The Song Continues Master Class: Wagner's "Der Engel" from Wesendonck Lieder, Op. 91

Collaborative pianist Martin Katz coaches contralto Sarah Couden and pianist Nathan Salazar on Wagner's "Der Engel" from Wesendonck Lieder, Op. 91.
Visit bit.ly/1nxfw1S for more vocal master class videos.
The bond between singer and pianist is essential to a great vocal recital. As part of The Song Continues, young singers and pianists strengthen that musical connection when one of the respected authorities on collaborative piano, Martin Katz, brings them together in this public master class.

[@glgree1]

Mr. Katz brought out her artistry. So much of the time we just work on making the sounds... Such a difference when he coached her through it!

[@firewheels90]

So good to hear deeper/lower operatic voices!

[@helmuthuber766]

Gutes verständliches Deutsch! ❤ Herr Katz ist großartig!❤

[@JJKSeattle]

She has a future as a Wagnerian diva! A lovely voice!

[@carnegiehall]

Indeed she does! Thanks for watching.

[@davidofpiano423]

Went to UCSC with Sara back in the early 2000's and she always had such an enviable instrument. She was fantastic back then, but still, how far she's come! Sara, if you're reading this, you sound incredible!

[@clefnoteproductions6695]

I was there, she was wonderful, and the difference was amazing when she scaled back!

[@manthasagittarius1]

So rare . . . something like Tatiana Troyanos -- like a living cello sound. Beautiful intelligent phrasing. She does have wonderful things waiting for her.

[@OsvaCola]

Amazing!!! Lovely voice.

[@christiaandhooghe]

My God......a Rolls Royce of a Voice!!! Such a talent. Reminds me a little bit of Lemieux in 2000. Fabulous middle and top. A rough Diamond, I hope she will take time to grow.....time. Very beautiful.

[@miguelmiranda1329]

Bella voz Sarah Couden, la felicito

[@pippacrash5847]

Great Coaching!

[@ternitamas]

omg that's a real contralto, a rare in these days...

[@dijeanhorton5793]

the beggining caption said that she was a contralto, not a mezzo or a wagnerian soprano. that explains her strong rich low and middle register. i would love to hear more from her.

[@operaticxingenue]

"This is 'Beam me up, Scotty'!" :D

[@rabbibelindasilbert]

Luscious sound! One absolutely bathes in it! A colossal talent!

[@EdnaGuerrerocantayve]

jajajajaj qué hermosa clase! y qué voz tan hermosa la de ella!

[@anitaognyanova1363]

Wonderful voice!

[@pega17pl]

Really surprising how clear German pronunciation becomes at 2nd trial (8:15) after lot of chewing at 1st attempt. Later at 3rd trial Brunnhilde comes a little bit back. Nevertheless thumbs-up to both Sarah Couden and her teacher Martin Katz.

[@ralf-peter.schwarz]

Where is her chest voice hidden!? She has a steam engine but it's not in use. I don't mean it to be loud, but there is so less intensity. Sometimes that glorious voice sneaks around but doesn't show up. You have an incredible talent and physicy, don't hide it. You are gorgeous!!!!!!!!

[@ellarovereto4466]

Why everyone always wants to shush the big voices? Such a rare dark voice and he wants to make her sweet and light. This is not a real nature of this voices. There is lots of passion in this song, not swretnes or lightness...! It was very hard for Wagner to suppress her passion and love for Mathilda Wesendonck. The Engel in this song is playing this role.

[@vayasaberlo8]

Beautiful voice. But no Innigkeit yet

[@dijeanhorton]

A Wagnerian mezzo soprano maybe? i could be wrong she could be a soprano, im not sure?

[@JyotiB70045]

I guess Alto

[@sopranosoprano747474]

Good voice but Opera is not just voice..Feelings ,musicality,culture..I hope she can find a good placement on her top notes.She has no support that is why she is flat..

[@tristanhnl]

Valid points, but remember that big dark voices are VERY hard to capture accurately. Much of the textures, particularly the overtones or 'sharp frequencies' in the tone that "pull" the voice onto pitch are not represented well. All singers with big dark voices I'm aware of have been accused of being flat at one time or another, when they're not. These include Jessye Norman in the recent past and Sondra Radvanovsky today. Chances are if you hear these singers in person they won't be flat at all.

[@sopranosoprano747474]

***** this is not an excuse and there are lots of dark colored huge voices never get flat.she has technical problems that is all.I am sure she will solve it one day but musicality and the wagner soul?this is really difficult to understand.i hope she will find that in the near future..

[@tristanhnl]

Music Perhaps you misunderstand me. I am not saying singers with big dark voices will inevitably sing flat. What I am saying is that their voices don't often record accurately. I am simply pointing out there's the real possibility what you're hearing here on youtube is not an accurate representation of what she's actually producing. You talked about other recordings which show singers not going flat....it's different recording equipment, different quality. You're comparing apples and oranges. How do I know this? I've heard singers live a number of times, singers whom were wonderful and on pitch. I then revisited those performances in recorded media and thought how flat they sounded. It makes a big difference. For Sara I am simply giving her the benefit of the doubt since I wasn't there to hear it live.