Kathleen Battle: Surviving The Battle
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- The tale of Kathleen Battle's life is one of peaks and valleys: filled with beautiful arias and dark moments of decent and treachery. Yet Kathleen comes out on top.
Disclaimer: We do not own the rights of some footage. All borrowed footage is protected under the Fair Use Act of 1976 and is being used for educational purposes.
Citation: "Gone With the Wind" owned by Warner Brothers
I saw Kathleen Battle when she performed here in Vienna several years ago. I was a voice student at the time and could only afford one of those cheap standing room only tickets way up in the rafters at the back of the theater. But even from such a far distance her voice was so pure and silvery that it rang throughout the entire theater like a bell! After her finale, the audience was so enthralled that they applauded for several minutes and absolutely REFUSED to allow her to leave the stage. She had to give one encore after another.
After the concert I joined the very long line that had formed to get her autograph. I was the last person in line and waited very patiently for maybe an hour or so until it was finally my turn. The two people in front of me were Asian tourists, and they were so enthusiastic that they begged Miss Battle for a photo. Before she even had time to answer they had crowded around her and almost bullied her into the picture. She was trying to be as gracious as she could, but you could tell she was just exhausted after the concert and didn't have the energy to resist being pulled this way and that. So she obediently submitted to be photographed by the couple, who had already taken several pictures with or without her consent. I felt so sorry for her!
After they had finished having their way with her, I walked up to her and respectfully asked if I could have an autograph. She looked up at me with a forced, exhausted smile and signaled for my program to sign. While she was signing I apologized to her for the demanding behavior of the tourist couple. She just looked at me, handed me back my signed program and said some well-rehearsed line like "thank you for your concern" or something to that effect - without any feeling or emotion whatsoever. You could tell she's been violated many times before in such a manner.
I was the last audience member still there, so I thanked her and headed outside to my car. As I started the engine and began driving around the building to exit to the main road, I saw a small, lonely figure exit through the back door of the concert theater. I watched as the tiny figure crossed the road, carrying a huge duffle bag over her shoulders. It was none other than Kathleen Battle herself! I watched as she carried her heavy duffle bag, no doubt containing her dress and other accessories for that night's performance, cross the road and then entered through the side door of the Hotel Imperial adjacent the concert theater. She then disappeared inside.
A few years before one of my friends, also an opera singer, revealed to me that he has the loneliest job in the world. He flies constantly from one city to the next, and after each recital he returns to his hotel room, has a bite to eat and then goes to bed all alone. There's no one to talk to, no time to go sightseeing, no friends to entertain you. You quarantine yourself all day in your hotel room so you don't catch a cold and have to cancel a concert, thereby leading to lost wages. You then get up the next day and repeat all over again. This was undoubtedly Kathleen Battle's fate that night.
Thank you for sharing this. This made me tear up reading it. I am sure there is so much more to her than the stories/rumors that we may never know.
This is one of the truest comments that I have ever read about the life of a Singer, and certainly the most sympathetic towards Miss Battle.
I met her once after a recital in Spain and she was so charm!
Thank you for sharing your extraordinary and extremely brilliant moment in time spent with one of my most favorite inspirational voice’s able to be heard singing in person at this current time.
I don’t think I could be able to capture the same amount of control while sitting in the car confirming that the lady walking in front of you was in fact Ms. Battle! It’s a wonderful wonderful reminder that she too is just another person blessed with an outstanding gift that she had already found a way to invest.
😂😂😂
I can only speak from my experience. I was able to meet her after a recital in her hometown and she was nothing but kind to me. I was cautioned about meeting her, but I simply had to meet one of the voices that inspired me to do what I do.
What a pleasure!
I live in her hometown and I see her in Walmart once in a while. Yes she shops Walmart.
She comes in after buying a lot of things then goes off to her home where she lives and returns a month later to get her money back. She’s rude to the manager because she can’t find her receipt.
She’s acts like she’s better then anyone else too. Sorry I don’t like anyone that acts that way no matter who they are.
@@alfreda2711does she still come around these days? How does she look?
@@DemureAndMindful She’s gained a lot of weight but a lot of people do that once they get past 60. When ever I do see her it’s aways in Walmart or in a restaurant.
She was beautiful but I can say truly that she was appreciated solely for her voice. I don't think anyone thought of her as a fem-fatale. Certainly not other young singers- we wanted to BE her. Back then people bought records / CD's and listened to them over and over. I spent hours listening, not watching, her. Her voice was so unique. I would not have cared what she looked like. Being beautiful was just a lucky coincidence.
I LOVE your comment!
