Jessye Norman - A Portrait - Erlkonig (Schubert)

[@Evanarix]

I spent the day listening to different performances of this song, and hers is my favourite.

[@schuylerborden2815]

same, she's so scary

[@h.a.5845]

My favourite too...the story is so dramatic... and she expresses it so well...

[@thephalange8630]

Same, she made me cry 😭

[@hankseo755]

Here could be another different performance of this song in musical style for you; kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ2QgGVqh7Oqftk

[@rustyboi5402]

why did i think i was the only one who was looking for different performances of this peice

[@francoisbessing]

Excuse me but she is a Grandmaster Actress. She is entering those characters as though the very spirit of these people have taken over. Terrifying and she doesn't break character once....amazing. And to think they're in some room with camera people and she's still able to get into character this way..AMAZING.

[@angela_born]

She was such a queen. I wanted to sing this in school, but my professors said I couldn't because " Y o U ' R e N o T a M a N." I wish I would have known about this performance then. This would have put an end to that conversation. What a powerhouse.

[@livianegidius9772]

I do not undersand how your teacher could saisd so?But it is extremely hard to sing piece. But madam Norman`s performance was best of the bested. May she never be forgotten. Best voice on Planet Earth. But gone too soon.

[@harrietrosejimenez]

That is bizarre. One of the first singers to perform the piece was dramatic soprano Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient in 1830 - just 3 years after Schubert's death.

[@archibalddalupang5634]

It's not even an aria that would have made your professor's refusal reasonable. It's a poetic story-telling, so its interpretation should not only be exclusive for male singers.

[@aljavier2927]

Ridiculous

[@unrealnews]

I daresay the fact the singer is female adds to the piece. Each character is already inhabited from a meta-level due to the fact that mere shifts of intonation indicate another identity. The singer thus portrays themselves as containing multiple inner voices. When sung by a female, an amplification of the distance suggested takes place, in some sense unifying the singer with the audience, who watches the interplay "below". Within this unified perspective, consideration of ones own inner voices is brought to bear, along with questions surrounding the strength one lends or subtracts from the force of these personas through careful consideration and observation.

[@DJ-uy8qp]

The way she transitions between the parts vocally and with her expressions is pure magesty

[@crhl95]

I am devastated. This piece was my introduction to her incredible voice. RIP. You are so, so missed.

[@5610winston]

She will live as long as her recordings and videos are available.

[@elisavieira737]

She gone????....

[@Sobreira4]

@@elisavieira737 Sadly

[@Ivnnih2774]

And I just know her today from this video

[@leshaunda]

​@@Ivnnih2774 well I hope you are still listening to her. She's just amazing

[@hermanjoseph401]

three masterpieces in this song -- the poem of Goethe, the magnificent song by the teenage Schubert and the awe inspiring performance of Jessye Norman

[@karlakor]

I hasten to add that the pianist deserves a HUGE share of the credit for this performance. The accompaniment is a killer, with its repeated octaves that rarely let up, but unfortunately I do not see the pianist's name listed in the credits of this performance. This is a grievous omission.

[@winstonelston5743]

The graphics here also add to the horror of the story. This is an awesome performance all around, and I do not cheapen that word by overuse.

[@mccarlson52]

@@karlakor Yes, this really, really pisses me off!

[@andrewwiemken6443]

This is the best possible performance of this. Her control, range, presence, and the depth of characterization they allow are astonishing. It also really brings out how historically incredible this song is and how much of a genius Schubert was. He would be brought to tears to see this song realized like this. I was staring wide-eyed with my mouth open halfway through.

[@UnclePutte]

She has a very powerful presence.

[@arquetopiainternationalart8326]

This performance is terrifying and devastating. Norman embodies each of the characters not only in four distinct and perfectly created voices but in their facial and physical gestures. Even Thomas Quasthoff references her interpretation when he is teaching master classes on this piece. Superlative. She is and will all ways be The Queen.

