SHIRLEY VERRETT Verdi Requiem - Libera me- BUDAPEST 1981

[@Lorenzo-be1nm]

Verret was a goddess.. there was something that took place when she sung, something that was beyond her wonderful singing, and her incredibly capacity to adapt her voice to different scores and tessiture... there was something that happened, something almost hurting, painful, something that spoke of depth, of a soul expressing through singing, something almost mystical, particularly in this piece... You have a singer on stage, managing with greatness a very, very difficult score, and above all that there is THAT SOMETHING ELSE that only some artists have, .. and Verret shows that on this clip.

[@foropera]

Exactly, I couldnt' express it in a better way.

[@danawinsor1380]

I agree, beautifully put. I think "genius" isn't too strong a word for great vocal artists and interpreters such as Ms. Verrett. In terms of the mechanics, there's mastery of the voice itself as well as a flawless sense of rhythm, pitch, and diction that are indispensable of course. Then there is that "something else," as you put it, that makes a great artist. I think of it as sincere singing from the heart, the ability to express one's own personal feelings from deep inside that can't be learned or taught. It's like one "has to sing" in order to deliver a personal message to the audience. This excerpt gave me chills, literally. It's a tremendous thing to be in the presence of greatness, even on video.

[@coppiainiqua470]

Thank you

[@vrfvfdcdvgtre2369]

Hardly a goddess, instead, she was a great artist by the mercy of God. It is written: Psalm 92: 1 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound."

[@geraldharvey8979]

@@Lorenzo-be1nm Her eyes!

[@marcleysens7716]

12:22 The tenor doesn't take his eyes off her in complete admiration of that tour de force performance. It's absolutely stupendous. Viva Verdi! What a work.

[@geraldharvey8979]

The most soulful of all sopranos. I could listen to her all day long. Her “Liebestod” is breathtaking, btw.

[@charlesbrown1934]

Verrett was a true artist in every sense of the word. Her vocal accomplishment was beyond category, which bothers some people. Too bad for them, "Brava diva" to her.

[@marinacaracciolo5940]

Che voce meravigliosa, impareggiabile Shirley Verrett! Qui come soprano (aveva anche uno splendido timbro di mezzosoprano). Rapisce e incanta...

[@leonoradelagardie]

Ms Verrett, a great artist with style and class in her interpretations. What a voice!

[@Karlinberlin1]

I teared up listening to this. Verrett sang with such passion . So glad to have this recording.

[@photo161]

Ms. Verrett felt music so very deeply. Hers' was a most human art; she always gave everything she had, as she does here. She is determined that the climactic high C -12:23-be large enough to fulfill its dramatic demands, and she succeeds, brilliantly, if not effortlessly.

[@gildamaini1799]

A me il Requiem fa sempre venire i brividi, ma la Verrett mi ha fatto venire le lacrime agli occhi

[@alfredoihldausend4093]

Wunderschöne Stimme, hohe Musikalität und makellose Technik! Einfach großartig!

[@marygrace4292]

7:50!❤️

[@DamienWise]

Shirley Verrett is magnificent!

[@Michael29889]

She celebrates every single note ... 💎☀️

[@renzy79]

11:07 to 11:57 is a clinic. Who else can sing the high and low sections with such quality? My God!

[@80Mrmirko]

renzy79 olso Renata Tebaldi

[@lorenzoramsey5948]

@@80Mrmirko Not based on this recording. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn-af3-bq96LfaM

[@franciscolobobatista7889]

Mirela Freni here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/borWpaFveadrpaM

[@renzy79]

@@franciscolobobatista7889 Not based on the recording you provided. Freni's lower register is barely discernible.

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Fleming is good in that passage kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5K8dJSBbrt5kKM and she does far more chest at the really important moments earlier. I so wish Verrett had sung the soprano part earlier in her career. Such a great voice. And above all, why did Callas never record it? :(

[@icecol22]

Beautiful voice, Shirley Verett was a very gifted soprano. I love it!! I have so much admiration and awe for Opera singers.

