I happen to think this is the greatest recording of this aria other than Sutherland...the same few words over and over and people expect perfect diction and Stanislavski acting...this is OPERA. The feeling is in the music!! She parks and barks and does service to Mozart and gives an intelligent inspired performance that reveals the beautiful mystery of opera!!! Love her!!
Where has she been all my life? Valerie Masterson can easily toss off Mikado ditties of Gilbert & Sullivan, then she transforms into a coloratura diva, conquering one of the most difficult arias in the repertoire. How come I never heard of her in the past 50 years?
Old Comments -------------- bejun: Her voice will shine on forever in grace and beauty D9l3tt: This is SUPERB. This is one of the absolute BEST I have ever this killer of an aria. What a soprano! I had no idea!
In over 50 years of Opera going Valerie is one of the voices that still rings in my ears (for all the right reasons!). I saw her in too many roles to list individually,BUT she was undoubtedly the best (Massenet) Manon I have ever seen.
I've watched Ruth Ann Swenson and Malin Hartelius do this same piece, but sadly neither of them can touch Valerie Masterson.....Masterson's performance was truly MASTERFUL!
What a gorgeous tone... the resonance!!! That's what I was looking for tonight.. was searching for a stirring performance of this monster aria. Wow!!! Pretty amazing. I've never heard of her. Thanks for posting.
linhcba: Valerie Masterson is one of my favourite sopranos. I wonder if she's still teaching or retired? I can image her watching these videos and smiling about all those fabulous moments performing on stage. She's gorgeous and sings beautifully in this video. escaelis: XD She has a sublime voice that is so clear. Only Natalie Dessay as Belleza (in Handel's Il trionfo) can compete
bejun: Now a days she is in the governing body of "British Youth Opera" as vice president and in the artistic committe. I also wonder if she knows her videos are here and if she has watched them. "Valerie, if you read this, send me a message" please, I adore you
I believe a more accurate translation of the anecdote is that he examined the score of the opera and said: What an extraordinary number of notes! Actually a pretty shrewd observation... 🙂
Was it Jozef II who would have said "too many notes"? The idiot. The opera is just perfect. Saw him life in Antwerp few years ago. Would go directly again if possible.
This is the wonderful production,where Blonde had a blonde curly wig and granny glasses. Osmin approached her and tried to seduce her.She told him "I am an Englishwoman" and to prove it she urolled her knitting. She had been knitting a Union Jack!
fuck Anderson is THE GOLD STANDARD. Too bad as far I know she never sang this role in a full opera. Definitely not on any recording, I would go buy it immediately!
![Greedy songbird [English and German subtitles] Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio](/img/n.gif)
Came back today to listen to the lovely voice of Valerie. It brought back a lot of memories.
She is fantastic. These well-trained English opera singers never receive their just due.
She's so underrated. Could you imagine if she were singing today? She'd have a major international career.
I happen to think this is the greatest recording of this aria other than Sutherland...the same few words over and over and people expect perfect diction and Stanislavski acting...this is OPERA. The feeling is in the music!! She parks and barks and does service to Mozart and gives an intelligent inspired performance that reveals the beautiful mystery of opera!!! Love her!!
Where has she been all my life? Valerie Masterson can easily toss off Mikado ditties of Gilbert & Sullivan, then she transforms into a coloratura diva, conquering one of the most difficult arias in the repertoire. How come I never heard of her in the past 50 years?
Fabulous singing. That's such a difficult aria, and she sings it all with such poise.
If you love Valerie, I invite you to join our fan page in facebook
facebook.com/groups/120878589701/ ;)
Old Comments
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bejun:
Her voice will shine on forever in grace and beauty
D9l3tt:
This is SUPERB. This is one of the absolute BEST I have ever this killer of an aria. What a soprano! I had no idea!
SECURITY OF INTONATION ... CLARITY OF ARTICULATION .... doesn't let it panic or faze her - brilliant
Good observation.
Oh Valerie Masterson! You are a Goddess!!! Hats off!
In over 50 years of Opera going Valerie is one of the voices that still rings in my ears (for all the right reasons!).
I saw her in too many roles to list individually,BUT she was undoubtedly the best (Massenet) Manon I have ever seen.
God gave her the talent of singing.. She beyond all
It's hard to compare the two stars but Elizabeth Harewood was good in the role.
VM is gorgeous in all ways.
What a lovely voice. A wonderful Constanze.
