Has anybody payed attention on the age of the soprano???? She was born in 1928 and the video is from 1987. 59-60 depending on the month. IT'S TRULY AMAZING HOW HER TECHNIQUE IS SUPPERBLY SOLID!!!!! BRAVA PILAR!!!!! I hate translations but this was the first time I heard this duet and got attached to it in German...Go figure!
Leech is untouchable here! I saw him in Carnegie Hall do a tribute to Lanza concert. Then a few days later, I met him in a Tower records(Lincold Ctr...closed now as are all Towers)he was buying a Luisa Miller recording(studying it perhaps)anyways, he was very nice 2me. He had already left the Opera/Classical dept & I tried 2 catch him 2 chat. I though damn it's to late! But I didn't give up. I caught up w/him. He was kind enough to come back 2me & really chatted w/me:) Very nice person! Awesome!
Lorengar a los 63 seguía siendo una gran cantante y una mujer guapa. También es cierto que treinta años antes era un bellezón y seguramente la voz más bonita del siglo XX.
A mí siempre me ha parecido una soprano de segunda fila...una voz no excesivamente bella y con un vibrato particular. Voz apañadita, simpática y sin mucha proyección internacional al quedarse fija en Berlín, cometiendo atrocidades artísticas como cantar óperas italianas o francesas en alemán...como está que cantan.
I remember watching this when it was first broadcast on PBS and being thrilled and amazed. In the late 80s and early-mid 90s, Richard Leech was probably the best tenor in the world, with a beautiful resonance throughout his range and thrilling, ringing high notes. I saw him in Rigoletto at NYC Opera in 1988, shortly before his Met debut. He was great. Clips from the PBS telecast of that production are on UA-cam. Leech was truly a very special talent in his prime, as short lived as that was.
This is absolutely some of the best tenor singing I've ever heard. That high voice is beautiful, perfectly produced and seems REALLY easy....WOW! There is such a lilt in Leech's voice here, it reminds me of the early 70's with Pavarotti's singing of the bel canto repertoire. I've often wondered if Leech's excellent career was in the same class as his more famous counterparts, the 3 tenors. There is NO doubt that, for at least this performance, Richard Leech was as good as any tenor alive.
txtenor Sorry to tell you my friend.Richard Leech voice was very good.I always found his voice very GERMANIC/NORDIC. He lacked warmth & passion.He pushed his voice due to misdirection etc.He had a very promising career but sadly he started losing his voice early.Like you stated he shined in this duet & then it dimished as quickly as it came.Madame Lorengar had longevity due to her staying within her limitations.But. Leech were singing today he would of had a GREAT CAREER.Sadley Hadley made similar mistakes & he ended his life which is sadness beyond description. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
This is just extraordinary! What great, great music sung by two thrilling singers. This along with Corelli and Simionato's rendering of this are PLATINUM recordings in my book. Bravi
As I said, Richard leech was at one time the best tenor in the world. As you can tell from this clip, he once had an extremely beautiful voice. Of all the supposedly great young tenors who have been hyped over the last 25 years, only Richard Leech really deserved to be. Most of the rest have been mediocre at best. In the early 90s Leech, Fleming and Ramey basically played the great opera houses of the world as the Faust "Dream Team." And they were! But then his voice began to change...
I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Leech and Ramey perform Faust at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. It was my second time seeing Richard Leech perform (lucky me!). Leech was my very first opera in San Diego, California. Faust.What an introduction to the art form! I was mesmerized!
Thanks Divo for the information as to when and where this beautiful duet was performed by these two great singers- I don't guess that Richard Leech still sings, but we would have been the poorer without this video..
It didn´t hurt that the performance was in German - Meyerbeer was German. And who cared about language and lyrics when two singers are THAT convincing. Leech became a star in Berlin and after this duet the audience was always going berserk.
Altonahh10 As they should.Madame Lorengar had a great voice well into her 60s.I always considered her a Spinto. Leech was stellar then he started losing his voice for cross singing. GREAT POST THANK YOU.I have this in tape MET GALA Richard Tucker award celebration. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
This is thrilling singing by both artists- what a beautiful sheen Leech had to his voice and she is so musical. The conductor is Bonynge. Bravi singers and thank you schicchi1160 for posting.
