Rattle's Porgy & Bess II

[@jpaparozzi]

Beautiful beyond words. I have loved this duet and opera since I was a child. Gershwin gave us a taste of the sounds of Heaven!

[@madamerotten]

One of the most powerful, enchanting duets ever to grace our ears and our souls.

[@Gaseoushead]

Porgy and Bess is truly the great American Opera.

[@bangfarang]

This is quite possibly the greatest piece of music ever to come out of the United States, performed beautifully here.

[@kittyburgha]

I can't stop weeping, so heartbraking beautiful.

[@BigTabby33]

Perhaps the definitive treatment of Gershwin's tale of love and loss, this particular performance never fails to make me tear up. Such remarkable performances.

[@andrewtreelog]

Love survives strongest where people are not destracted by their constant longing for more possessions; just have a simple home and their deep love.This clip has stirring emotion in the acting and singing.

[@27elt]

What fabulous voices! What engaging music! Such a pleasure to listen to.

[@WakandaBabe]

Still gives me goosebumps.

[@foxtrotnow]

truly great music. simply beautiful.

[@berowne9]

Sheer perfection. What a gorgeous duet, what phenomenal singers. There's no greater proof than this that sublime art stirs something unique in the human soul.

[@JS-ux5bn]

Quelle émotion tout au long.

[@Soulill0quy]

my heart soars when I hear this specific performance, then I get goosebumps! oh man freaking brilliant!

[@ChaseOnMars]

The vocal performances are absolute perfection! So beautiful, the way the song builds up to (4:15) the 'morningtime and eveningtime's, with the 'hhmmmm's, and the kiss, and time stops completely until the last note a minute and a half later. Just great.

[@301250]

It ain't surprising that given such glorious singing from two singers with magical and heavenly voices in this beautiful opera of Gershwin, both Willard and Haymon, when they performed this at Glynbourne, the bourgeoisie black-tie audience there was reduced to helpless tears. Watching this made me do the same. Some more please. SD Goh (Malaysia)

[@madamerotten]

Amazing... magnificent!

[@FMichaelHansonLaw]

This was an awesome piece of music. Thank you George!

[@23Shinin23]

I am the only one who is deeply struck that music will never return to this beautiful form?

[@dknoeln]

toujours aussi emouvante l'histoire de Porgy et Bess. Très bien interprétéé par ce beau couple

[@JS-ux5bn]

J'adore l'opéra "de Gershwin, chantépar ces deux monstres de la voix" Haymon et White.'

[@Shallimarfox2]

Simply amazing to see and hear such GREATNESS come from such a GREAT and strong culture. I MISS cultured theatre and music.

[@KH_NYC]

greatest american opera ever written! Gershwin is genius, this song has so many perfect melodies, I cant pick a favorite person.

[@jerely04]

That's exactly what I was just replaying 20 times. breathtaking.

[@bangfarang]

When I get around to listing my favorite popular music-to use the term broadly-of the last hundred years, this always makes a quick appearance. I live, and will likely die, in an Asian mountainside forest, and when I think of the United States, my home, this is one of the pieces of music that best represents the beauty of what my country once was, warts and all.

[@ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

Doesn't get any better than this. Brilliant performance of a brilliant composition. Love the rich orchestral textures embracing the voices. I guess this song/aria doesn't receive more recognition because it is decidedly early-to-mid 20th Century: harmonically rich, complex, interesting and never dull or predictable. Perhaps not easily accessible to people used to 18th/19th Century music. Fantastic use of counterpoint and "dovetailing" melody lines. Gershwin was beyond genius. It is obvious that the great Leonard Bernstein listened a lot (!) to Gershwin :-)

[@lyndalarose51]

Sounds like you really know about music - are you a musician?

[@ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

lyndalarose51 Yes I am a professional musician. Mainly an arranger, orchestrator and producer. My main instrument is (of course) the piano.

[@Amelia4144]

Christian Schonberger That's just one reason, other one would be your personal taste and great sensibility. From my own point of view I believe that racism has been the enemy for this big masterpiece could reach a better success in the whole world: black and jewish people, all together? "Too much". I'm a grandmother from Argentina. Regards! Amelia.