[@5610winston]

A fifth, and equally important character in this brief opera for one voice is the horse, represented by the frantic triplets from the piano. While the animal is not given lines of text, the accompaniment suggests the urgency and panic of the beast that is being ridden to the breaking end of its endurance. And it can be inferred, based upon the boy's fate, that the father is unlikely to take the time to cool the overheated animal, and those of us who have known people who care for horses, we know that a horse that does not receive proper care after such an effort is likely to develop potentially fatal complications.

[@5610winston]

Still the most terrifying version of this lied ever produced!

[@francoisbessing]

Agreed.

[@DieFlabbergast]

Seconded.

[@markhall7646]

Thirded.

[@dehanbadenhorst1398]

Fourthded

[@useruserbruser]

Naturwissenchaaaaaft

[@markhall7646]

Jessye made all characters in this lied- the Narrator, the Father and Child, and the Erlking come alive and be identified clearly. Her Narrator sang urgently and powerfully, her Erlking was evil, malignant and manipulating, her Child plaintive and frightened and her Father strong and comforting. Her performance of this lied is now my standard.

[@victoriataylor5584]

I agree.

[@MrDarknesslover]

Agree!

[@5610winston]

A fifth character here, powerfully acted by the pianist, was the horse being driven hard by his master and, perhaps, by the awareness all animals are said to have of ghostly presences. Still, it was Ms. Jessye whose voice creates the goosebumps. I brought this video up immediately after seeing a response to my comments on Loewe's setting of the same poem: Schubert set this poem seven years before Loewe did, but I don't see why Loewe bothered.

[@5610winston]

This song may be considered as an opera: one voice, four characters, five if you count the horse, ever-present in the urgent triplets from the piano. Perhaps there are eight if you count the Erlkings daughters as mute roles, though Ms. Norman's expressions at 2:25 leave no doubt as to their presence in the boy's fever.

[@hillarylinton5655]

Listen to Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. He conveys all of the above without the over the top theatrics here.

[@clncl98506]

Never realized how Jessye Norman's voice & power could fit Schubert. Wow.... the most powerful and captivating interpretation of all time so far for me.... Wonderful !!!

[@victoriataylor5584]

I mean WOW. I like way she really expresses herself in this song.

[@musicfanBRA]

Marvellous theatrical performance, the way she does the devious, alluring King is fantastic. Great art here!

[@benoitpellet1657]

HOLY COW! She genuinely captures each of the characters -- the falsely reassuring father, the child virtually 'and ultimately literally) scared to death, and the alternately enticing, threatening and diabolical Erlkönig. A masterpiece!

[@jackystar5099]

Don't think I've ever been this jealous about a person's vocals then I am now. The intensity and the acting.

[@spinynorman6129]

I love absolutely everything about her performance. The intensity, the characterisation, the technique... I would be the happiest man in the world if my chest voice was as strong as hers. This is right up there with Ian Bostridge's rendition as my favourite Erlkönig.

[@ludwigwolfgangmuller4107]

This is simply overwhelming. She is divine, gorgeous, magic. Every single word in music and language!

[@susiejepson]

Aside from her wonderful singing, Jessye Norman depicts each character to perfection. She captures both the desperation and the pathos of the child. A truly extraordinary performance.

[@ChainSmashers]

Bravo! Most expressive singer I've heard of this song yet.

[@donafitzgerald2895]

One of the only times I had payed attention in music appreciation, glad I did

[@vijayraghavan6383]

How can she change voices like that on a dime. This is crazy good

[@vkp2931]

This is such a vivid interpretation of this song! Jessye is one of the best opera singers in the world. It's such a shame she did not take up acting as well!. Just look at her facial expressions! Just love her interpretation!

[@DrStrangeloveII]

Still by far the best interpretation of this song I've ever listened to... RIP Jessye you will be missed

[@timofreeman4574]

My first and most favorite all-around DIVA PRIMA DONNA of all time R.I.P. THANK YOU, QUEEN, for bringing us YOUR GENIUS & BEAUTY.

[@wardropper]

Quite wonderful. Just in case anybody's interested, her pianist is calmly achieving the impossible: Playing all the notes, playing them faster than anybody else and somehow managing to create an incredible atmosphere as well. I hope Norman realizes how lucky she is...