[@orion8835]

The tone Verrett brings to this part is really effective. She was such a versatile soprano and mezzo really able to bend the arc of the sound in so many directions. #liberame

[@jayneskl]

So very rich.

[@ThomasDawkins88]

I'd only ever heard Verrett sing the mezzo-soprano part, in a recording also with Abbado and La Scala recorded about a year before this performance. Some may not be convinced that Ms. Verrett could successfully be a soprano, but she does far better than many sopranos who have sung this part! Plus, her lower voice is still there at the end.

[@uralbob1]

She was fantastic! She showed tremendous range, power, and control in this performance. She certainly was a gift. Do you know why she was less prominent in recordings and other top performances than other operatic singers in her era?

[@esterbruno8604]

A Falcon Soprano! Great! 🥰

[@jimcadena8533]

Singers of the Golden Age sang everything, mezzo and soprano parts. Lili Lehman for one

[@carmeloserafin5101]

Artista generosa...mai improvvisata...e sempre attenta al peso speciale della sua voce ...Voce educata con un repertorio che non le vietava ...niente che non fosse ponderato. Qui dimostra che lei non canta...ma invoca una pietas imponderabile e struggente...quel "tremenda" da togliere il fiato...e il finale da portare nella Tomba. Ascoltata dal vivo ...indimenticabile anche in San Marco a Milano dove sosteneva la parte del mezzo soprano.

[@cosimoepicoco7022]

Uno dei migliori Requiem che ho sentito da Abbado.

[@cyrilgerardon1999]

Shirley Verrett est incroyable. Voix superbe, émotion, profondeur. Et Abbado est au sommet. Dommage que je n’aie pas été adulte à cette époque pour entendre et voir de tels géants.

[@ferdinandbardamu1198]

Incredible rendition. I'm in tears.

[@matteovasta5952]

Straordinaria interpretazione della Verret nella parte più drammatico del Requiem!!!!

[@tomhamilton]

She is completely extraordinary. Also, the basses of the chorus. What a beautiful sound, especially as she chants the last libera me. Really wonderful singing from this fantastic soprano who show her amazing range in this. Wow.

[@johnrondeau8500]

Such artistry and command of her instrument. She must have been a conductors dream. Amazing she is a powerhouse but she also delivers this incredible subtlety to everything. If you've not listened to the Liebestod with Mehta you are missing something of incredible pulchritude. Imagine having to be a peer of hers she simply leaves others in the dust. So intelligent yet not a hint of hubris. Once in a lifetime God Graces us with this supernatural phenomenon. Really I don't need to carry on like this because her art says it all and more. One more REGAL

[@anastasiialimar9684]

Совершенно грандиозное исполнение!!! Какое счастье, что у нас есть возможность слушать эту гениальную музыку в таком фантастическом исполнении!!!Счастливы те, кто слышал это вживую!

[@mikeziemann]

Sublime! A true artist who really dedicated her life to serve the art without a stupid desire to be famous and popular. Her interpretation is a masterpiece full of genuine passion and religious devotion. Brava!

[@foropera]

I do agree with you.

[@tanyadixon7980]

So true. The passion and emotional pathos cuts through everything else.. heart-rending and Beautiful. The best..

[@arnaudkientz1571]

Love her so much. Deep respect. She's truly amazing.

[@corneliuswhite5139]

The Basses at 13:08!! Absolutely Chilling!!

[@coppiainiqua470]

As someone wrote here, once in a lifetime. Thank you

[@sonqualnave]

OMG! That high C at 12:23.... I am speechless!!!

[@corneliuswhite5139]

sonqualnave The tenor looking at her at that moment says everything!

[@TheAWGemini]

THE ONLY REASON I STAY ON THIS PERFORMANCE! SHE PUTS THAT SHIT RIGHT OUT THERE!!! UNAPOLOGETICALLY!!!

[@voceangelo]

The strength and slancio in that C cut right through the entire orchestra and chorus going full tilt boogie. Just incredible. That tenor looks SHOOK. LOL

[@tcewmg3430]

big facts!!! the most replayed!!!..and here i go replaying!!!!

