This is a voice and an artist with the uncanny quality of being somehow.... pre-historic. A timbre and approach that is both regal and human at the same time. The voice itself is incredibly cavernous, an almost 'surround sound', something transcendental that gives the already textured Strauss orchestration even more magic than already composed. I cannot explain it in words, but Norman's voice is not alike anything else ever recorded... It has 'it'. The quality that distinguishes greatness from real divinity.
Live in 1985, Jessye Norman sings Ariadne's great monologue Scena the sequence: (0:00) "Wo war ich?" (3:00) "Ein Schönes war" (12:18) "Es Gibt Ein Reich" Ariadne was perhaps her greatest role, and suited the qualities of her voice, her regal stage bearing and sensibilities down to the ground. A voice that was gorgeous in timbre, sensitive, by turns capacious and dark when it needed to be, and silvery and shimmering when the music called for it. One of the great Ariadnes, certainly the greatest in more recent decades. Jeffrey Tate was one of the great Strauss conductors - he always elicits a gorgeous sound from his orchestras, and we hear lovely support from Kathleen Battle as Zerbinetta (more to come!) and Olaf Baer as Harlequin in his lied "Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen" This recording was kindly made available to me by a channel listener called Gordon.
This isn't from the 1985 ROH production, but rather the Metropolitan Opera production conducted by Levine. I played it alongside the DVD, and it's exact. Still great, nonetheless. Stephen Dickson as Harlequin.
Thankyou for pointing this out, my mistake, I was trying to find a full recording of it as I mislaid my tape of the prologue. Have to say I would rather listen to than watch the dvd
I wonder if you've come across her Phaedre? It used to be on here, but it seems that account has been deleted. Thankfully, I saved her "Cruelle mère des amours" but always postponed saving "Quelle plainte en ces lieux m'appelle?" and now it's gone.
Was it live or did she do it on CD? I’m spoiled because I have Lorraine hunt lieberson in my ear when I think of those arias and I’ve never found anyone to compare. But I would be interested to hear Norman in that rep.
Without a doubt, Lorraine reigns supreme as Phaedre. Everyone else is fighting for second. I think she only sang it on stage once, in that production with Gardiner at Aix-en-Provence in 1983. A better audio-only recording used to be on here, but now there's only that terrible video and a series of videos of the whole production that unfortunately cuts the aria in two.
uberragend - in allen schattierungen. großartig.....
This is a voice and an artist with the uncanny quality of being somehow.... pre-historic. A timbre and approach that is both regal and human at the same time. The voice itself is incredibly cavernous, an almost 'surround sound', something transcendental that gives the already textured Strauss orchestration even more magic than already composed. I cannot explain it in words, but Norman's voice is not alike anything else ever recorded... It has 'it'. The quality that distinguishes greatness from real divinity.
Wonderful comment! I agree, she was truly exceptional.
@@greatmomentsofopera7170 -- Indeed.....BRAVA Maestra.....from Mexico City!
Live in 1985, Jessye Norman sings Ariadne's great monologue Scena the sequence:
(0:00) "Wo war ich?"
(3:00) "Ein Schönes war"
(12:18) "Es Gibt Ein Reich"
Ariadne was perhaps her greatest role, and suited the qualities of her voice, her regal stage bearing and sensibilities down to the ground. A voice that was gorgeous in timbre, sensitive, by turns capacious and dark when it needed to be, and silvery and shimmering when the music called for it. One of the great Ariadnes, certainly the greatest in more recent decades.
Jeffrey Tate was one of the great Strauss conductors - he always elicits a gorgeous sound from his orchestras, and we hear lovely support from Kathleen Battle as Zerbinetta (more to come!) and Olaf Baer as Harlequin in his lied "Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen"
This recording was kindly made available to me by a channel listener called Gordon.
My fave, it's the one!! HER VOICE is the only for this magnificent piece of opera
My favourite Ariadne.
This isn't from the 1985 ROH production, but rather the Metropolitan Opera production conducted by Levine. I played it alongside the DVD, and it's exact. Still great, nonetheless. Stephen Dickson as Harlequin.
Thankyou for pointing this out, my mistake, I was trying to find a full recording of it as I mislaid my tape of the prologue. Have to say I would rather listen to than watch the dvd
Thanks for the info! I will remove reference to location to avoid confusion.
Awesome
I wonder if you've come across her Phaedre? It used to be on here, but it seems that account has been deleted. Thankfully, I saved her "Cruelle mère des amours" but always postponed saving "Quelle plainte en ces lieux m'appelle?" and now it's gone.
Was it live or did she do it on CD? I’m spoiled because I have Lorraine hunt lieberson in my ear when I think of those arias and I’ve never found anyone to compare. But I would be interested to hear Norman in that rep.
I found it here - starting about 2:15 ua-cam.com/video/2NBNztYQqRg/v-deo.html
Without a doubt, Lorraine reigns supreme as Phaedre. Everyone else is fighting for second.
I think she only sang it on stage once, in that production with Gardiner at Aix-en-Provence in 1983. A better audio-only recording used to be on here, but now there's only that terrible video and a series of videos of the whole production that unfortunately cuts the aria in two.
The whole thing without the sound cutting out m.ua-cam.com/video/t7MDwq3FTCE/v-deo.html