Oh, but seeing her performances?!, the visual along with her voice served to elevate what was being communicated. I loved her voice, who wouldn’t; yet, seeing her express what the words were to make we, the audience (and of course her) feel, transcended her exquisite vocalist talent to something solely (and soulfully) human. For example, when she sang, “Lord, How Come Me Here?” To this day when I hear her sing it, I fight back tears each time, and I have listened to it for more than a decade. And I can still see her singing it in my mind’s eye.
agreed very expressive and excellent actress on the opera stage. She held absolutely nnothing back. 110% every moment! @@zhenshanren6249
Same 🙋🏽♀️with my headphones plugged into my CD Player I would listen on endless repeat to catch every nuance, absorb the undefinable beautiful quality of her voice. And on top of everything she is such a beautiful lady. Had the fortune of seeing her (up close) several times being a New Yorker
@@melissabx7807 wow 🤩!!!
I was at that concert in 2016. It started 45 minutes late but it was great.
I sang in the May Festival with her and she was kind, charming and exceptionally talented. She was my voice teachers roommate and when she’d answer the door she was shy in the extreme. Her vocal musicianship is perfect and I listen to her vocal interpretations and imitate them in my harp repertoire. She is one of the most advanced artists of our time. I do not believe she holds other artists to any standard higher than that to which she holds herself, and she is a perfectionist. That is troubling to many.
When people hate you,or is jealous of you, it's simply because you are who they wish they were.
How can you producing music like she does consistently without being exacting?
Enough with the snobbery from some posters criticizing the author! He did a very good job and I am sure put in a lot of effort. Stop being so picky about insignificant things, commenters. If you like the video, say so, and show some appreciation. If you don't like it, go elsewhere. No one's stopping you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video portrayal of Kathleen Battle. I often wondered why such a big thing was made of her personality. Leonard Bernstein is just one of many who was downright cruel at times, and a bully. Nobody fired him.
Thank you. People act as if she was the first and only difficult musician in the world.
My experiences with her were wonderful. What a beautiful, warm and lovely woman.
Thank you for this inspirational documentary. I am happy that you were to dispell some of those minor legendary incidents that almost marred her career. In the end Miss Battle survived the nonsense and got on with her life and professional career,
She can be whatever she wants,with that magnificent voice and beauty like no other singer ,there are new sopranos but nobody has that clean voice with unlimited talent behind her and we love her !
The greatest lesson learned here is that no matter how high you climb, you need to be humble, keep learning, and treat your colleagues with respect. Sadly, her golden years are wasted.
How are her golden years wasted? Are you still doing what you do at age 75?
❤❤I only care about the rare moments she gave us in Linda di Chamonix and Fruhlingsstimmenwalzer in that amaxing red dress. Battle is an elegant trail blazer for those black singers that came after her...❤❤
It’s the natural to have a bad reputation in this cut throat business. Aren’t all sopranos and tenors very difficult to deal with especially Kiri Te Kanawa. Why only pick on Kathleen? She has one of the most beautiful voices.
Why are you dragging Dame Kiri into this contretemps? Ms Battle’s issues are uniquely her own and of her own making. She had a glorious voice…no one can ever take that away from her. Her behavior problems with management and colleagues , true or half- true, lead to the cratering of a career that might have become legendary. Tragic, indeed.
I heard that Pavarotti was also difficult. My choral conductor was an intern at the Met during the 80s and 90s and she said that he was crazy
This "you're not allowed to look at me" business is not confined to opera. From what I understand, it is also quite common in Hollywood.
Yes, ask Babs. . . er, actually, DON'T :)
Ellen DeGeneres, I recall.
Callas also had a reputation for being difficult but there are two sides to every story.
Yes, and Callas was fired from the Metropolitan Opera just like Battle.
Went to school with Battle. She was the best of coloratura sopranos of her day. That she was banned from all Opera strikes of a double standard. Company directors were cowards and we lost several years of her talent. A little Ellington and ancour pieces are no substitute.
Such a well crafted and thoughtful narrative, underpinned by pertinent and rarely seen footage. I say bravo. To try and answer your conundrum I am inclined to think KB got a raw deal in part because of an endemic American racist undercurrent. Few white divas who behaved disruptively were blacklisted for decades from the operatic world, basically for nearly the rest of their career, but Battle was. While her behavior in the interview clip was less than mature, just imagine how hurtful it must have been to have been banned so utterly and ruthlessly. Did the MET try hard enough to make it work IF they considered her far too self-indulgent? I don’t know nor believe we outsiders will ever know. Still, male stars and white divas who were so incredibly gifted like miss Battle and were allegedly or proven difficult got far more leeway I think. Irrespective of me being right or wrong, to this day I am saddened that we were deprived of one of the very best in the business far too early. A crying shame.