[@MrDarknesslover]

This video must be a reference for the next generations of classical singers. The drama she prints on this master piece is not often seen around the corner. Her voice is a "Mansion of Sounds", there is light and pain in her voice. Rest in Peace , thanks to show us how your soul spoke through your voice.

[@musicfanBRA]

I've watched this clip many times already and I never get tired of admiring her art. The set-up, the way it was filmed in close-up, all add to the effect. One of the very best artistic performances I've seen in my life!

[@floriskata9835]

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind; Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm, Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm."Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?" "Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif?" "Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif.""Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir! Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir; Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand, Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand.""Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht, Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?" "Sei ruhig, bleib ruhig, mein Kind; In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind.""Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn? Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön; Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn, Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein.""Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?" "Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau.""Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt; Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." "Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an! Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!"Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind, Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind, Erreicht den Hof mit Müh' und Not; In seinen Armen das Kind war tot. Who rides so late through night and wind? It is the father with his child. He has the little one well in the arm He holds him secure, he holds him warm."My son, why hide your face in fear?" "See you not, Father, the Erlking? The Erlking with crown and flowing cloak?" "My son, it is a wisp of fog.""You sweet child, come along with me! Such wonderful games I'll play with you; Many lovely flowers are at the shore, My mother has many golden garments.""My father, my father, and do you not hear, What the Erlking quietly promises to me?" "Be calm, stay calm, my child; The wind is rustling the dry leaves.""Won't you come along with me, my fine boy? My daughters shall attend to you so nicely; My daughters do their nightly dance, And they will rock you and dance you and sing you to sleep.""My father, my father, do you not see there, Erlking's daughters in that dark place?" "My son, my son, I see it definitely It is the willow trees looking so grey.""I love you; I'm charmed by your beautiful shape; And if you are not willing, then I will use force." "My father, my father, now he has taken hold of me! Erlking has hurt me!"The father shudders, he rides swiftly, He holds in arm the groaning child, He reaches the farmhouse with effort and urgency; In his arms, the child was dead.

[@sunnylife3374]

Floris Kata so schön

[@tyronejbrowm]

Floris Kata Thank you ! 😊

[@victoire9944]

OMG thanks i needed that for music homework i didn't know what language that is !

[@joaosousaoficial2562]

Brava!!! Amazing the most beautiful harmony between facial expressions and a supreme voice. Jessye Norman is a rare and colossal talent! I love Jessye

[@SilvanyWendel]

Holy piece of art!!! BRAVISSIMO!!

[@guy-tn2ud]

She is a national treasure. I First found Jessye Norman searching for people singing Amazing Grace, her version is truly amazing. Then I found this video. I do not speak German, and knew nothing about the song. She is so good, I could identify all 3 characters, and I knew the child dies in the end. She made me cry. Now Der Erlkonig is one of my favorite pieces. I can listen to opera version, instrumental, violin (Hilary Hahn), Piano, and hard rock versions are great too. But Jessye Norman made me love it first.

[@filippomusenga6274]

this is UNREAL. it's madness how good this is. this should be broadcasted around all the world, instead of some of our popstars. just crazy good. so good. i'm in awe

[@michelemandrioli4720]

I always get a chill at the ending of this song, but I got chills all through this rendition. I am so thankful to have seen her perform live a few times.

[@MrChrisarn]

I cannot get over the versatility of Jessye... Musical buffet! RIP my Queen! Will never forget you!

[@paulj2927]

Jesus.......what a performance! Her power and artful interpretation was other worldly. I wish I'd seen her live.

[@SlyFox616]

This is absolutely fantastic, Norman shows us exactly why she's considered one of the greatest opera singers of her generation!

[@antomontinaro]

Magnificent performance! Norman is the best in this wonderful song! Viva Schubert ! Viva Norman!

[@amandabmtm]

I was here yesterday, today she passed away... RIP Jessye

[@Altonahh10]

This is a very intense interpretation - as could be expected from Norman :-)

[@coloraturaElise]

So wonderful--the great Jessye Norman, with her marvelous face, telling the story..BRAVA!

[@kyleclef]

This is like a singing and acting masterclass all in one. Hear all the different tones she gets from her voices, the variety of ways she sings each word. All of her expression. Tremendous.

