I love this performance -- versus the one she did in the operetta's performance several years later. Here, she's focusing more on the beauty of the voice and a purer, more supported, and fuller tone. She's using her diaphragmatic and abdominal support and she's not pushing from her throat as much. Many more notes are sung lighter and with an easier onset. I approve!
Yes! Some of the liberties she took later were a bit much in my humble opinion. In any event, she is a great performer and a very interesting person. I just read her autobiography and it was great fun...
This is relatively early in her concert career before this song became a staple of hers. It wasn't before 2005 for the live performance of Candide on stage that she used that signature Fraaaaance line.
People do realize she started out as a classical soprano, then switched to broadway? I like Damrau too, but I think her voice is a touch too mature for the song I sound wise.
Glitter and be gay, That's the part I play; Here I am in Paris, France, Forced to bend my soul To a sordid role, Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance. Alas for me! Had I remained Beside my lady mother, My virtue had remained unstained Until my maiden hand was gained By some Grand Duke or other. Ah, 'twas not to be; Harsh necessity Brought me to this gilded cage. Born to higher things, Here I droop my wings, Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage. And yet of course I rather like to revel, Ha ha! I have no strong objection to champagne, Ha ha! My wardrobe is expensive as the devil, Ha ha! Perhaps it is ignoble to complain... Enough, enough Of being basely tearful! I'll show my noble stuff By being bright and cheerful! Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! Pearls and ruby rings... Ah, how can worldly things Take the place of honor lost? Can they compensate For my fallen state, Purchased as they were at such an awful cost? Bracelets...lavalieres Can they dry my tears? Can they blind my eyes to shame? Can the brightest brooch Shield me from reproach? Can the purest diamond purify my name? And yet of course these trinkets are endearing, Ha ha! I'm oh, so glad my sapphire is a star, Ha ha! I rather like a twenty-carat earring, Ha ha! If I'm not pure, at least my jewels are! Enough! Enough! I'll take their diamond necklace And show my noble stuff By being gay and reckless! Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! Observe how bravely I conceal The dreadful, dreadful shame I feel. Ha ha ha ha!
I liked her performance with the New York Philharmonic orchestra better (full production of Candide) but she is amazing as usual. If she had more space to act and perform it would have made it that much better.
@9889MissM It is one of the most standard, flashy arias in coloratura soprano rep... But you are RIGHT!!! Even the greatest singers of our time don't quite live up to her standard with this. :)
Nope, Candide was the first time she did sing France that way. I just got the date wrong. The production was in May 2004. The Boston Pops concert wasn't until June 2004.
This is lots of fun! But also, look up June Anderson singing this with Bernstein conducting, for a "classical" rendition. You can see Damrau and Dessay etc. but save the best for last: Barbara Cook, the original Cunegonde, sang it the best of all -- what a vocalist she was, both musical and theatrical.
for anyone wanting the original video (hence in better quality since it was not uploaded twice through YT filters, search for "Joshua Bell plays Bernstein" and you'll get the other song as well
This one is much better than the other one. The way she acted and sung the words are more with the story of the song. This one really shows the insanity. The one she did several years later didn't capture the meaning of the song. Cunengode is supposed to be going insane. She's covering up the pain and insanity from being held captive with jewls. The song is actually messed up once you've decontextualized the words.
I have to say, this is not my favorite performance of this by Kristin. This is more "Opera" Kristin, than "Theater" Kristin. But nonetheless, a great performance. :) (But then again, I cannot really make comments on vocalists, as I am a lowly violinist.)
@JunoMacguff2012 i can see what you mean, her facial expressions are like that. watch her performance from when she was in candide, she does it much funnier (u can just watch any of her later performances)
@ichigo0000000000000 no, no i think he was just confused because this was early in her career and she wasn't sure how to really act it yet. Stop overanalyzing, it's Leonard Bernstein, he just wants to be funny, it's a straight forward comedic aria from a straight forward comedic operetta
If you never heard of the song before, at first glance of the title, at least to me, it seems like it's going to be comedic. But it's just the opposite.
@jtg10795 Well, I guess a lot of it was very serious and dramatic, and then some parts, mostly towards the end, were comedic. But that's just the way I saw it.
Natalie Dessay is much is much better, although Chenoweth IS winning and acts it rather well. But really it is all a moot point because the only singer who absolutely "owns" this song is Barbara Cook on the Original Cast Album..........
I like Kristen Chenoweth, but...her voice jut sounds too...nasally and...blended to be operatic. Yes, she can hit the high notes, but they just...I don't know...sound right.
XxAllessariaxX yup, her top notes are thin, her staccato sounds like glissando , she doesn’t have a trill. Great in musical but can never sing bel canto!
Her country accent is just one more reason Chenoweth’s performance of this aria is horrible, and it sounds horrible, her terrible fast vibrato high notes.
Well, she seems like a good actress but i don't think that singing such a demanding piece of Bernstein was a good choice. But since she is American and Americans like this thing that she does, it's fine.