As it relates to the interview clip, Kathleen's behavior was definitely NOT "less than mature"! If anyone's behavior was less than mature, it was the interviewer. Typically, the line of questioning and/or content is established prior to the interview and it is quite obvious that the interviewer stepped outside of previously agreed content parameters for he own personal notoriety. Kathleen was totally within her dignity to abruptly terminate the scam of an interview. Shame on that highly unprofessional and "difficult" interviewer!
@@ChagoWilson That may be. Still, IMO she could have handled this situation better. Abruptly leaving, blocking the camera with her hand, she could and should have known that would make the cut, and would make her look bad. Why not stay seated and ‘simply’ state that’s an issue she doesn’t want to comment on? Or rebut?
@@Musicdok Your point would be totally valid had not the interviewer disrespected Kathleen by overstepping previously agreed upon parameters. In my own experience as a former political aspirant, on numerous occasions I have walked away from reporters/interviewers who, in their own egotistical quest for sensationalism and headlines - will totally disregard you with questions and/or issues that you had previously and clearly said were off limits. There is absolutely no point in continuing a conversation with such an unethical and childish individual. We see politicians and celebrities repeatedly walk away from these situations. The interviewer is the one who deserves chastisement for her blatantly unprofessional behavior - NOT Kathleen Battle!
@@ChagoWilson You say previously agreed upon parameters were overstepped by the (white) interviewer. Do we know that for a fact though? Still, even if you get hoodwinked in such a way, and that happens a lot, KB’s reaction to it, however human and valid, DID make headlines for all the wrong reasons… It simply looks bad. Period. I stated clearly in my initial reaction Kathleen got an unfair shake by/after her illfated MET dismissal and my suspicions concerning her lifelong ban. I just wished she would have dealt with this sneaky woman in a manner more conducive to her own rehabilitation (Not that she needed one in my opinion).
I've never heard Richard Wagner's name mispronounced before. How can I take this seriously when the narrator says Waagner? Kathleen Battle gave amazing performances that delighted millions of opera fans. That is all we need to know on Earth, that is all we need to know.
Who cares about her temperament? She sings like an angel.
PS: This narrator’s pronunciation of opera titles and composers’ names made me want to jump out a window. 🥴
Omg!!!! Just awful!
17:34 He can't even pronounce "papal", let alone the names of operas and composers.
Thanks for the feedback :)
You are not wrong. And I am a stickler when it comes to correct pronunciation myself. Yet it pains me to fault him over this issue, as it takes too much away from a well crafted and thoughtful narrative, underpinned by pertinent and rarely seen footage. I say bravo. To try and answer his conundrum I am inclined to think KB got a raw deal in part because of the endemic American racist undercurrent. Few white divas who behaved disruptively were blacklisted for decades from the operatic world, basically for nearly the rest of their career, but Battle was. While her behavior in the interview clip was less than mature, just imagine how hurtful it must have been to have been banned so utterly and ruthlessly. Did the MET try hard enough to make it work IF they considered her far too self-indulgent? I don’t know nor believe we outsiders will ever know. Still, male stars and white divas who were so incredibly gifted like miss Battle and were allegedly or proven difficult got far more leeway I think. Irrespective of me being right or wrong, to this day I am saddened that we were deprived of one of the very best in the business far too early. A crying shame.
@@Musicdok I agree with you on the point that it is such a shame her career was curtailed. I believe we lost much more beautiful music she could have rendered.
I don't want to dismiss people who think her firing was simply a matter of racism but the same thing happened to Faye Dunaway.
I saw her on stage at a Liederabend in Dortmund/Germany and she treated the pianist so bad. The whole audiance was irritated and shocked . To the end she sang without the pianist. By the way , it was a famous Liedbegleiter . She sang beautifully , but her behaviour was horrible.
Not true.
@@direfranchement Of course, it‘ s true!!!!!!
@@direfranchement it’s true I live in her home town ( Portsmouth Ohio) she comes in to visit once in a while and goes to the local Walmart and yes she shops at Walmart.
She buys things goes to where she lives comes back and tries to get her money back because she lost her receipt and goes off on the workers. She’s a Diva but a rude one at that.
@@blauauge2 Of course it isn't.
@@alfreda2711 She doesn't suffer fools gladly. Doesn't make her any worse than anyone else. Have you seen some of these videos of Karens on social media?
all talent, no luck
Levine pronounced his name "Le-VINE." "Maschera" is ponounced "MOS-kera."
