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 think its ok to like Masterson and Damrau. I challenge anyone who says that Masterson is undramatic here. She has basically a light lyric soprano voice, but with a ringing quality. The performance is live so i am happy to overlook the slightly sharp held high note- Callas had trouble with that one too- This is a great performance from a terrific artist.
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
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!
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.
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!
