Verdi's Aida: Anja Harteros records 'O Patria mia' with Antonio Pappano

[@davidwelch8288]

To all of those who don't care for her voice... I lived in NYC for many years and saw countless operas at THE MET and several of the OONY productions. One of the times I saw The Marriage of Figaro at THE MET, Anja Harteros was singing the Countess. I knew of her, but never heard her sing, live or on recording. So when the curtain raised on her first scene and she began to sing Porgi Amor, I couldn't believe my ears. Talking about suddenly sitting upright! She of course sang the rest of the opera beautifully, but I will never forget how moved I was when I heard her sing that aria. It is one of my great memorable operatic experiences because the incredibly beautiful sound of her voice as well as the perfect way she sang it was so much more unexpected than seeing many other great singers. A lot of voices don't record as well as other voices do. Aprile Millo is another voice that I don't think records well. I never cared for her voice even though I heard many recordings of hers. It just didn't have much of a ring to it when I listened to her recordings. Then after 15 or so years of hearing her recordings, I saw the performance she did of Adriana Lecouvreur with OONY. I went to that mainly to hear Dolora Zajick. I was amazed how different Aprile Millo sounded live. Much, much different than all of the recordings I listened to. She had the gorgeous silvery ring to it that I never heard in recordings. To my ears, the same goes for Anja Harteros. Her incredible silvery tone isn't captured as well on recordings, but she won my heart way back then, so I will always enjoy her singing live or on recording.

[@CallasAfrica]

Yall need to get lives... This is beautiful singing.. It's not price, tebaldi, callas or even millo and that's ohk... It's Anja and there's room for this aida in my collection at least... I love her

[@davidwelch8288]

I agree. I posted this as a regular comment but I also wanted to copy it for you, Vicky... " I lived in NYC for many years and saw countless operas at THE MET and several of the OONY productions. One of the times I saw The Marriage of Figaro at THE MET, Anja Harteros was singing the Countess. I knew of her, but never heard her sing, live or on recording. So when the curtain raised on her first scene and she began to sing Porgi Amor, I couldn't believe my ears. Talking about suddenly sitting upright! She of course sang the rest of the opera beautifully, but I will never forget how moved I was when I heard her sing that aria. It is one of my great memorable operatic experiences because the incredibly beautiful sound of her voice as well as the perfect way she sang it was so much more unexpected than seeing many other great singers. A lot of voices don't record as well as other voices do. Aprile Millo is another voice that I don't think records well. I never cared for her voice even though I heard many recordings of hers. It just didn't have much of a ring to it when I listened to her recordings. Then after 15 or so years of hearing her recordings, I saw the performance she did of Adriana Lecouvreur with OONY. I went to that mainly to hear Dolora Zajick. I was amazed how different Aprile Millo sounded live. Much, much different than all of the recordings I listened to. She had the gorgeous silvery ring to it that I never heard in recordings. To my ears, the same goes for Anja Harteros. Her incredible silvery tone isn't captured as well on recordings, but she won my heart way back then, so I will always enjoy her singing live or on recording.."

[@jwh6185]

I just heard/watched this and I have to say the Oboe is the star here. She drops a note and continues to oversings. Yes, beautiful voice but some phrasing might help her perfect her instrument.

[@petergraham8681]

A real discovery for me. One of the greatest O PATRIA MIA interpretations I have heard in these recent years. Truly remarkable.

[@ohmy5650]

Great moment of music making by all and each of these mindful professionals aiming wholeness. When we've already heard and enjoyed historical versions, this one comes next.

[@natalynejinsky1539]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[@lukasmiller486]

Why all the negative comments??? I've just listened to this and Anja Harteros sounds magnificent! Her voice is rich, soft, velvety and even in all registers. Her use of portamento is smooth. Her dynamics are excellent. Her diction is superb and she makes every "Mai piu ti rivedro" sound a little bit different for drama, depth and resonance. Are you guys just clinging to the past because I can't for the life of me hear anything lacking in this performance. Yes, Maria Callas and Leontyne Price put a firm stamp on this role but Anja is no slouch either!

[@diegovazquezreal1078]

4:09 - 4:19 = definition of CONSTRICTION

[@Altonahh10]

Es gibt einige gute Aidas - warum sollte man diese nun kaufen??

[@wotan10950]

Harteros wouldn’t be my first choice for an Aida recording. Nonetheless, she is very good. And I don’t pine for dead singers; they had their day.

[@fiesco7]

IMO, Price and Millo were the best at tackling this very difficult aria.

[@denisrapp2441]

Magnifique ce Patria mia

[@PerseodiMai]

do you realise she is not filmed when she reaches the high C? that high note was added, with the help of a not so good sound engineer.

