[@rudyfan1926]

Ruth Ann sang a sublime run of Romeo et Juliette in San Francisco with Alfredo Kraus. Superb singing from both the entire run. Saw every performance

[@dem24utube]

I don't feel any need to compare her to any other singer. She sings beautifully, and in my New York days I loved to hear her at the Met.

[@ademardechabannes]

a treasure! Singing like that, she could start her own airline and all the seats would be first class!

[@SuperPerformingArts]

Ruth Ann Swenson is stellar. One of the most unique and beautiful voices of our time as well as a gifted artist and musician. Hearing her live is such a joy. Thank you Ruth Ann for being such an inspiration! :)

[@madamebee7057]

Such a lovely version of this aria...so warm, pleasant, smooth, and sweet.

[@AminasDream]

She is great!!! Definitely knows how to use her beautiful and rich voice. Netrebko singing this reminds me a train out of control :p

[@Schoolgirl325]

Her voice is like the richest gold; bright and warm. And her voice also has the smoothness and flexibility of the finest silk. This is one of the best versions of Ah! Jeux Veux Vivre that I've ever heard. Swenson may not be the most brilliant actress, but her angelic voice and genuine enthusiasm while singing more than make up for that.

[@gattiniregola]

Agree...but seriously, there are very very few brilliant actors in the opera world. It's hardly a caveat worth mentioning because there are even fewer voices like RAS.

[@mjmacmtenor]

An excellent example of Ruth Ann at her best. The piano attack on the final hi C - followed by a flawless crescendo - is worth the price of admission alone!

[@BroadwaySomeday37]

fabulous. that high c at the end gave me chills. what a remarkable performance.

[@gczwarkiel]

Her performance of this is absolutely fantastic!

[@TheDaisycler]

Merveille des merveilles Madame SWENSON.Sa voix est un pur chef-d'oeuvre.Je ne trouve pas de mots assez forts pour dire mon admiration à cette DIVA,tombée du Ciel.Ecoutez toutes et Tous ses AIGUS.Daisy CLER

[@Sanddy63]

I listened through half of youtube to get here! She has the most controlled voice from all the singers I heard singing this song! Its not painful to the ear. Bravo!

[@saturne46]

Ruth Ann Swenson a la voix idéale pour cet air. Magnifique prestation. Bravo !

[@Silasbenjamin]

I know I shouldn't say it, but I will: This is my voice teacher's wife! (He's her voice teacher too) It's a little scary when you're performing a university opera and you know that Ruth Ann Swenson is out in the audience watching you. Lol. Unfortunately, I still haven't seen her perform live yet.

[@TheSarah730]

Ruth Ann is so so wonderful

[@lakehayden]

hers was the first version of this aria i ever heard. it made me happy every time i listened to it and still does! brava

[@Discipal4goodmusic]

She is great!

[@miuzefreak]

I ve been captivated by Swenson since I first heard her in "L'Africaine" (DVD) ... great performance here once again !!!

[@gestas60323]

She is a very lovely woman in great voice !!! Brava Ruth Ann !!!

[@isaballaserrano4991]

Bravíssima! Golden tons here ❤💯👏🏻

[@rebeccafarleysings]

One of my favorite renditions!

[@robinorene]

she is so fantastic. I"m a new fan!

[@alessandratestai952]

Stupenda!

[@pierre-emmanuelgoffinet9725]

Amazing voice!

[@ajking26]

she makes it sound so easy

[@hannahlsoprano]

ajking26 okay we get it. You’ve said this literally five times. Just enjoy her beautiful voice.

[@nancydennis6203]

Loved Swenson. Best Adina I ever heard. But the very best Gilda was Swenson with Leech and Nucci! Wish it were on KZbin. Nancy

[@kountoulf]

J'adore , c'est divin , l'interprétation est géniale ! Bravo

[@fruitsandberries]

i like her acting and expressions too

[@lakehayden]

u can tell they've worked together before, lovely to watch on all counts!!!

[@waldotube]

Que maravilla.. no me canso de verlo.. que maravillosa

[@windstorm1000]

Wow--people just are just not vanilla on Netrebko--she elicits strong pros and cons all over KZbin...In the mean time, Ms. Swenson is so professional, sings so cleanly and nails the high note-- and really makes us hanker for those Harry Winston's and Tiffanay's!! Marilyn M. should have sung this!

[@Silasbenjamin]

Yay! Brava! That's my voice teacher's wife!