Music is always about collaboration. Whether you are the star of the show, have a small solo, carry a spear, or play in the pit, you are participating in a creative process, and that means you treat others as you wish to be treated yourself. Above all, everyone is there to serve the music, and the composer that wrote it. It's a difficult process at times, there may be differences of opinion, concessions have to be made, and compromises offered. It goes with the job, and as a principal, you have a responsibility to lead the company, and set an example. People know that a lead carries a lot of weight, and if they trust you, they will forgive moments of anxiety, frustration and fatigue. They will not appreciate rudeness, arrogance or selfishness. They will appreciate being appreciated. Small gestures of kindness, generosity and humility generate a big return of good will. The singers who stay at the top know how to conduct themselves, and understand that their success is dependent on everyone around them. They have to be self-aware, not self-obsessed.
The interview clip was interesting, because KB refused to take the challenge, let alone deal with it. It cannot have been the first time she was hearing reports of being difficult, but she had no answer. She wasn't prepared to take criticism because she wasn't prepared to address something within herself. That kind of sensitivity easily tips into domineering and tyrannical behaviour. She was treating colleagues badly, and the only way she could respond was by casting herself as the victim. That wounded announcement she released, for example. Classic narcissist behaviour.
If she had issues arising from her experiences as a black woman, fair enough, but it was up to her to deal with them in her own time, not dump them on her colleagurs. Seek advice, do therapy, reach out, make amends. She had an astounding voice, she had been recognised and given great opportunities. There would have been people willing to help and support, if she had been willing to ask for help. But you cannot solve a problem if you are not willing to acknowledge that you are causing the problem.
Lastly, if you are going to list out people’s primary signs, you MUST include the Ascendant! Good grief!
This narrative is disgusting. If there was a 'battle' the true question is WHO created the BATTLE?
Amen to that-
Battle ... as simple as the question
I don't care! She was absolutely great!
BESIDES the point?
Levine pronounces his last name as “leh-VINE” (like the vines in a vineyard) NOT “leh-veen.”
“And I’m Jerry Cougar-Mellencamp.” 😂
What about her rising sign?
The pronunciation is hilarious
I have always loved her voice, but you can tell by that singular interview that she has major issues - to the point she’s weird, not simply a diva. People want the talent without the drama, it’s the same reason I have never liked Mariah. Sure, divas that are tolerable are demanding, but when you’re toxic and bring excess drama it’s going to sever your career
What’s normal? Nobody likes being called out on their “bad” past behaviors. The question was as rude as her response was “weird.” Kathleen Battle is so talented and performs at such a high level there are stresses us mere mortals can’t comprehend to live up to her own legendary talent. I think the interview was onto something, but if she didn’t pre-arrange to ask such questions, she was out of line.
@@thomasmartin8362 the problem is exactly with people like you who are willing to give her a pass because you put her on such a pedestal. She’s a phenom talent, no shit, but when you’re surrounded by people who are more or less just as good, and you still have that attitude, it is arrogant beyond tolerant. What do you think it’s like to work around someone like that when you are within the same realm of talented? It’s fine to have your own opinions, and it’s fine to think you are better than or more talented than someone, but it shouldn’t manifest in obvious unprofessionalism or where someone needs to ‘take your side’ by allowing such toxicity among other coworkers because you are essentially telling management it’s you or them. And there are pleeeeenty stories out there which talks of that perspective about her
@@uchihadayne6506, empathy is a problem? She was fired from The Met, she has certainly faced consequences. In 200 years her recordings will still exist and I’m sure be loved. (I’m not as convinced that’s true of all of her peers) What more, besides the bad press and termination do you suppose she deserves? Gees, you’d think you were somehow personally insulted by her. I mean you seem pretty invested in making sure people dislike her. Do you really think this is a good look for you?
Boy STFU! You clearly just have a problem with Black women! Just say you’re r#cist and go. 🙄
As it relates to the interview clip, Kathleen's behavior was definitely NOT "less than mature"! If anyone's behavior was less than mature, it was the interviewer. Typically, the line of questioning and/or content is established prior to the interview and it is quite obvious that the interviewer stepped outside of previously agreed content parameters for he own personal notoriety. Kathleen was totally within her dignity to abruptly terminate the scam of an interview. Shame on that highly unprofessional and "difficult" interviewer!
This narrator should have learned the proper pronunciation for each composer and artist.
PAP-pal visit?
The section on astrology? Nonsense!
"W" agner??? And Haaaiden??? Smh.
