Indeed it was a pleasure to have her on the show... She is definitely one of the friendliest guests we've ever had on the show. She even baked cookies for the crew!! Thanks for watching!
Always one of my very favorite singers and she is as sweet in person as she is here! I've never heard anyone say a bad word about her, and isn't that refreshing?!
She's one of the few opera singers I've seen who always radiates joy in her music. I saw her in many of her great roles: Cherubino, Cenerentola, Charlotte, Octavian. Each one was a gift.
Here we see the genuine warmth that we hear in her singing. She credits luck, but that inner beauty is what has carried her through her career. Her voice is glorious, and it has been given to a great person.
Flicka and I were in school together in the 60s at the Mannes College of Music. We knew she was destined for a great career, even back then. To top it off, she is a truly lovely person.
I always thought she was a German lady. Either way she is fantastic. Hearing her perform turned me on to opera !!! Fabulous and so down to earth. Thanks for posting this gem.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview with the enchanting Frederica Von Stade! What a warm, elegant, classy lady! She radiates charm to the North Star! Would that more "entertainers" were like her!
The graciousness of this lady speaks for itself. Sincerity is the setting that shows off the quality, the talent and the sparkle of rare gems. Frederica Von Stade has such a realistic and down-to-earth approach to her career and life . . . it only makes her shine that much more -- delightful!
Thank you, Houston PBS, for making this interview with one of the greatest artists of our times available for viewing on UA-cam. Flicka is so smart, warm, funny and genuine. It must have been a sheer delight to interview her!
@HoustonPBS "She even baked cookies for the crew!!" Everything I learn about this endearing human being makes me love her even more! Ernie did a great job -- asking intelligent questions and responding appropriately and warmly to Flicka's answers.
@HoustonPBS sounds like Flicka! She's never met a stranger. So humble, so kind. She once told me "oh join the club!" when I (a nobody singer) said I was having some technical problems with the voice.
THATS WHERE I DISCOVERED HER! NORTHERN EXPOSURE (wonderful show, showcased so much great music!) YOUR VERSION OF "CHANTS" IS STILL BY FAR MY FAVORITE!...THANX!!!
Flicka is just as beautiful in body and spirit as she has always been. One of the greatest treats of my music journalist career (as Taminophile) was seeing dear Flicka with Joyce Didonato on stage together in a Jake Hegge opera. Also, I would pay good money to see her in A Little Night Music. I recall coaching a singer friend who, at her best, most free, and purest, sounded very much like Frederica von Stade! She had a glorious talent (but, alas, has since succumbed to cancer). Also, hooray for music education! I'm a big supporter of the organization Education Through Music.
I live in the SF East Bay area, and Ms. Van Stade has performed countless benefit concerts for local charities, churches, schools, etc. She also promotes young singers. She even opened up her home in Alameda and hosted "salons" for young artists. She's the opposite of a "diva"!
Always such a delight, and I've seen her perform many time, from her 1st time on the Met stage to last year,but I have to take exception to her comments regarding young singers- muscle memory is all important for them also,&today, it's simply not possible to "learn an aria"& get into a top conservatory much less win the Met Council Auditions. The first takes several years of preparation now& the latter requires years more of training and then moving through the levels of the audition process.
How interesting! I knew von Stade, and opera mezzo, liked show tunes and sang them. I have some of here crossover performances. But I never realized she wanted to be a Broadway performer BEFORE she wanted to be an opera performer! No wonder she does Broadway so well. No wonder she has such a good feel for how to sing show tunes. No wonder she knows how to dial down her voice for lighter material.
I do not think that one has to be balanced, pretty or what many people say of Von Stade "a lovely person" at all to be a gifted singer in opera. Her sound became incredible by the late 80's when the jiggly thing went away entirely. Always a soprano more at either rate she really she did wonders with the voice. Literally all of the trouser rôles undertaken were on every level complete. She managed to be a real charmer in the French rep as well. She just happened to easy going, humorous and non threatening. I think that must have been a huge blessing considering how dramatic the biz is. In rhe audience you could feel the friend energy. Despite the talents out there many could not convey that. Von Stade did.
@TomKaren1994 -about the process today vs 40+years ago? Yes, I do, because I'm involved with it. Even Flicks will tell you that she'd never be admitted to Mannes now with the preparation she had then! She couldn't even read music, which why she wanted to take classes to begin with. Flicka now gives master classes and talks about the differences then and now...
Indeed it was a pleasure to have her on the show... She is definitely one of the friendliest guests we've ever had on the show. She even baked cookies for the crew!!
Thanks for watching!
Always one of my very favorite singers and she is as sweet in person as she is here! I've never heard anyone say a bad word about her, and isn't that refreshing?!
She's one of the few opera singers I've seen who always radiates joy in her music. I saw her in many of her great roles: Cherubino, Cenerentola, Charlotte, Octavian. Each one was a gift.
Here we see the genuine warmth that we hear in her singing. She credits luck, but that inner beauty is what has carried her through her career. Her voice is glorious, and it has been given to a great person.
Flicka and I were in school together in the 60s at the Mannes College of Music. We knew she was destined for a great career, even back then. To top it off, she is a truly lovely person.
She does seem like a truly lovely lady and you just confirmed it.
Flicka, so lovable, warm, close and funny as ever.