[@luzceciliacarrasco5703]

bella voz, bella interpretación y bella dama

[@curlycues90]

Magnificent!

[@deliriousTT]

Sublime

[@Katclub8]

I seriously love her expressions.

[@utlandagatan]

No doubt she's better than Netrebko and Fleming combined. A true coloratura repertoire fit for her. Levine's choice to sing this aria.

[@tonio7367]

Love her....Brava

[@schmup53]

Unfortunately, I can't hear this very well on my computer...Ruth Ann is wonderful and I actually remember her audition for the Merola Program I think it was 1981 at UT-Austin? I was a student there at the time. It was a jaw dropping audition if I am thinking of the right soprano.

[@piustwelfth]

I think the Merola program is in San Francisco. Ruth Ann performed there for many years. She was a favorite soprano of SF Bay Area operagoers.

[@Lora0993]

SO good!! :)

[@kelliletner]

Beautiful! I'm working on this piece and she's an inspiration for sure!

[@kaik7366]

The definitive coloratura in my opinion... makes me wish I'd continued my training.

[@aleduffoo]

great!

[@MsBebe1356]

Brillinat!

[@lunak9740]

Perfecta!

[@musiq77]

Awesome!!

[@darlin.kleidoscope]

Elegant!!!

[@desireethomason5609]

Wade- you have good taste in music!

[@fiandrhi]

Your voice teacher is a very lucky man.

[@Lindow]

I believe she said in an interview that for some reason they had not rehearsed at all prior to this actual performance.

[@OLIVCHEN77]

BRAVA BRAVA

[@verdiguy]

The Met's superb production of Arabella, which is available on DVD with Kiri te Kanawa and Wolfgang Brendel. Thielemann is the conductor.

[@MonsieurLu77]

Perfect! Bravissima!

[@HansWernerLink]

Ich finde ihre großen Ohren so faszinierend!

[@HansWernerLink]

***** Danke für die Aufklärung, lieber Herr Gurtner. Ist schon klar, um was es sich bei den dicken Dingern handelt, aber ich wollte halt diskret sein. Wie schnell wird man heutzutage als Sexist verunglimpft!

[@MonsieurLu77]

Meine Herren, dürfte ich Sie bitten, sich ausschließlich auf die sängerischen Qualitäten von Frau Swenson zu beschränken!

[@MonsieurLu77]

***** Dann muss Ihre liebenswürdige Gattin mindestens das Niveau einer mittelmäßigen Netrebko haben, lieber Herr Hans?

[@MonsieurLu77]

***** Diese Chordamen sind immer scharf auf Solisten, lieber Herr Hans!

[@skitzo429]

I made the same comment on this video 3 years the last time I listened to it, the high C at the end is very sharp, she often sings big climactic high notes above pitch and sits on them.

[@schmup53]

I saw Netrebko sing the Lucia at HD and I remember thinking what the fuss was all about; then I saw her Sempre Libera video and I got it but I don't think I've heard anything that good since

[@jamesdeperu]

Ufff con las justas

[@blauauge2]

wow. so talented. her singing is so much better than r. flemings.

[@josh194]

I think she's fantastic. But so is Anna Netrebko, and Natalie Dessay, and Diana Damrau and...Why choose? I've seen them all live, and they're all incredibly talented, and different, and the world is far richer for the variety.

[@jewelmarkess]

@Watchawahha After my rash last comment, I looked at comments in context and better understood your reply. I see your point, and I think you and arpeggio are actually on the same page. I think everyone would agree she looks great here. I think all of us would agree that voice and artistry should be the most important thing in opera not looks. I am not sure btw why she lost roles at the Met, but it came close after she had breast cancer.

[@skitzo429]

the C is very sharp

[@gczwarkiel]

@xgianpatrick Your critique is a bit over the top wouldn't you say? You should post a video of yourself performing at the height of your operatic splendor. I am sure it would leave us amazed!

[@Octavoification]

Where is the crack? Did someone fix it?

[@cgt2631]

So much better than Anna Netrebko!!! I love her!!

[@TaVo78]

que mamon ha ha .... ma certo che l'aria é bella

[@Chilair1]

@classicalgal14 I wasn't being rude, I honestly think she should have covered up more.