This is a piece of GARBARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a comical narration ! Not a single foreign-language word correctly pronounced and many an English one mangled -- "papal" as "papple", "operatic" as "operAYtic" -- ah, Americans . . . Not a bad selection of clips, though
You do not know how to correctly pronounce Haydn's last name -- this is embarrassing.
A sad commentary. A very special singer who was a witch. Entitled. Witch
hi mark
This is really a “repackaging” of a story that’s almost 30 years old. Kathleen Battle was a textbook example of a talented artist whose ego became so inflated, that her behavior ultimately derailed a sizable portion of her career….and wrecked other career opportunities.
I still regard Marilyn Horne as the finest soprano/contralto to ever grace the Met. Ms. Horne always maintained a class act reputation….and was loved by her peers.
Ms. Battle, on the other hand, morphed into the persona of a spoiled pop star who thought her belligerent behavior would be tolerated indefinitely.
Not so.
You and your fellow negative trolls who make it their life's mission to be critical of Kathleen Battle somehow NEVER go to videos of the queen of "belligerent behavior" - Maria Callas and comment on her notoriously drunken diva tantrums, fits and conflicts with fellow cast members, musicians and conductors the world over. Arturo Toscanini, at one point, refused to work with her. Yet she is praised and celebrated while her demonic and grossly unprofessional behaviors are somehow overlooked!
Agree ... but make no mistake, Marilyn had her moments :) (NOTHING like Battles)
Kathleen Battle is an outstanding, gifted vocalist.
There was no room for Ms. Battle to be anything less than perfect. With her immense talent she set a high bar and continued breaking down barriers for people of color in the classical arts. I remain in awe and inspired by her passion and talent. In this time I imagine if the events replayed she'd be met with more understanding as just needing a mental health break.
She's a gift!
Truly!
I was a young singer in college in upstate NY in 1990 when I overheard a fellow student playing Kathleen Battle. I had no idea who she was but for my ears it was love at first sight! I have seen her perform many times live in recital and I was fortunate enough to meet her several times at record releases held at Tower records in Lincoln Center and at the school where I worked. Like Kathleen I also became a music teacher and it just so happened that one of my colleagues was a vocalist from Ohio and they had a connection. Ms. Battle would visit the school from time to time to give some input on the school chorus and my colleague even got one of the conductor spots at Ms. Battle’s 2016 return to The Met performance. She’s a master at musicality and her charisma and talent are truly God given. Many, many artists are known for their demanding ways and sometimes eccentric requests. They can be paranoid and narcissistic, but it comes from a place of very high expectations, mainly of themselves. Kathleen had a whole new career after The Met fired her. She was free to explore other artistic interests and gain a whole new repertoire. Congrats on a great video
Ms. Battle could be both a great talent beyond her years and a person people couldn't stand to work with. It's not always jealously, hate, or an 'I wish I was them" mentality. Sometimes, it's the person. Sometimes, a person ages, looks back on things they could have done better, and mellos out. Also, if she felt some type of way about being dismissed from the Met at that time, at least from history, she didn't put up a fight to defend herself.
Some one should've told the narrator the correct pronounciation of the composer's names , and the names of the operas-(Wagner- the w is said like v ) . She is a very, very fine artist.
Also mispronounced Haydn. It's a terribly amateurish video.
I must admit the pronunciations were a struggle struggle a half. Thanks for the feedback
Fille is mispronounced as is Maschera.
@@theinspiredlearningchannel622 Like in the comment I suggested, doing a google translation and listening to the audio for pronunciation would help in the future. Mispronunciations really detract from the quality of this really good presentation. Kathleen's legacy deserves much better IMHO. I suggest redubbing with the proper pronunciation after thorough research. Peace.
A couple of others: James Levine's last name is pronounced Le-vine, not Le-veen and Tannhäuser is pronounced Tannhoiser not Tannhauser. These are small errors but they tend to undermine the reporter's credibility.
Kathleen was a diva in a scary way.. I’ve talked to a lot of people from the Met, agents and PR agencies.. they have nothing good to say about her.. I still love her.. she is a brilliant artist..
I was lucky enough to see her recital at the Met last Sunday. She is now 75 years old but is very much in command of her instrument and the sound is still heavenly. She had the entire Met audience on its feet several times...it will be a night to remember.
I saw the announcement in the NY Times and was surprised they invited her back. Good to see her voice is still intact.
The voice is beyond exquisite.
Definitely agree!
Incomparable Legendary vocalist … and badly maligned, and we know why
Some “folks” are seen as courageous in their assertiveness and standing up for themselves; however, “others” are seen as aggressive, mean, “angry” when they are assertive
Well said!
Barbara Streisand was also maligned. A talent in the pop world. Ms Battle is a goddess in my estimation.
