Leontyne Price Met Farewell Ovation

January 3, 1985, Metropolitan Opera House live telecast, "Aida," Act III Nile Scene, Price's farewell to the Met and her final performance in an opera. "O patria mia" of course received an extended ovation, and here's that ovation in its entirety; it has been trimmed on subsequent airings of this telecast.

[@Lawrence_619]

my opinion, is just an opinion. But I was a music major in college...and now I make a living, writing for an opera journal. SO, yes...Ive certainly seen my fair share of operas. And Ive traveled abroad as well, to see attend them. Ive met Ms Price, once...I was a kid of 11 yrs old. She sang at my Aunt's high school graduation at a performing arts school in DC, where Im from. And she was among a group of donors who basically helped get the school built. That was many yrs before I decided to settle on an occupation, attached to music. Ive seen her perform on 6 different occasions, as well...
so when I say, that she is the greatest soprano who ever lived...I mean that. And I can say it, without "backslapping Callas, Caballe', Sutherland or Tebaldi. My assessment of her talent, for me, is easy to come by, because Ms Price has VERY RARELY been listed as the #1 greatest soprano...and Im very aware of why that is. its not necessarily a knee-jerk, no-brainer, tocall her that, simply because the standards by which she was/is judged, started, many, many, many yrs ago.MOST people, are not compelled to put a black opera singer on the top of the list, above white women, who are sometimes mentioned in the same breath as the greatest. And so it goes...they're perfectly fine, saying that Ms Price is among the greatest...but they wont say SHE IS the greatest.
she is the greatest in my book, because her repertoire is more extensive than Callas or Sutherland or Caballe'...she's taken better of her "instrument" far better than Callas did, when she was alive...and she took risk after risk, that Caballe' nor Tebaldi, had the nerve to touch. Her body of work is expansive to the degree that Leontyne Price could have very well made a lucrative living, JUST SINGING SPIRITUALS!...AND NOT SINGING ARIAS!. So, her versatility goes without saying.

[@saast123]

This is where the word Diva means everything good and beautiful. Sublime!

[@lucianobezerra4380]

The greatest opera singer of the USA !

[@GeorgeOfZala]

Thank you for everything ❤️ with that beautiful belcanto ❤️

[@CarlosLopez-zc3xb]

For me, this is the best rendition of this aria

[@kellicoffman8440]

Beautiful 🤩 I love the dignity she displays as the audience applauded the last met performance how she breaks down a real love ❤️ of the opera and audience a absolutely classy lady

[@Tigermuc]

Just brilliant! One of the greatest voices of the last century...

[@kenregez1152]

I am blessed to have seen her sing in concert twice. She has that rare and amazing ability to make you feel that she is singing directly to YOU even though there may be 3000 other people in the audience. We are so fortunate to have lived during her time.

[@revk-squared9046]

This is how we stand tall. Thank you

[@coreymulvey6141]

I read a description once of her response to this ovation as “a masterclass in the art of the diva”. Spellbinding to watch and listen to.

[@ronalddade3017]

SHEER PERFECTION and ARTISTRY!!!!

[@andreasmith8509]

For 35 mins they applauded for her fun fact😊❤🎉🎉

[@shucrefadalla8851]

42

[@kroakie4]

I learned something fun. Leontyne is closely related to Whitney Houston (they are first cousins once removed). Talent truly does run in families.

[@santi7616]

sensational unique aida

[@davidsimmons654]

❤❤❤❤

[@wotan10950]

I only saw her onstage twice. Once, as Aida, her signature role. And then Ariadne, an unusual role for her, as I thought she was truly born to sing Verdi and Puccini. Nonetheless, she was a wonderful Ariadne, as well.

[@WarrenHolly]

🙏🏾😔🌹

[@TheDevineFempress]

Listen this is Ah may ZING

[@silvioheil9146]

...wie kann man diese Stimme mit Frau Netrebko vergleichen in dieser Rolle?...Gar nicht