[@kngiht84]

I would pay to hear Avril Lavigne singing Madame Butterfly and Paris Hilton in Tosca, hahaha

[@skitzo429]

thats what i said...try reading more carefully

[@louisepilon786]

most voice better the young women

[@blancopatri]

We also need younger operas, the ones that people play most of the time are centuries old

[@nannalynnightowl1]

I really do think that, as is "beauty in the eye of the beholder", then attributes of a singer is "in the ears of the listener"!! Personally, I love Netrebko's voice, and her choices, most of the the time...but she HAS taken on stuff that was not for her - and, as many other singers who have done likewise, they have been a disaster!!! As for her french diction, well, she's russian, and a lot of other singers, are, apparently, fluent in french (Caballe, Gruberova, Callas, etc.)

[@skitzo429]

i love her voice, but if you cant hear that thats out of tune youre the one who needs your hearing checked, not me.

[@josh194]

now that is someone I'm happy to criticize.

[@Chilair1]

Love her voice...but honestly her chest took a lot of the attention..

[@rigsf5969]

Like they say, if you got it...

[@marcmitchel25]

​@@rigsf5969That point anyway is inarguable

[@opernair]

she is simply perfect! But Her decoltee could be a little bit deeper (-:

[@schmup53]

This is so much better than Netrebko ; Netrebko has vibrato you can drive a truck through

[@rogerknox9147]

Such an original metaphor (sigh) . . .

[@skitzo429]

the C is beautiful, but its actually strikingly out of tune, its extremely sharp.

[@numetutelare]

@jimmymartinezzz Da sempre sostengo che la Netrebko non ha la flessibilità, la messa di voce, gli arpeggi e le scale cromatiche della coloratura sono raffazzonate, inoltre a parte le facce "d'espressione" che sono altro dal senso artistico interpretativo ha problemi negli acuti spesso lanciati e malamente tenuti "tenuti". Non si tratta di gareggiare, ma solo di stabilire chi é una cantante lirica e chi lo sembra...un po' come Bocelli che é un buon cantante... punto, la lirica é altro.

[@babs22hh]

her timbre is darker than K. Battle's and much more "womanly" to my ear... I LOVE her crescendo at 3:53! Kbattle has that soubrette girly sound.and Netrebeko should stay away from coloratura/belcanto and stick to spinto stuff like TOSCA forgoodness sakes..NO LUCIA!

[@AmyAmy-er8bp]

Asuma anuka rot otkroy, teper skaji aaaa. A be shto delayet? Asuma vi na kakoy stantsii, Ya na stantsii Al Capone. Eto uje Pedik Matematik passajiru, uvajayemomu. Kakiye litsa, kakiye litsa... Asuma vi pochemu meksikov ne lyubite, ne poymyosh. Asuma snachalo ubili Indian Americans, Turkey is ours, potom FBI ubil Che Guevara. Kakiye xoroshiye, pyaterka. Asuma Grex smeyatsa. Vorb en mnatsel. asuma za dvesti let nikagdo ne oshibsya, Eto uje Bill Clinton Narodu. A tebe yest dvesti???

[@AmyAmy-er8bp]

Putin na Rakete katayetsa. Mashina v Rossii Raket nazivayetsa. Lolz. Ne Mitsubishi???? Rebenok dal, sshas eto tselaya Industriya, von Prada, Dolce I Gabbana, pravilnoye imya postavil, srazu spros. Kalosh eto uj nemtsi vsegda v mode... v selskaxozyaystvennom, eto uje Russkiye. Selskoxozyaystvennuyu kulturu predstavlyayut.

[@AmyAmy-er8bp]

Tovarish vam zdes nelzya viyti, Fu Dura, zachem dveri otkrila!!!! Asuma vam kakoy pavarot, mne dilidjanskiy, eto uje u vorot Ronaldto.

[@skitzo429]

comparing anyone to Netrebko on the point of diction is almost laughable, Netrebko's french is atrocious.

[@kerryincolumbus]

I've heard better (a few, not many), but, then again I've heard a HELL of a lot worse!!

[@nichtsleezy]

YOU ARE WRONG!!! Netrebko is atrocious(most of the time)

[@Zashorigin]

Beautiful voice... fabulous rendition... Brava!Ps. But that hair... GOD!!!... someone should had told her, she wasn't 20 yo anymore. Too much hair, too long and she wasn't precisely a svelt woman. No, No, No!

[@tessdurberville711]

Zashorigin Miss Swenson is glorious!Opera singers should be well-endowed and she is, in every way!