[@ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

Julio A. Mendez Yes, of course: my personal taste plays a big role, as is the case with any person - and the music I grew up to (my father was a band leader and jazz musician - his great idol was genius jazz clarinetist/band leader Benny Goodman - a Jewish man who had to form small bands to be able to play with African-American such as Lionel Hampton (vibes and himself band leader) musicians who couldn't play in his big band - times were very bad regarding civil rights in the US back in the 1930s/40s....) which helped form my tastes. Racism... Yeah, too bad this is still an issue as we speak. BTW: I also play the Hammond B3 organ (not remotely as well as my virtuoso idols from the US - which are too many to count) with a gospel choir and a soul/R'n'B band for which I write the horn arrangements here in Europe. I listen to all (!!!) kinds of music from everywhere and I listen to the musicians and their different approaches.

[@gamesport88]

Forget the Preminger film. This production is the money maker right here!

[@OrientalNumber33]

*tear* Stay representing for the Bass-Baritones of the world Willard! Absolutely fantastic art.

[@beaugarsNYC]

I'm CRAZY for this song now! Would you believe that it was Lainie Kazan's version that introduced me to this? After more searching on here, I came up with this version, which has left me spellbound. I "loves" you, Cynthia and Willard!!

[@defyinggravity319]

i saw this movie in 5th grade for music class and i didn't know what the heck was going on! now i am absolutely in love with this! thank you so much for posting!

[@tenorlyrico2]

she does a great job at control.. her tone is so full at the the end even tho she is singing softly...wonderful

[@rovingeye5]

"America" is about collaboration-it's about being inspired by the greatest in all cultures

[@porthrepta]

Absolutely right - that confluence of styles will never occur again. There were others, though, not just Jewish and Black: the European operetta style is in there too, as are styles from Latin America and N. American folk music. And all in one place - New York. It was a peak that popular music is unlikely to reach again.

[@madamerotten]

The highest form of art. Incredibly beautiful.

[@smeriau]

+1 about that. for me, this is the best version of this unbelievable opera, thanks to Willard White & Cynthia Haymon for their brilliant performance here. now....Shhhh ! just listen & enjoy ....

[@monsoonalley]

At 5:08 goosebumps

[@BBRENTTAGHAPP]

absolutely awesome! my youth orchestra is playing selections from this opera and it sounds so amazing in its original form :D

[@rosamarcilio]

Amo essa música!

[@zdevol7]

Nádhera - díky za ojedinělý zážitek - kráné hlasy!

[@Kiana_Bell]

beautiful.

[@davidf0071]

Just perfect! I've been totally entranced for the last 5 minutes and 45 seconds.

[@kittyburgha]

Ahhhhhh heaven

[@4Rachy]

What a gorgeous rendition. A coloratura soprano and a deep baritone (if not basso profundo ) duet. I did not know these two before. OK this is my favorite 'Bess'. Amazing.

[@EudoraPrice]

Wonderful!

[@jvinikour]

Too beautiful for words! Great singing, especially from Sir Willard

[@mezzolia]

Maravilloso...! cuanta dulzura y que bien interpretado....bravo...!

[@littlegiry]

Achingly beautiful.

[@AndweleMusamba]

Bess is so beautiful!

[@jewelmarkess]

This is absolutely beautiful. Great singing and acting.

[@shontabckdat]

I JUSZ SEEN DISZ OPERA FA DA FIRST TYM3 IN MUSIC APPRECIATION..AND I LVE IT..IVE ALWAYS THOUGHT ALL OPERA WAS BORIN TIL I HIT COLLEGE N DISZ IS OFF DA CHAIN!!!

[@jmichaelmuir]

What an incredible, beautiful voice Willard White has! Thanks for sharing this video.

[@Astonyshing]

Brilliant song superbly performed

[@Largo64]

This was just beautiful!

[@DanielShai]

Beauty!

[@Yokandyman]

Just Wonderful

[@robertocozzarin]

Per me è un OPERA, una grande meravigliosa opera post verista del novecento

[@darkprose]

Lovely. Lovely. Thank you.

[@mara235]

breathless - thanks!

[@CrystalFlames]

I love Cynthia Haymon!

[@kortland]

brilliant.

[@toobyu2859]

He seems to do it effortlessly.

[@havanatlc]

I played Oboe 1 in the Production of Porgy and Bess. I love this particular song. Wow quite a terriffic experience. This has been one of the most difficult pieces I have ever played and the most interesting. I think one of the greatest accomplishments of my career so far as an oboist.

[@LadyVocals22]

i wish someone will post this entire opera...i had the peasure of being in one recent production! i just love it!

[@Chromeman]

Just fantastic! Looking forward to see and hear Porgy & Bess myself in the new Oslo Operahouse and the guest performance from Cape Town Opera in August!

[@4Rachy]

@madamerotten What an astute observation. This is a special synergy and beautiful, so beautiful...