Thanks for posting!
I always thought she was a German lady. Either way she is fantastic. Hearing her perform turned me on to opera !!! Fabulous and so down to earth. Thanks for posting this gem.
For a legendary diva, von Stade is astonishingly modest and down to earth.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful interview with the enchanting Frederica Von Stade! What a warm, elegant, classy lady! She radiates charm to the North Star! Would that more "entertainers" were like her!
You're incredible, Ms. von Stade! I wish I could be just like you! Your music is fantastic! Thank you for being an inspiration!
MJ
The graciousness of this lady speaks for itself. Sincerity is the setting that shows off the quality, the talent and the sparkle of rare gems. Frederica Von Stade has such a realistic and down-to-earth approach to her career and life . . . it only makes her shine that much more -- delightful!
Thank you, Houston PBS, for making this interview with one of the greatest artists of our times available for viewing on UA-cam. Flicka is so smart, warm, funny and genuine. It must have been a sheer delight to interview her!
Thank you for posting this here on YT: It has been a pure delight watching.
@HoustonPBS "She even baked cookies for the crew!!" Everything I learn about this endearing human being makes me love her even more! Ernie did a great job -- asking intelligent questions and responding appropriately and warmly to Flicka's answers.
I adore this woman!!!
@HoustonPBS sounds like Flicka! She's never met a stranger. So humble, so kind. She once told me "oh join the club!" when I (a nobody singer) said I was having some technical problems with the voice.
THATS WHERE I DISCOVERED HER! NORTHERN EXPOSURE (wonderful show, showcased so much great music!) YOUR VERSION OF "CHANTS" IS STILL BY FAR MY FAVORITE!...THANX!!!
Thank you for this. A very interesting interview.
I just love her and her talent.
Lovely lady! Always one of my favorites.
Flicka is just as beautiful in body and spirit as she has always been. One of the greatest treats of my music journalist career (as Taminophile) was seeing dear Flicka with Joyce Didonato on stage together in a Jake Hegge opera.
Also, I would pay good money to see her in A Little Night Music.
I recall coaching a singer friend who, at her best, most free, and purest, sounded very much like Frederica von Stade! She had a glorious talent (but, alas, has since succumbed to cancer).
Also, hooray for music education! I'm a big supporter of the organization Education Through Music.
Such a wonderful woman. Great interview!!
I live in the SF East Bay area, and Ms. Van Stade has performed countless benefit concerts for local charities, churches, schools, etc. She also promotes young singers. She even opened up her home in Alameda and hosted "salons" for young artists. She's the opposite of a "diva"!
Great Interview.!She is unique..... Love her.....
Probably one of the best Angelina there ever was! Great lady!
She is a very beautiful person and singer .
Wonderful lady.
She is amazing.
Always such a delight, and I've seen her perform many time, from her 1st time on the Met stage to last year,but I have to take exception to her comments regarding young singers- muscle memory is all important for them also,&today, it's simply not possible to "learn an aria"& get into a top conservatory much less win the Met Council Auditions. The first takes several years of preparation now& the latter requires years more of training and then moving through the levels of the audition process.
what she said of the relationship of singer and voice- as of mother and child, is something that i will keep in my mind.
How interesting!
I knew von Stade, and opera mezzo, liked show tunes and sang them. I have some of here crossover performances.
But I never realized she wanted to be a Broadway performer BEFORE she wanted to be an opera performer!
No wonder she does Broadway so well. No wonder she has such a good feel for how to sing show tunes. No wonder she knows how to dial down her voice for lighter material.
Such a talent
She's adorable! A very great lady!
Interview from Feb. 18, 2007
Wonderful woman!
I do not think that one has to be balanced, pretty or what many people say of Von Stade "a lovely person" at all to be a gifted singer in opera. Her sound became incredible by the late 80's when the jiggly thing went away entirely. Always a soprano more at either rate she really she did wonders with the voice. Literally all of the trouser rôles undertaken were on every level complete. She managed to be a real charmer in the French rep as well. She just happened to easy going, humorous and non threatening. I think that must have been a huge blessing considering how dramatic the biz is. In rhe audience you could feel the friend energy. Despite the talents out there many could not convey that. Von Stade did.
Nice to see she hasn't had any cosmetic surgery...just a nice looking older woman. ;)
even old, she's still beautiful.
"even oldER......"
Her Canteloube Chants d'Auvergne still without match.🌺
I agree.
Semplicemente adorabile!
Not necessarily, some great singer’s families love to go there shows and be moved and blown away. So much for her family, well there loss.
BRAVA, BRAVO ~ BRAVI !!~!
anyone know what year this was?
@TomKaren1994 -about the process today vs 40+years ago? Yes, I do, because I'm involved with it. Even Flicks will tell you that she'd never be admitted to Mannes now with the preparation she had then! She couldn't even read music, which why she wanted to take classes to begin with. Flicka now gives master classes and talks about the differences then and now...
...one of, ...äh, better the best voice for Mahler ever ! LES
This wonderful and incredible woman should be cloned; perhaps i could get a copy?
Frederica: Ich liebe dich. "...lei que sappete che cosa es il amore..". (Esa interpretación no la ha superado nadie)
She has one of the loveliest mezos ever. Diva never.
She's adorable! A very great lady!