Exactly this. Also, I want to see a big budget biopic of BATTLE
@@jonahsahn 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
This narrator knows nothing about this subject. Just listen to his pronunciation: 6:02 to 6:38. I mean, if you've never even heard of Haydn, WTF are you doing making a video on this subject?
my grandmother graduated from this excellent music conservatory
I absolutely love the way Miss Battle handled this disrespectful and catty interviewer. It was as if she answered the question without having to say another word. How about I show you difficult and end this interview. That woman had the rare opportunity to conduct an interview with one of the most remarkable artists of our time and she decided to veer off into some foolishness which resulted in her face being cracked. I found it amazing that almost at the same time that the perfection, artistry, beauty and vocal gift of Kathleen Battle emerged as many haters seemed to stand in line to show how envious, jealous and perturbed they all were that she occupied a space in history which was unprecedented and untouched making her the most beloved and sought after artist of her time. I met Miss Battle several times and she was an absolute delight. Whatever she needed to do to shield her unmatched and cherished gift from the haters, I applaud and fully condone. I will ALWAYS revere her as a standard setter and a truly glorious gift from God. Nobody did it better snd I have yet to witness another artist who has succeeded her with even the slightest degree of comparability.
If she was white, over weight or not as beautiful, I'm of a mind that things would have been different for her at the Met where anti "uppity" is a thing.
True
When you are black surviving in a white man's world, means that you you show comfort in discomfort, say yes when you mean no, wisper when you need to shout, they say jump, you say how high, and remember never show confidence in what you do. Good on you kathleen to stand up to them.lf you got it flaunt it just like they do. I love your music.
Oh hush up! Even you deal unscrupulously with your OWN ppl. Just shut up!!
She was surrounded by people who admired her gifts, and wanted her to succeed. Music, and especially opera, is about collaboration, and the willingness to participate in a creative process. Above all, everyone involved is trying to serve the music, which is greater than all of them. You collaborators are not your enemies, and you don't have to play hide and seek. As a principal, you have a responsibility to show leadership, and set an example to the whole company. Pissing everyone off, not acknowledging any responsibility, then putting out a wounded press release is classic narcissism. She can't deal with critism, she won't look within herself, so she just walks out. If she has issues arising from her experiences as a black woman, fair enough, but only she could deal with them. Seek out mentors, do therapy, get involved in causes, raise money, go on a pilgrimage, write a memoir, whatever she needed to do. But dumping on her fellow artists didn't achieve anything.
One of, if not the greatest voice in the last 50 years belonged to Jessye Norman. She was born in segregation era Atlanta. She rose to fame as an African American woman singing some of the great roles in German opera, in some of the great German opera houses, in German! Less than 30 years after end of the Third Reich, this was their music, their tradition, their language. They had never seen, or expected to see, a black woman taking on Wagner, Strauss and Beethoven. By the time she returned to America she was acclaimed as an operatic superstar. In France, they loved her so much (she was great in French music as well) that in 1993, the President personally invited her to sing the Marseillaise at the climax of the celebrations in Paris for the bicentenary of the French Revolution. She was feisty, she was incredibly charismatic, and she often did things that were not expected. But on stage, she always served the music, and she treated her colleagues with kindness and respect. She'd had to deal with some shit, but she never regarded herself as a victim, and she didn't behave like one when she was working.
She actually did an album of negro spirituals with Kathleen Battle recorded live at Carnegie Hall. They were great together, KB was that good. It's a shame she didn't didn't follow her example.
Thank you soooo much for this very informative video about my one and only Kathleen Battle! I will be a forever fan of her very distinct and unique soprano voice.
Thank you for watching. Kathleen is a true treasure
I have adored Kathleen Battle for 3 decades. My only criticisms would be that some of the pictures and songs are sort of out of sequence from her actual timeline - I'm positive that the recording of the Creole Love Song is from the 80's, not the 90s. Also, you didn't really talk about spirituals which are a big part of her repertoire. Her most recent touring was solely spirituals.
The reporter told HER SHE WAS DIFFICULT --in this soft voice. She ambushed Battle and acted surprised when Battle walked away.
it wasn't that. It was that Battle had already mentioned to the reporter before the interview that she was not willing to discuss that topic. she did anyway and she walked
@@smurf902 you're missing the point, though. It's not especially relevant that the reporter knew boundaries beforehand or not. The point is... Regardless. Battle WAS ambushed with a disrespectful question and when she walked away with dignity......the reporter tries to compound the disrespect further..........with gaslighting.
This reeks with the foul stench of white/splaining.