[@SusanSingsSongs]

Ah Willard White...a friend of my Mummy...Mum says he was great as a student at the Jamaica School of Music in Kingston, Jamaica.

[@Masicians]

@toobyu2859 It's obviously in playback in order to make this wonderful movie. But you are right, it's quite a great rendition! I'm a student singer (from Madagascar) in a "Conservatoire Supérieur" in France and I hope, one day, I will have the voice to sing Porgy's role. One of my dreams....

[@SusanSingsSongs]

yes plentiful big ups to our fellow Jamaican:0)

[@naydentodorov]

Oh, Gott! GREAT!!!!

[@FancyUnicorn]

Godspeed Music 10. I'm doing the final while I type this!

[@jjmm47]

nice high 'b' at the end

[@sexysucculent]

That's not pathetic, its just the humanity in you.

[@alexandrevlad37]

Great Williard.

[@eagle-canzone1683]

porgija und bessas duets

[@elvenlove]

Cynthia Haymon is currently a professor at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Hurray for the Midwest!

[@madamerotten]

@pphleboman It was the fusion of Jewish European and Black African musical styles that fueled the genius of George Gershwin and others of his era. There is nothing like it being created today.

[@Judill]

@berowne9 Beautifully said. I couldn't agree more.

[@Leni03041958]

@Gaseoushead ti just have found this - great voices ! where is the whole fil /music to find ? I still remember this from my middleschool in Aschaffenburg, Germany - The women part was sung by my girlfried /Classmate B. Rollmann, and the musicleader of the school-choir sung the men part. I learned the parts of B. just by listening to her perfect clear voice, and i wish i could. get the film of the evening . I know the evening was recorded- who knows more about it ?

[@shjakes]

@23Shinin23 Keep hope alive…after the latest Grammy awards where the retro songs made the biggest impact, I hope the message is clear to the young'uns who keep sampling without being original.

[@Yanipooh]

i watch this like everyday...how pathetic of me

[@gamesport88]

Can anyone post Summertime from this production?

[@classyteacherdiva]

Why is Bess so fascinating? Does she really know what she wants? Is it drugs, or a man? Does she want an escape from the trials of life? As Linda Richman would say, let's discuss!

you is:):)

[@thirdunkle]

This is simply some of the most beautiful music ever written and performed as pure sexual intercourse. The interchange in the second half as the male and female vocally dances and weaves, calls and responds, is pure sexual rhythm, the perfect metaphor for life creation and love in musical form---and as erotic, overwhelming, pure and sensual as the best love making. A defining composition of heterosexuality in song and music.

[@312victoriaclark]

@23Shinin23 Don't worry, there are young people (like me) out there determined to keep this music alive. :)

[@spartanpreadtor]

@pphleboman thats radical

[@Yanipooh]

he's jamaican? coolness!! ^_^

[@shontabckdat]

@FATowlie it was jusz 3asy 2 understand..3spaecially wh3n i had a t3ach3r 2 3xplain parts i cudnt understand..but sur3 u can introduc3 m3 2 others...ill lyk 2 luk n2 mor3!

[@TruthSerum101]

@pphleboman Oh, please!

[@822003]

Willard White is Jamaican.

[@Buddhaxe]

This is a wonderful performance... but the lady is not enjoying that kiss at the ending :p

[@johnkbent]

There is still great music being composed, but now it is so much more difficult to get the attention and raise the money. Where would Mozart have been without the Emperor's sponsorship? Even the greats need help getting to the stage. It's so sad, but also unfortunately true.

[@XaMUSEmentX]

teeeheee bess has funny eyebrows l:o great song though

[@TruthSerum101]

@pphleboman God of Jacob? Damned for eternity? What a crock. Anyway, this is a great opera.

[@spartanpreadtor]

@pphleboman ...

[@cuckoo879]

lol, good luck

[@chantdonchant]

They are wonderful. It's too bad they were asked to lip sync their obviously prerecorded track. The unnatural "realism" of their acting undermines the strength of the music... the energy which a singer displays when really singing heightens the drama rather than detracting from it, as the director seems to think.

[@tombarw]

How can that stupid Broadway "version" compete with this? Gershwin's original magnum opus?

[@Saxation1]

@pphleboman i agree that the state of rap is crap these days, but keep in mind that this opera was written by a white Jew.

[@Lebowski53]

Chaps. Easy on the whole African American stuff. Gershwin was a white jewish gent. Music is music is music. Leave it at that.