[@ajradecki9292]

This is absolutely incredible.

[@jotge.3444]

Ein wunderbares Dokument dieser großen Künstlerin.

[@operalover1010]

In addition to her gorgeous, powerful voice, she was also a tremendous actress - both vocal and physical. Astonishing. Thank you for uploading!

[@juliomiranda8296]

Es impresionante el nivel de emoción que le pone jessye a cada voz, interpretando con tristeza el hijo, con felicidad y desesperacion el padre y con ánimos al narrador. Vaya obra es erlkoning!

[@vanessaatalanta2475]

Just saw in the news that she passed away and had to go watch this video. Rest in peace ♥️

[@marxmovies6607]

My Goodness! I am breathless, almost like her. So impressed. Thank you texmex!

[@kamkuytmit]

I think her voice is perfect and her expression goes beyond perfect along the story, it is so amazing that she is able to change her face expression so fast, especially the part where she changes from the father voice to the child voice. This woman is awesome!!!

[@clemencem8137]

So ausdrucksvoll... eine wunderschöne Interpretation !

[@tea-and-guitars]

This is awesome, her singing and expression. My favorite version. I love how low she can sing and then sing the higher parts just as good, it makes it so unique, I just love it so much!

[@AprendeConMarcela]

Esta pieza la escuché por primera vez en la escuela, y me enamoré de ella. Escucharla de Nuevo con tu voz ha sido un regocijo. ❤

[@Velopod]

That...WAS AMAZING! Beautiful performance!

[@migi3976]

Holy shit this is the best performance of The Erlking that I’ve seen, everything is fucking perfect from the vocals all the way to her acting, the way her facial expression changed for each character nearly convinced me that she indeed was each character

[@heatherlake860]

AMAZING. What a gift to the world! An absolute legacy.

[@annamariabakosi6482]

Igazi dráma...nem művi! Átéli minden rezzenését a zenének! Greatest singer!

[@francette19380]

Oulala, c'est surpuissant, c'est fantastique, j'adore

[@TVDandTrueBlood]

My favorite Schubert singer

[@AdamODell]

Ugh, down the rabbit hole of beautiful JN recordings and I'm loving it. Rest in Peace, you legend

[@DrStrangeloveII]

I was a Schubert fan for years and spent endless hours playing him on the piano. I think this is the best version of Erlkönig I know. Bravo!

[@2111velvet]

Grandios! Und das in meiner Muttersprache .... so überzeugend dargestellt.....höchste Kunst.

[@agustinurbina5231]

Terrific!! Impresionante!!Ehrfürchtig!! :3

[@TBSxDRUMS]

Usually, I like the first version of a song I hear. Right now, this is not the case. I first heard this song by a man and loved it, but Jessye Norman captures the meaning and emotions of the song through her voice and actions and she perfectly switches between the tones of the different "speakers" throughout the song.

[@chronicpaincoalition]

Jessye The Greatest!!! Wunderbar! Wunderbar!

[@zackpoling9662]

Wow! She has such enthusiasm! This lady has quite a voice!!!!!!

[@Ivnnih2774]

Beautiful magnificent performance not only she have very beautiful voice she's also very expressive and passionate I can see the face of worried son reassuring father and the tricky devil by her expression alone truly a beautiful performance

[@DrStrangeloveII]

This such a marvellous interpretation... this is a very expressive piece, and really extreme by its time's standards. This is not a "standard" classical song, and Jessye Norman absolutely nails it. I'm also amazed by her pronunciation/articulation, you hardly notice she's not a native German speaker. This is no minor feat, very impressive. I'd pay a fortune to hear Schubert's opinion on this one...

[@ingridramos9034]

Jessy Norman ist so schon und gefallt mir ist die besten im alle welt.

[@candycottonwithapple]

Oh she's so amazing, I never get tired of listening this song.

[@brandonandashleysherwood9493]

So sad she's gone. She was incredible and this piece shows her versatility.

[@walterbishop3668]

One of the rare times that I like Humans .