Ist es nicht vollkommen egal, wenn man vielleicht nicht jedes Wort versteht, wenn man so wunderbare Stimmen hört? Pilar Lorengar hat nie wirklich gut Deutsch gesprochen, aber immer wundervoll gesungen. Ich finde es sagenhaft, wie Richard Bonynge die beiden Sänger aber sowas von ignoriert, als wenn sie gar nicht da wären. Was hätte er wohl gemacht, wenn er nicht so sattelfeste Sänger gehabt hätte? Richard Leech war einfach großartig!!
I owning a recording of Berlioz "La Damnation de Faust" made in the late 80's/early 90's I think with Richard Leech as Faust (M.S.O./Dutoit) absolutely the finest intrepretation I have ever heard, his singing of this role was perfect, shame he deteriorated soon after that.
I've seen both in the "Huguenots" production in Berlin 3 times. Amazing he never became the superstar he was supposed to be. The Berlin production is available on DVD. But watch out - it's in German.
To caro2653: There is a clip of Leech singing "Pourquoi me reveiller" from the 1998 Tucker Gala. That's about 11 years after this clip here. While it is certainly not a bad performance (in fact it's good), you can hear that his voice doesn't have anywhere near the beautiful, resonant sound it has here, at least not in the mid range. His high notes still ring out, though. His voice declined even further after this. This is not to be critical. Its just an observation. I love Leech.
I began to notice by the late 90s that, while his high notes still rang and sounded good, he was losing that brilliant, beautiful sound throughout the rest of his range. It had become a very dry sound, and the tonal beauty was gone. I was very sad about this, because I really thought he was going to be THE next great tenor. He was a Tucker Foundation winner who was destined for superstardom. But it didn't happen. But young Richard Leech will always be one of my all time favorite tenors.
Yes, Lorengar and Leech did a production at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin together. And since Meyerbeer was a Berliner who migrated to France, it was a convincing idea to do that production in German
Brava Lorengar, 63 years old, elegant and with a clear voice. The excessively histrionic tenor, it gives me a headache to listen to, his tense jaw demonstrates the technique of high larynx and closed throat, like the singers of today (modern technique)
She was born in 1928- this was 1987. So she was 59 or 60 (depending on the month). Still- superb technique and rock solid at an age when most sopranos are thinking about retirement
![JAUME ARAGALL & PILAR LORENGAR [O soave fanciulla]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gT6_Fkn4uKQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Stunning and extraordinarily committed singing. Take note young singers. Good enough, just won’t get you where you want to go!
Has anybody payed attention on the age of the soprano???? She was born in 1928 and the video is from 1987. 59-60 depending on the month. IT'S TRULY AMAZING HOW HER TECHNIQUE IS SUPPERBLY SOLID!!!!! BRAVA PILAR!!!!! I hate translations but this was the first time I heard this duet and got attached to it in German...Go figure!
Leech is untouchable here! I saw him in Carnegie Hall do a tribute to Lanza concert. Then a few days later, I met him in a Tower records(Lincold Ctr...closed now as are all Towers)he was buying a Luisa Miller recording(studying it perhaps)anyways, he was very nice 2me. He had already left the Opera/Classical dept & I tried 2 catch him 2 chat. I though damn it's to late! But I didn't give up. I caught up w/him. He was kind enough to come back 2me & really chatted w/me:) Very nice person! Awesome!
Lorengar a los 63 seguía siendo una gran cantante y una mujer guapa. También es cierto que treinta años antes era un bellezón y seguramente la voz más bonita del siglo XX.
Pero qué si natural más soberbio en 7:15, ¿eh?
A mí siempre me ha parecido una soprano de segunda fila...una voz no excesivamente bella y con un vibrato particular.
Voz apañadita, simpática y sin mucha proyección internacional al quedarse fija en Berlín, cometiendo atrocidades artísticas como cantar óperas italianas o francesas en alemán...como está que cantan.
I remember watching this when it was first broadcast on PBS and being thrilled and amazed. In the late 80s and early-mid 90s, Richard Leech was probably the best tenor in the world, with a beautiful resonance throughout his range and thrilling, ringing high notes. I saw him in Rigoletto at NYC Opera in 1988, shortly before his Met debut. He was great. Clips from the PBS telecast of that production are on UA-cam. Leech was truly a very special talent in his prime, as short lived as that was.
