Elizabeth Vaughan's voice was enormous - very resonant and in her soprano years bright at the top, but she was capable of some very delicate singing too. I heard her Madam Butterfly which was so moving. Pauline Tinsley was a fine artist - isn't it fun to see them let their hair down in this duet!
What fun to cast these two very distinguished dramatic singers in this duet and how they seem to enjoy it! Elizabeth Vaughan had an excellent career as firstly a soprano ( a worldwide success in 'Butterfly') and then mezzo roles. Pauline Tinsley was one of the most underrated artists in Britain, but her international career was second to none! They are both greatly missed by the opera going public.
They were both amazing artists who quite literally threw themselves at the drama of their roles - absolute commitment. They had great voices. Pauline T sang an outstanding Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana opposite Placido Domingo at Covent Garden. Dr Elizabeth Vaughan retired around 2004. She began as a spinto soprano - a very great Madam Butterfly. She retrained in later years as a mezzo soprano and triumphed in a whole new repertoire. Hear her sing in Andrea Chenier with Kenneth Collins on youtube - it is astoundingly good.
Great memories of Forza del destino with Pauline....a great dramatic voice and a very lovely person whose lack of airs and graces held her back from the very top where she deserved to be.
Fun to see this. I remember Tinsley singing in St. Louis in the 1970s. I never had the pleasure of hearing Vaughan in person.Not many can hang on to their voices so well late in life as did these two.
I also love that no matter how many times a music lover sees this performance (as it requires a visual performance even if done perfectly) it ALWAYS gets a laugh at the strutting hisses from the catty Prima Donnas to each other. For those who don't understand it... glib version: Females are like cats, the operatic style is likened to cat song, & it's a fight between 2 females with preening & strutting for dominance & displaying their proud beauty. Parody of song & femaleness. Cat Fight! =^_^=
my power went out, and I had nothing to do.. so I turned on the radio.. this... was the first song that came on while channel surfing... and I loved it ahaha
Thank you. Elisabeth Vaughan was born in 1937 in Wales. She won the Kathleen Ferrier scholarship in 1959. I saw her play Abigail in Nabucco in Cardiff with the Welsh national Opera in 1960. She was often called " The Welsh Callas ". I believe she was/is professor of singing at the Guildhall School in London.
Cats are very expressive and can tell you what they want without resorting to words. For instance, sitting next to the cupboard which holds her dishes will tell you she wants cream, if she already has food in her bowl. Lying next to you when you are ill will act as a tonic (cat-a-tonic?) They are very expressive.
This is a classic operatic duet, and also a parody at the same time. It mocks itself and everything about everything to do with opera (the joke being lost if males sing it). I've only ever seen one perfect (purrfect) performance of this, but it remains one of my favourite pieces. Most people don't sing the intent. It's joyous when sung right. But I don't understand how people don't get the joke or enjoy it for what it is and it's uniqueness. *shrug* This piece has always stood alone.
Me encanta ver cómo cantantes líricas ya mayores cantan esta canción, porque puedes ver a la persona detrás de la voz, con su sentido del humor. Suelen aparecer tan serias cantando esas cosas tan complicadas y tan formales que un poco de humor y de risas y las caras que ponen son muy divertidas.
OK, kitties, it's alright; I brought enough salmon for both of you... @ 1:25 aww, now come on; no more "hissie hissie", please? ;) (These two legendary voices are missed...both deserved center stage.)
The remarks regarding this video are mostly ignorant of the fact that these are two very successful opera singers who at this point in their careers were able to do this for fun. Elizabeth Vaughan was a very successful singer and sang with many famous opera companies including the ROH, Sadlers Wells ,WNO, ENO as well as many International companies. Pauline Tinsley also had a terrific career and is recognised for her stunning performances in Rossini and Verdi.
Sorry....I'm confused...She was born in 1928,so if she turned 80, this should be in 2008 , not 1996 ,right? Anyway, great performance for someone whos 80 !
Madgeson,your comment is one of the very few useful ones.I should cancel 90% of the comments if I were Iforgeti.What a lot of nonsense comments.Could you inform me about the birthyear of Elizabeth Vaughan? I cannot trace it,I do have a few records of her,she is very good.All the comments are abt Tinsley(born 1928).Strange Vaughan is not even to be found on wikipedia. Thanks for your info, as I guess you are well informed.