[@gggggggggggggggggg161]

sha a superhuman tho

[@KM-ch5gm]

😂

[@ilovechocolatechip]

Wow ... I thought nobody could ever express the three characters of the song as well as Fischer-Dieskau, but the expression here is perfect! Incredible!

[@mariannabastolla8320]

Sono ammutolita,non ci sono parole adeguate per questa creatura divina.

[@solpoda]

It's amazing, incredible how she can express every single word with her face, her body... God!!

[@WashingtonMonster86]

I can't stop watching this... It's so good.

[@scottjohnson9873]

Brava Jessye Norman! She demonstrates wonderfully well the expressions of three personages, two of them in the mind of a sick child approaching death, and the enticement of deaths fate and the father, trying to calm his son. A wonderful Schubert classic. It takes great vocal artristic adeptness to bring it off well. Jessye Norman does this.

[@eitanjakoubovitch3440]

What a voice, what is a technique, how dramatic. The best version of this beautiful lid, although it was written for a tenor... Well done!!!👏

[@ScarlettLime]

Perfect execution of characters. Ms. Norman is quite skillful and expressive. Always a joy. She has done Schubert justice . . . it is as if she wrote the piece herself.

[@miriamri1234]

the most inspiring and touching interpretation i have ever seen! Bravo Jessye Norman.

[@claudiabader2606]

Unglaublich gut. Danke.

[@Hationor]

Jessye Norman is the G.O.A.T. when it comes to stuff like this.

[@Laz3rCat95]

This is my first time hearing this piece performed by a treble voice! Brava!

[@paulbu6003]

Her facial expressions raised this piece to a whole new level!!

[@urbanbenjamin2169]

Rest in peace ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭😭

[@pablos5463]

La conocí hace poco y quede encantado con su voz!! la busqué en internet para saber más de ella y me entero que falleció :( qepd, es mi versión favorita de esta obra.

[@ErinHopeful]

omg... I can't handle this. Jessye Norman is simply incredible. I really like the production aspect of this as well....

[@MichaelDG2023]

She’s so unapologetically over the top in so much that she’s done. My friends and I have a decades-long adulation of her complete with drag parodies. What I appreciate at this stage of my life is that in her fearlessness the rest of us humbler singers are given more freedom to be expressive, to push the envelope, to be “bigger than life.” And isn’t that one of the reasons why we were drawn to this art form in the first place? I felt a need for a vehicle to express the emotions that my mundane environment could never do alone,

[@pianogus]

RIP beautiful diva!

[@TheOperamore]

Rest in Peace Norman! Such a great performer and unique singer

[@testflight6781]

Genius, what a voice and acting, having goosebumps during whole song. And the bassline in instrumental part is haunting and mesmerizing.

[@thequestioningwhy]

Truly the Queen of Lieder.

[@MrSven3000]

this is without any doubt the best ever interpretation of this song.

[@TheClarinetCamerataofMexico]

This is THE superlative, zenith performance of this masterwork. No one else even comes close, except Thomas Quasthoff, but even he defers to Jessye when he teaches this piece in master classes.

[@Senhorespectador]

Terrific... Shivers... God bless you, Mrs. Norman!

[@Mirandamoose]

Stunning, emotional, moving, heartwrenching, terrifying! This is a superb outstanding rendition of Erlkonig by the magnificent Jessye Norman. Tearjerking, I almost fell off my seat! Thank you for posting. I've been emotionally enriched! I need to lie down now in a dark room with ice on my head to recover! Delicious!

[@caridelcaribe6228]

I would give this 100x thumbsup

[@arquetopiainternationalart8326]

Rest in deep peace, Maestra. You were the finest the world has ever known. 1945-2019

[@LokiTheBodhisattva]

This was always my favorite rendition of this piece. Rest in peace, Queen.

[@Tyleya]

Amazing. She preformed this extraordinarily well!!!

[@elysium20]

That was unbelievable...How many parts did she just do?!?!? At one point it almost sounded like she was singing a tenor part too!! That was insane!! BRAVABRAVABRAVABRAVA!!!! The goddess of song!!

[@divamccall198]

All I can say is OMG- WHAT AN INTERPRETIVE. GENIUS