I´ve seen him twice in the Berlin production of Huguenots - with Lorengar - and he was driving the audience to a frenzy with that voice.
This is absolutely some of the best tenor singing I've ever heard. That high voice is beautiful, perfectly produced and seems REALLY easy....WOW! There is such a lilt in Leech's voice here, it reminds me of the early 70's with Pavarotti's singing of the bel canto repertoire. I've often wondered if Leech's excellent career was in the same class as his more famous counterparts, the 3 tenors. There is NO doubt that, for at least this performance, Richard Leech was as good as any tenor alive.
txtenor Sorry to tell you my friend.Richard Leech voice was very good.I always found his voice very GERMANIC/NORDIC. He lacked warmth & passion.He pushed his voice due to misdirection etc.He had a very promising career but sadly he started losing his voice early.Like you stated he shined in this duet & then it dimished as quickly as it came.Madame Lorengar had longevity due to her staying within her limitations.But. Leech were singing today he would of had a GREAT CAREER.Sadley Hadley made similar mistakes & he ended his life which is sadness beyond description. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
Beautiful!
Pilar Lorengar's glorious voice!!!!
For me- two of the greatest voices I've ever heard.
One of the very best opera clips on YT.
They are both sublime!
What a fabulous voice Leech had here, the audience sure thought so too! His range is just amazing.
I remember seeing this duet in the 80s & I must say it is a Tour De Force. 🎵🎶🎹 by any standard. BRAVI Arnold Bourbon Anaral
This is brilliant in any language. What I wouldn't give to see Pilar and Leech sing today!
socosmic1 WORD!
Leech voce scintillante chiara con acuti magnifici. Mi ha affascinata. Bravissimo. Mari
Blimey, that`s superb.
WTF! Why have I never seen this before! Unbelievable singing!!! AMAZING! I official love Lorngar!
Jeffery Hunter And she was very beautiful as well.💙🎻🎹🎶🌹
This is just extraordinary! What great, great music sung by two thrilling singers. This along with Corelli and Simionato's rendering of this are PLATINUM recordings in my book. Bravi
There are MANY recordings of this duet in German, from Destinn and Jörn to Teschemacher and Wittrisch (which is spectacular).
As I said, Richard leech was at one time the best tenor in the world. As you can tell from this clip, he once had an extremely beautiful voice. Of all the supposedly great young tenors who have been hyped over the last 25 years, only Richard Leech really deserved to be. Most of the rest have been mediocre at best. In the early 90s Leech, Fleming and Ramey basically played the great opera houses of the world as the Faust "Dream Team." And they were! But then his voice began to change...
I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Leech and Ramey perform Faust at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. It was my second time seeing Richard Leech perform (lucky me!). Leech was my very first opera in San Diego, California. Faust.What an introduction to the art form! I was mesmerized!
Non sbagliavo quando ho ascoltato con interesse la voce di Leech. E ' veramente bravo ...Mari
Everyone is going on about Leech here and he is stunning but Lorengar is 60!! Who sounds like this at 60 in music this difficult?
Peter Callahan Nebtrebko did @ 30. Time is linear my friend.
Answer is only Lorengar!
Einfach genial
precioso duo
Thanks Divo for the information as to when and where this beautiful duet was performed by these two great singers- I don't guess that Richard Leech still sings, but we would have been the poorer without this video..
This is absolutely great!
It didn´t hurt that the performance was in German - Meyerbeer was German. And who cared about language and lyrics when two singers are THAT convincing. Leech became a star in Berlin and after this duet the audience was always going berserk.
Altonahh10 As they should.Madame Lorengar had a great voice well into her 60s.I always considered her a Spinto. Leech was stellar then he started losing his voice for cross singing. GREAT POST THANK YOU.I have this in tape MET GALA Richard Tucker award celebration. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
BRAVO !!!!!!!!!
This is thrilling singing by both artists- what a beautiful sheen Leech had to his voice and she is so musical. The conductor is Bonynge.