SHE'S GREAT!!! CONGRATULATIONS ms. Valerie MASTERson...her last name fits perfectly to her!!
alexXx
Love this. Sang the role in college. You definitely need to hit the showers after this aria. ;)
I've watched Ruth Ann Swenson and Malin Hartelius do this same piece, but sadly neither of them can touch Valerie Masterson.....Masterson's performance was truly MASTERFUL!
אינטרגלקטי מוסמך!🌹
A wonderful artist, a superb Violetta, Gilda, Cleopatra and a stunning interpreter of the romantic French operas such as Faust.
Beautiful voice with strength !
What a gorgeous tone... the resonance!!! That's what I was looking for tonight.. was searching for a stirring performance of this monster aria. Wow!!! Pretty amazing. I've never heard of her. Thanks for posting.
See her in her prime in the Valerie Masterson The Mikado on UA-cam.
Flawless!
Wow, very expressive. She has a lovely instrument, and very beautiful interpretation.
omg seriously!
i fell in love with that area after watching amadeus!
absolutely sublime
Magnifico :-)
wunderschön!
3:19-3:59.
quite possibly some of the best opera ever.
Excellent!!!
So graceful and tender~~
Just .. woow!
Love her! This is amazing Ö
What a wonderful job she did. Brava!
great
linhcba:
Valerie Masterson is one of my favourite sopranos. I wonder if she's still teaching or retired? I can image her watching these videos and smiling about all those fabulous moments performing on stage. She's gorgeous and sings beautifully in this video.
escaelis:
XD She has a sublime voice that is so clear.
Only Natalie Dessay as Belleza (in Handel's Il trionfo) can compete
Stupendous!!
Bravoo
bejun:
Now a days she is in the governing body of "British Youth Opera" as vice president and in the artistic committe. I also wonder if she knows her videos are here and if she has watched them. "Valerie, if you read this, send me a message" please, I adore you
The cage is a nice touch, as the opera is about...well you get it.
Valerie told me that at one performance she turned round and one of the birds had lain an egg!
Fastantic.
Salutacions des de Sabadell,Barcelona.
José Luis
omg this is remarkable amazing!
Bravo Masterson!! Bravo Gruberova!!
It's hard to believe but she was 43 when she did this. She looked about 28.
You can definitely sing the high notes at 43!
@babajaga39 He's referring to the first performance of the opera, when the Austrian Emperor remarked that there were too many notes.
I believe a more accurate translation of the anecdote is that he examined the score of the opera and said: What an extraordinary number of notes! Actually a pretty shrewd observation... 🙂
There are very many notes!
Just cut a few and it'll be perfect...LOL Which few did you have in mind your majesty?> LMAO
A real master.
Those Poor Wond'ring Ones were good practice.
Yes, i know its in the Glyndenbourne Festival Opera Mozart box set, with 5 other Mozart operas.
Was it Jozef II who would have said "too many notes"? The idiot. The opera is just perfect. Saw him life in Antwerp few years ago. Would go directly again if possible.
Ja! Du hast recht !
@ufukulusoy i loved it tooo... which notes do you mean exactly?
This is the wonderful production,where Blonde had a blonde curly wig and granny glasses.
Osmin approached her and tried to seduce her.She told him "I am an Englishwoman" and to prove it she urolled her knitting.
She had been knitting a Union Jack!
wooooo
woo
how can you cut the beginning away?
You didn't catch the joke. It was about Milos Forman's "Amadeus", no his/her opinion :)
Can you please post the other aria also?
"ach ich liebte"
"Ten minutes of ghastly scales and arpeggios, whizzing up and down like fireworks at a fairground."
magsasaka1960 ehmehmehm ... salieri... ehmehmehm....
Hahaha... Amadeus !!
@ufukulusoy yeah :-))
I bet the birds are going wtf is going on?
I am Diva, hear me roar
Lol
SING ALL THE NOTES! :D
CleoGlenn: "I am an asshole; hear me whine like a bitch".
Just one comment, there are too many notes there :)
I think he swallowed a whistle can not remove.
Heiress to Elizabeth Schwartzkopf.
It wasn't written for castrati.
I think he swallowed a whistle you can not remove.
@ufukulusoy haha :) :D
@phenom1sama gagyi. hallgass gruberovát
The staccato is slurred as hell.
That may be the poor recording actually...I have the video and it is clear
she has a nice voice, its really too bad the sustained high C around 5:15 is totally dead, and slightly sharp
June Anderson is better for this song
fuck Anderson is THE GOLD STANDARD. Too bad as far I know she never sang this role in a full opera. Definitely not on any recording, I would go buy it immediately!