[@colligitefragmenta]

It's not at all unusual for a soprano to be functioning at a very high level at age 50 and later. What is unusual here is how Verrett just gives everything she has, not holding anything back. There are some rough passages and intonation issues here and there, but she is truly going for broke: no cautious husbanding of resources, no skirting of the big moments. She nails the high B flat at the end of the a cappella section that has brought so many sopranos to grief, and then caps it all with a big, blazing (if effortful) high C. Thrilling stuff from a generous, fearless performer.

[@foropera]

This Tour in Europe was a struggle for her because she had to replace Freni for all the venues she was supposed to do, added to her own ones. Anyway, she was always a very unusual artist, and as you say a generous performer, with this sense of risk, and communication.

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

I admire her immensely, but to say she isn’t ever husbanding her resources isn’t true. The moment immediately after the high Bb is a case in point - she doesn’t try to cut through the heavy orchestration here.

[@sarinarausa975]

that HIgh C at the end of the aria finale is Effortful for all sopranos because of the way it moves slowly up the scale before it is reached.. instead of leaping into it, making it so demanding from a technical point of view.. it's like impending doom.. I know I've done it and I have a much much lighter voice. She nails it perfectly, because she employs all the emotional energy to make it so.. just breathtaking

[@jefgong]

Exceptionnel. Déchirant. Mille mercis.

[@waterfordwinstons]

Foropera Haw we thank you for these Films, You Bless us your followers and random people playing and searching for Music on KZbin, Shirley Verrett Sings This piece with so much reverence to the text is simply Devine and heavenly. I truly think that even if one doesn't like or understand this style of music, With a singer like Shirley Verrett They would be converted, she pulls all the stops deep emotions that If someone where listen to this and not feel moved, They could be pronounced Dead. Don't even bother to call 911 .

[@teodororamos4485]

Ms Shirley Verrett is incomparable!

[@samuelllucena]

Bravissima!!! Just perfect!

[@corneliuswhite5139]

Phenomenal!!

[@washingtonisaacholmes2093]

Cornelius White without a doubt

[@corneliuswhite5139]

@@washingtonisaacholmes2093 I LOVE when she throws her head back when she sings a dramatic phrase! The sheer declaration!

[@marcandregingras992]

The tenor is fascinating by her performance he looks often until the end of aria and check his eyes when she goes for higt notes !😊

[@silvanero]

Thank you for sharing this video!!! Shirley Verrett is amazing!!!!

[@ФаридаАсанбекова-с8п]

Супер!!! Бравооо!!! Великолепное исполнение!!!

[@hectorrivera2785]

12:23 that's my face in shock, what a beautiful Powerfull rendition

[@Robertluy14]

11:46 that chest voice though! I had goosebumps! Incredible

[@christinec.6685]

Chest voice still on the breath.

[@paolobigi59]

Absolutely amazing. Thanks

[@francescomazzella5940]

Senza parole, commovente Shirley....

[@robertharvey8536]

She brings honor to her country.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

That beautiful,magnificent voice, what a jewel 🎶🎶🎶🎶👏👏👏👏

[@necessarydiva]

Amazing determination to lean the voice down to its essence.

[@theonlycontessa]

Sheer beauty in the voice...lost for words.

[@foropera]

theonlycontessa yes. The whole part is surprisingly well sung but above all she brings life and magnetism to all she touches. And she is fifty, in full menopause, allergies, asthma and had to sing all the performances that Freni cancelled in that tour in addition to hers. So I consider it a treasure. When people come and say: "she is not a soprano" or whatever I feel sad for them. Not being able to enjoy the beauty of interpretation and her gift.

[@debbiejohnson2789]

She is a beautiful lady with a beautiful voice!

[@jidmedved8945]

Talented lady wiht beautiful voice, interesting interpretation and immortal music of Verdi... What else is needed?

[@ecmcsorley2011]

Astoundingly talented and lovely woman.

[@giovannaportioli3943]

Abbado e Verret : Dio vi benedica per ciò che avete lasciato!

[@grunaubaby]

Fantastic voice, thank you for the upload.