Kathleen was the best and she was beautiful. There is a type of stress that comes with being the best. They tried to say the same nonsense about Serena Williams. When will the media and musical critics just stop it. They are ladies that people love to hate. Jealousy is the name of this game.
Everything happens for a reason, I was told. Who knows if being "terminated" saved her instrument. Beverly Sills ruined her instrument by singing opera roles not suited to her range.
I heard Kathleen Battle many times and she was an amazing artist. Her Cleopatra was the best in history I believe. I knew many in the classical music industry and the stories they told about her were jaw droppingly horrible in the 80s and 90s, and they were undoubtedly true. I think she was bipolar based on her behavior but that is just a guess. None of that takes away from how amazing she was and is as a singer. But you can't gloss over the things she did and the people she hurt in her prime years.
You should have told the REAL reason for this great singer being blacklisted; she had an affair with a well known Conductor and she didn't want to do it any more! He made sure she was blacklisted! BUT GOD! God saw fit that she would still bless us all with her gift all over the world!
She embraced other genres and her people embraced her and so she triumphed!💜
👀 this is some good 🍵
I've not heard this. With whom was the alledged affair?
Wow. I didn't hear of this😮
I think you are VERY sadly mistaken, very ...
No shes not
A friend of mine worked with her while in college when she was doing the latest tour and wanted to work with most of the HBCU choirs. She told me Ms. Battle was “fucking crazy.”
she meant awesome. kids today think power is the freedom of not be offended while it is the courage to ignore any shit coming to your way
You can tell that some opera singers have a list of questions interviewers are allowed to ask, and they have prepared stock answers they use for years and years. That interview was a setup becauss Battle was asked something that was not agreed to, in an attempt to ruin her. Unfortunately, by her reaction, she played right into their hands and gave the response they wanted.
I think it is possible to dissociate the singer from the woman/the man. There are artists whom I admire and love as singers, even though they have a bad reputation, and I do not appreciate their behaviors. No one can prevent me from loving an artist or composer just because of his/her reputation. If KB did these horrible things, I understand why her colleagues applauded when she was fired and why she was not hired in any other opera houses in the world for a while (no fame should justify abuse)but I will continue to listen to her recordings . I saw her once live (in 1995) and she was wonderful. True her voice is rather small, but not different in volume from other light sopranos, but the beauty of it is phenomenal!!! Not only the beauty, but the artistry. No recordings or videos can explain her charisma on stage.
Way too much hero-worship here. Battle was obviously VERY difficult to work with - you don't fine one of your absolute biggest stars unless there's a very good reason. Her 'hair trigger' during the interview shows one aspect of that. Also, a friend of mine spent some years as Battle's interior decorator. The most 'telling' anecdote for me was that Battle evidently kept her Christmas tree up year-round. She was one in a fairly long list of great artists/musicians who had a screw or two loose. Obviously impossible to claim any kind of racism or sexism here - hello Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, Grace Bumbry, Florence Quivar, etc. etc - some of the TOP Met stars...none with the bad rep. Battle had. Battle's demands were clearly unprofessional and over the line.
Wonderful 🌹 💕 💖 Kind Woman and Artist...In this Business have to be Strong and not let People walk over you
DUDE! Learn how to pronounce all these foreign terms before you do a video like this. “Maschera” is “mah-skeh-rah” (we get the word “mascara” from it)
The career of Ms Battle is marked by a trial that was meant to tarnish her name and reputation. The reason behind the malicious attack that assailed her is that, she does not compromise moral standards, because of that She was chased by demons, two white serpents. These demons were jealous of the quality of her voice how, she utilized it to the utmost demonstrating the art of Interpretation, they would stare at her on stage during performance, releasing negative energies. Those serpents were never unveiled in order for them to receive their deserving retribution. Their case was included in the Frosted snake and ladder and soon they are to be held accountable for their malicious actions. Moreover they did this fully aware of her identity as a Royal Princess from a celestial world
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
it was more than jealousy, demos & serpents but not one person making comments has mentioned?
Can anyone blame her? Could you be humble with that voice? I couldn't.
Cuz ur a fool 💁🏽♂️
@@swisschoklate736 ???
I prefer a kind artist, not an arrogant bitch.
It's easy to label a successful female singer a diva. I never hear a word about men being difficult or a divo. The last who interviewed her had agreed not to mention her reputation then broke that deal during the interview. Would she have asked the same question to any of the 3 tenors, or any male conductors. Kathleen is a living legend, that beauty of her voice is almost unmatched.
"Almost"? I've heard great voices, surely, but none like Kathleen's.