[@idameyer5530]

I am absolutely amazed at all these bright spark's comments! I take it you are all super trained opera singers of note to be such "know it alls". You are all stuck in the past and quite frankly obviously so engrossed in your own "knowledge" that it borders on the pathetic! There, I said it to all you painfully clever critics out there!!

[@save312]

Ida Meyer la Harteros non canta proprio benino eh .....

[@ercheche8486]

she is not an artists, just a tasteless housewife with a remarkable common voice , incapable to deliver a piano in good conditions, and yes , i am a profesional,

[@davidwelch8288]

A professional what? Asshole? I don't believe for a second that you are a professional artist. If I am wrong and you are an artist, you certainly are not liked by your colleagues. Artists don't talk about other artists the way you do.

[@cursumperficio100]

Brava! Really beautiful!

[@teresamogollon9242]

Qué problema con los camarógrafos!!Deberían conocer mejor las obras antes de enfocar las cámaras donde no corresponde.

[@toy2day1]

2:14

[@PerseodiMai]

voce fuori repertorio. e quel do 6 che cosa ė un miaogolio? mala tempora currunt

[@arturoonzari5402]

non é un vero Do ! miagolio come un gatto

[@ruthbat-leah4078]

Best version. Most musical and stylistic sense of all the ones I've heard.

[@wotan10950]

I wouldn’t go that far! There are better recordings. But Harteros and Kaufmann are still outstanding.

[@normanjones07]

She can leave Aida well alone. Flat as a pankake.

[@violetavalery]

Sorry, Verdi Is not sung like this! Go listen Tebaldi, Price, Milanov, Ponselle.

[@jaroslavsojka8266]

In my opinion, the voice of Mrs Harteros is already a little bit damaged.... Singing is a very difficult work..... Some voices damage rather quickly.....

[@Zashorigin]

Mis Harteros has a nice voice but sorry... even Mr. Pappano with all his knowledge couldn't help her here. I loved her fresh voice when she came on the spot. Now it is engaged and not free. High C was a tight straight note and wrong placed. Pianissimi and portamentos aren't there. Sorry... not a good enough Aïda. If this is an expensive first class singers, then besides been better than any soprano and tenor today, what were Leontyne Price or Montserrat Caballe and Placido Domingo or Luciano Pavarotti and many other that belonged in that category???... I guess singing Goddesses and Gods... because the first class singers today belong to a choir next to those of the past. God, I miss going into a theater and listen to that kind of singing!!!

[@puppi1974]

+Hero Music & Opera @Hero..Ildiko Cserna soprano

[@Zashorigin]

***** On Pitch isn´t good enough. It wasn´t pretty and leave straight notes to 10 years old boys. Thank you! And... Aïda isn´t exactly lyric. It is for a Verdian soprano which means more than a liric. There are places where it isn´t lyric AT ALL. So... no, it is for a spinto soprano. And Ms. Harteros has a beautiful voice but this wasn´t good enough.

[@Zashorigin]

***** You are out of your mind if you even dare to think she´s a better Aida than Milo was. Even Montserrat was a superb Aida. Recordings flatten her voice"... and chickens have lips!... Please, stop the crap! She has a nice voice but this isn´t her role and the note was flat, straight and far from beautiful, PERIOD! "Milo sings more or less a different note entirely" ... it is official... you´re clinically DEAF!

[@Zashorigin]

***** To finish my point, if you don´t like my opinion, then you´re in trouble cause I´m not going to change my mind. Yes, I have heard them ALL live. That´s why I can talk. And third... here are my manner... go fuck yourself!

[@Zashorigin]

***** No... I saw and heard you instead! I live in Germany you, fluffhead!!! I´ve seen her several times and I don´t give a fuck if you believe it, Mr Pee!

[@KmwAmg]

Why ????????

[@mugrad25]

lmao

[@Nidoamor]

No purtroppo no

[@ransomcoates546]

Orrore!!

[@gudrunt285]

Jedenfalls Ausdruck stark, nicht wie Netrebko nur laut

[@ercheche8486]

The most boring soprano ever, she feels no emotion , voice is grey , superficial and common, not an artist. She is not a good actress and not elegant, better go to sleep to the theater

[@Shahrdad]

I don't think this is the right repertoire for her voice.

[@bodiloto]

vocalità poco adatta à questo capolavoro. non mi piace affatto.

[@rodrigoorrego7866]

Assolutamente, nessuna voce Verdiana, questo si ha perso, peccato. La Aida piu noiosa che ho ascoltato fino desso. Kaufmann e un bravo tenore tedesco e francese, ma in repertorio Verdiano , solo l’Otello. La voce e troppo baritonale, gli manca lo Squillo lirico. Dio che noia!

[@iloveopera1951]

Very poor rendition

[@supersuper7878]

This is wrong on so many levels, so sad what has happened to opera.