[@ArcoirisRaimbow]

Preciosa señora y preciosa voz🌟❤🖖🏾🖖🏾

[@patrickjohnsonjr8264]

She truly was a flacon a beautiful bird she love to sing

[@puma5471]

Out of this world!

[@ExcelHealthcareInstitute]

Talent, pure and simple.

[@carmeloserafin5101]

Rrivedendola oggi che è Pasqua mi sento grato a tutte le volte che ho avuto modo di incontrarla...e sapendo che ormai Lei è davanti alla Verità divina........mi vengono i brividi e pensando a tutti i morti di Corona virus...mi commuovo.Visto che molti sono sepolti senza un rito di saluto....che Dio li accolga e liberi dallo spavento di una morte atroce.

[@sergiovanelli7420]

Immensa.....e irripetibile......sensibilissima...con una classe e una eleganza ......senza paragoni.....unica......

[@sergiovanelli7420]

Immensa.....e irripetibile......sensibilissima...con una classe e una eleganza ......senza paragoni.....unica......

[@martarisko4591]

Incredibly beautiful interpretation

[@amossmithjr9362]

Simply awesome ❤

[@tr01lus38]

I thought Scotto's was the best Libera Me I had heard, but that was truly awesome!

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Verrett, Price, Bumbry, Norman, Arroyo, Battle - there was a generation of black female US opera stars from the 60s to the 80s who were each truly phenomenal in their respective repertoires. It feels like an unrepeatable age somehow - all the cultural forces were poised to create truly world class opera singers (to say nothing of the unbelievable soul, jazz and gospel stars of that time). Now the energy is going else where.

[@foropera]

Yes it's true.(Mitchell had also her part in these dive). There are some voices though today. But less solar personalities, less charisma . As said Verrett once, "with my race ( and her ambition too)" I had to come in the Met right by the main door", not in second parts like Erda, her first proposed role by Bing. Thank you for your comment and for your beautiful channel!

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

@@foropera ah you’re welcome! Thanks for your channel!

[@victorvasquez4212]

Please do not forget Martina Arroyo. Splendid Requiem as well

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

@@victorvasquez4212 I didn't! she's in the first post I wrote!

[@victorvasquez4212]

@@greatmomentsofopera7170 You are right ! Sorry!

[@heurtemattefrancois4160]

Wonderful seeing her too.

[@roberthiwat2839]

So grateful for this upload thank you. Heavenly incredible! !!

[@manolis.799]

I think I found the perfect Libera Me.

[@jayneskl]

Have you heard the recording of Leontyne Price? Arguably, maybe just a bit better.

[@manolis.799]

Kathy Jaynes yes, many of them. And while I enjoy them, I don’t enjoy them nearly as much as I enjoy this.

[@kotiplessa]

Totally agree, this is the ultimate Libera Me! She has it all, drama, power, every note is on point, from bottom to top range, and the final top C is nuclear

[@lutandomhlalase4416]

@@kotiplessa say that again

[@NLidar]

Legendary Verrett!

[@HectorPerez-zh2bz]

Bravaaaaaaa ❤

[@lindakarus4324]

Brava, brava!!!!!

[@tcewmg3430]

The Baritone just LOVED IT UP!!! GOOD FOR HIM!!!..and OBRASZTOVA!!!

[@hrh4961]

The "baritone" is a bass, Nikolai Ghiaurov, the real-life husband of Freni.

[@voceangelo]

That 'et lux perpetua' toward the end of the B section was the longest phrase I've ever heard. Wow! She's a phenomenon.

[@БогданРостиславович-ж3ч]

красивая, талантливая и выдающаяся женщина

[@tarekmohamed3263]

She stands on the cusp of eternity.

[@MrQwerty88]

Thanks for uploading this!

[@eugenemathlong2716]

Brava! Only a deeply spiritual person can sing the VR like this. I like the expression on the young man"s face 21.20.

[@landoblu]

21 ???? The video does not even go beyond 15:01

[@patrickjohnsonjr8264]

She can sing anything

[@PatateRoussoiste]

Thank you !