OMG - How could you NOT have heard about the men!?! (Divo's)!? Pavarotti, von Karajan, Muti, Corelli ... don't think for a MOMENT it's just the ladies :)
This is an excellent video. No question KB was a difficult diva. Her reputation was well deserved among a long lineage of difficult divas. Maria Callas comes to mind.
I ♥️ Kathleen Battle!
Callas was unfairly blackballed
And the spirituals album with Norman happened in 1991: THREE YEARS before she was fired. Jesus, you need to do better.
You said Wagners name wrong why?!!! 🥴🥴 It’s pronounced Vagner
Beautiful voice
Thank you Davaunah. Much love! I hope you were inspired by something that you've heard!
Truly!
NO ONE pronounces the composer Wagner's name the way you do -- except a person unfamiliar with opera.
No offense but your pronunciation is a little bit off....
I want her hear her story...TOLD BY HER. I want to hear her side because I suspect that American prejudice and racism plays a part in how she was treated, her perceptions and reactions, etc. I want to hear her side from her. Peter Gelb, who has worked with Battle for decades - previously with Sony Classical and CAMI (I believe), needs to produce an autobiography and documentary.
She was so beautiful they couldn't stop staring at her when she sang lol...she wasn't difficult them white boys was trying to get at her being pushy an asking a million 1 questions they where so amazed she black beautiful with astonishing voice.
When I saw her in cerritos performing arts center. I was smitten. Her voice was absolutely pitch perfect. Like a song bird. Gorgeous..
Her big three or her primal triad as astrologers call it is Leo Sun, Sagittarius Moon and Gemini Rising. She’s not my favorite soprano but her voice is perfect for Juliet in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet.
Not to mention her birth card is the King of Clubs ♣️
I am not surprised at all by the crazy Gemini ascendent. So many performers have that. The Leo/Sag sun and moon I knew about for sure.
Numberologically, she has Uranus/4 (Creative Genius, Mastery of voice and word with shadow characteristics of unpredictablility) and Neptune/7 (the very top, the closest we can get to the realm above, if not fully engaged with Higher realms). She certainly lives up to these characteristics!
You don't get a perfect voice on stage without protecting your voice off stage. And if an opera singer feels that the temperature in a vehicle threatens her voice, she can ask the driver to turn it off. And if he does not, who can she call but the owner of the company?
Im going to say the quiet part outloud. She was preceived as "difficult" because she was expected to be overwhelmed with the honor of being in certain spaces. She likely had her manager call the limo company (for example) because had she said something to the driver; she would have been seen as unappreciative. Many singers have silent days in which they dont talk or wont speak in certain situations.
it's pronounced VOGNER not WAGNER.............get with the porgram
I don't think her battle with the Met was about race. The Met has had many Black singers over the past 60 years.
This guy might’ve learned to pronounce some names and words - - Levine, Wagner, maschera, Glyndeborne, among others.
Why is saying she had a beautiful voice a "confession"? Was it a sin? FFS pointless expression.
If they dont like the diva aspect of it then they should just skip Opera! Period! She is a star...,
MO-zart? HAY-din?
Who else here cause of Courtney B Vance breakfast club interview?
Did he mention Kathleen Battle?
What? You mean who else knows nothing about culture?
Not sure what her Zodiac sign had anything to do with anything?
It was hard for a black artist. It still is.
Thank you for contributing
Great video! I think instead of femme fatale, for Black women, it is the Sapphire archetype. I never thought about whether or not this applied to her, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
All I can say is that she has inspired me and others more than she could ever know.
Interesting point!
Who is the narrator? His mispronunciations are truly impressive.
It was her behavior it happens in all aspects of show biz. Work conditions during opera can be strangely a mix of your not important then you are vital then you are not this or that to extremes. After years and years of going through this the little ones tend to be the ones who break the loudest. Battle just became unstable and it is clear she did not get the deference everywhere that she expected. I have seen divas treated like they are nobody in a union house. Even though they are the HUGE draw for the house financially. By the 1970’s deference was really on the way out. Soubrettes who used to dominate as stars in the theatre up until the 50’s. They were the vital fresher breathe of youth and girlish joy for any piece. Battle was just getting older and the stress of that and all the nonsense that goes on in rehearsals finally caught up with her enormous ego. The blacklisting and withdrawing was very sharp sad and annoying for the fans. For the industry I think many were relieved because a lawsuit would had inevitably emerged at some point.
Unions and Divas,,,
So many mispronunciations, why?
Tacky gossip.
Did you also write the Wikipedia article (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Battle)? Parts of this clip is reciting the article word-for-word (and I am not talking about quotations).