Bravi singers and thank you schicchi1160 for posting.
fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ist es nicht vollkommen egal, wenn man vielleicht nicht jedes Wort versteht, wenn man so wunderbare Stimmen hört? Pilar Lorengar hat nie wirklich gut Deutsch gesprochen, aber immer wundervoll gesungen. Ich finde es sagenhaft, wie Richard Bonynge die beiden Sänger aber sowas von ignoriert, als wenn sie gar nicht da wären. Was hätte er wohl gemacht, wenn er nicht so sattelfeste Sänger gehabt hätte? Richard Leech war einfach großartig!!
Dem kann ich nur zustimmen. So gesungen, weiß man weil man so gerne in die Oper geht. Möchte das Duett als Sternstunde bezeichnen. Gänsehaut!
I understand you completely!! WHAT A SOLID TECHNIQUE! and talk about that sharp resonance at 5:23!!!!!! OMG! BLEW THE HOW AWAY!
QUE GRANDES CANTANTES
This was the Richard Tucker concert even that Richard was a recipient of awards in the great tenor's name.
Bravissimi ,anche se non capisco una parola !meno male che la so' in italiano!!! Pero'apprezzo il bel canto ed e' cantata benissimo!!!!!!…….....Mari
I owning a recording of Berlioz "La Damnation de Faust" made in the late 80's/early 90's I think with Richard Leech as Faust (M.S.O./Dutoit) absolutely the finest intrepretation I have ever heard, his singing of this role was perfect, shame he deteriorated soon after that.
Leech.said when he sang Huganots in Europe was when he knew he was going to make it. I knew he would a few years earlier.
Is this from a published video that I can buy somewhere? I’d so love to own it and have it in sharper video and likely even better sound.
I've seen both in the "Huguenots" production in Berlin 3 times. Amazing he never became the superstar he was supposed to be. The Berlin production is available on DVD. But watch out - it's in German.
Altonahh10 oh no I forbid language!!!
Schicchi1160, can you tell me where this is from and when? s that Richard Bonynge conducting?
tottaly...
To caro2653:
There is a clip of Leech singing "Pourquoi me reveiller" from the 1998 Tucker Gala. That's about 11 years after this clip here. While it is certainly not a bad performance (in fact it's good), you can hear that his voice doesn't have anywhere near the beautiful, resonant sound it has here, at least not in the mid range. His high notes still ring out, though. His voice declined even further after this. This is not to be critical. Its just an observation. I love Leech.
operafan64 well he couldn't break his drug habit and then he started drinking and gained a lot of weight and lost even more hair. 😢😂😘
where was this concert??
Carnegie Hall.
When was this?
Matthew Coakley 1987 😳 my friend. I have it on video tape because I'm old. 👴👱
is that Bonynge?
Ale SC no I think it's his mother. Such a control freak.
I began to notice by the late 90s that, while his high notes still rang and sounded good, he was losing that brilliant, beautiful sound throughout the rest of his range. It had become a very dry sound, and the tonal beauty was gone. I was very sad about this, because I really thought he was going to be THE next great tenor. He was a Tucker Foundation winner who was destined for superstardom. But it didn't happen. But young Richard Leech will always be one of my all time favorite tenors.
operafan64 😢 please stop I dare no longer stay. I can not endure the pain. ADIO
Why is this in German? Anyone know?
I believe the two of them - and Leech for sure - had just sung the opera in a production in Germany.
Yes, Lorengar and Leech did a production at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin together. And since Meyerbeer was a Berliner who migrated to France, it was a convincing idea to do that production in German
Daniel Gundlach it was God's will my friend you cannot fight the will of the Lord!!!
I prefer the Italian version with Corelli
circa 1961 at La Scala
Maria McMahon DeMeo oh Maria please stop. I too would prefer it in Vulcan.
No one cares.
Bello molto cartecipi all'opera tutti e due !!! Peccato che sia cantato in Tedesco!!!!!!.....peccato poiché' sono bravissimi .....Mari
Richard Leech was really good for a while, but his prime was too short. He developed a terrible wobble and had to shout to overcome it. A shame.
Brava Lorengar, 63 years old, elegant and with a clear voice. The excessively histrionic tenor, it gives me a headache to listen to, his tense jaw demonstrates the technique of high larynx and closed throat, like the singers of today (modern technique)
She was born in 1928- this was 1987. So she was 59 or 60 (depending on the month). Still- superb technique and rock solid at an age when most sopranos are thinking about retirement