[@baritonebynight]

Shirley Verrett could sing just about anything. Personally, I like her mezzo roles better but wow she could do it all.

[@carmenclaure7614]

Sin palabras ❤

[@maryannedavid6983]

Magnificent!!!!!

[@Serifinity]

amazing

[@FillipeMendel]

Peter Kelen's look at 12:30 shows Shirley Verrett's virtuosity

[@novagerio9244]

Nobody did the Requiem with such fire and sense of resignation as Claudio.

[@Василиса-р5л]

Великолепное пиано!!!!

[@zandraward4366]

If I had heard her during my senior year (1981), I would sing instead of directing band ...

[@danielboyd6519]

SING MS.VERRET WITH THIS NATURAL HAIR!!!!! Black singers always do it best!

[@jayyoung4534]

@Daniel...The style is becoming, isn't it? Of course, you know she was from a wealthy Southern California family? She was known in Los Angeles real estate business circles as Shirley Verrett-Carter, in her late 20s deciding to chuck it all for studies in music. The rest is history. (Correct me where my facts are inaccurate, please.)

[@golden-63]

She looks very elegant.

[@christinec.6685]

She looks so beautiful!

[@konan123]

LIBERA ME Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda : quando coeli movendi sunt et terra ; dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo, dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira. Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miserirae, dies illa, dies magna et amara valde. Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Libera me, Domine

[@okwueshinechukskelvin6859]

Love it

[@jesusbautistavasco7737]

Sublime

[@Danihogwda]

13:54 Abbado’s face on ignorant people

[@francescomazzella5940]

Verrett... una partecipazione, un pathos commovente come mai nessuna. Qualcosa di inaudito. Avrebbe fatto vommuovere anche le pietre...

[@FillipeMendel]

Bravo! Bravo!

[@Samuel6969ify]

Grandissima la Verrett, questo non è solo cantare ma interpretare dando un preciso significato a ciò che si vuole esprimere! E oggi chi abbiamo? La Netrebko?

[@mikeziemann]

Netrebko e' un scherzo. Le sue interpretazioni sono inascoltabili. Un caro saluto.

[@Michele-zp1tx]

@@mikeziemann ahahahahahahahah. Tutto bene? 😂😂

[@nairatmya4804]

@12:25 thrilling and astounding

[@maurizio888]

BRAAAVAAAA!!!!

[@teodorapesevdjurdjevic3071]

PRELEPO!KOLOSALNO!

[@mechar64]

Gorgeous

[@francescomazzella5940]

Forse la Tomowa-Sintow era tecnicamente superiore, la Freni aveva maggiore controllo sugli acuti e piu' estensione vocale, ma qui la Verrett e' straordinariamente partecipe e coinvolgente. Brividi addosso! Il suo non e' solo canto, e' molto di piu'. Nessuna mai raggiungera' il suo pathos!

[@bubbadeaux1671]

Verrett does the best job of any soprano in this piece, with Gheorghiu in second. Love Scotto, too. But no one touches Verrett - not even Price.

[@dochaywood128]

This is superb. But Price, Sine qua non.

[@francescomazzella5940]

Gheorghiu? For me Freni, Price, Tomowa-Sintow. But Shirley is so houman, so incredible in his "pathos"

[@davideferrari5702]

Ho appena ascoltato la Tebaldi diretta da Toscanini... inarrivabile una voce enorme alti e bassi potenti e pianissimi incandescenti....

[@francescomazzella5940]

@@davideferrari5702 Tebaldi... Hai detto niente...

[@odagledja]

The look from the orchestra member @12:26, in total awe.

[@foropera]

Yes, it was the Tenor solo. It must have been spectacular. She was so involved and a special artist.

[@odagledja]

@@foropera remarkable finishing power in such a demanding work for the soprano voice.

[@petergiljum]

❤❤

[@АлександрЖихор-н7п]

А можно пожалуйста весь реквием Верди в этом составе выложите

[@yaelpalombo4093]

❤️

[@tatianasergeeva8956]

Genius in the OPERA