Tosca: “Vissi d’arte”

Sondra Radvanovsky sings the title character’s Act II aria in the final dress rehearsal. Production: Sir David McVicar. Conductor: Carlo Rizzi. 2018–19 season.

[vxhorusxv]

It’s such a gift to New York every time she comes to the Met! Such phenomenal artistry and drama. ❤️

[Classicvideofan]

This is one of the greatest renditions of this aria ever recorded. Full point. From the first line to the end, Sondra is delivering unique combination of perfect vocal control, perfect technic, breathtaking emotion and amazing musical taste ... Listen to the subtle and so beautiful and emotionally appropriate "messa di vocce diminuendo" on the word "arte" !... from the very beginning we feel the emotion and despair in this single note ! ... from there we feel, we sense that this is not going to be just another rendition of a famous aria by a famous diva ... this is Tosca weeping on her fate ... but with just the perfect musical taste and technical control preventing any overly emotional gasp ... "ad ... anima viva" is murmured ... fading away ... just like the "anima" of Tosca is fading away at this very moment ... she can't handle it anymore ... the tempo is slow enough to provide the space to this beautiful voice to expand in its glory ... and we feel its huge power, the huge potential of Tosca as a character that is still there beneath this moment of pain and breakdown (the crescendo on "con" ....) but at this point she really can't and therefore the crescendo is interrupted by another diminuendo on "man furtiva" (you see ... I am trying to be strong but I really cannot do it know Tosca says us thru this perfect use of messa di vocce here in this single bar ...) .... and the same impulse, same intent to be strong that fails because the pain is too much at this very moment is even more dramatically and more beautifully expressed in the next line : the huge fortissimo subito on "Quante " (listen to the power and the "squillo" of the huge spinto that Sondra is pouring here) sounds again like a very desperate intent to show that she is still strong .... which is fading away again along the end of the phrase with "miserie conobbi" where the diminuendo ends up on a helpless piano "aiutai" that she is holding forever until the VERY end of her breath with heartbreaking dramatic effect ... yes THIS is Tosca ... this is where she is at this point ... her power and youth is still there of course (and she will prove it fully in a couple of minutes ...) ... but NOW she just CAN'T handle it anymore ... "see... I am trying ... but I just can't" at this point we are already beyond singing, beyond interpretation ... this IS Tosca singing ... and this is intelligence, artistry and fabulous technical control put together by a superior artist .... not to mention the acting that is so right ... she does not look overly destroyed, and not placid by any mean... so accurate and tasty and expressive at the same time ....the emotion and sort of resignation we feel when she records the all the good she did is so beautiful and accurate ... "diedi fiori agli altar" ... it is this resignation we feel especially with the emotion and diminuendo on "altar" ... yes ... with Sondra, emotion is always conveyed thru the most beautiful and controlled vocal technic and especially the perfect use of this "messa di vocce" that the great Renata Scotto accurately considered as key for bringing life and emotions in singing ... "Nel ora del dolore" ... opposite to those divas who are displaying artificial emotion on "dolore" by pushing on the "DO" of the word "dolore" Sondra is keeping the line perfectly musical ... we are NOT in tacky verismo effects here ... an artist of her magnitude does NOT need to Sob to express drama and feelings ... same thing for "Cosi" (in "perche me renimuneri cosi") ... it is not a weepy maudlin "KOsi" ... but the low E is just full and powerfully emitted ... and again ... the bflat on "si" is sustained until the end of the breath with a nuance pp (as written on the score) ... dramatic effect again is perfectly accurate and powerful her ...Tosca is giving it all ... she is "au bout du rouleau" (burned out") ... and "au bout de sa voix ..." (her voice is burning out) ... THIS is utmost vocal art and control together with intelligence of drama in a nutshell ... the appogiatura on "ma'adonna" is precise (c/bf) as it should be ... the Bf fortissimo "signor" is huge, vibrant and dramatically impactfull ... and what a fantastic vocal and dramatic effect on the following G ("Ahhh") that first goes diminuendo and then, on the very last breath goes up crescendo again expressing and ILLUSTRATING vocally again that Tosca - as she says- is "giving it all" ... she does not hold anything back !... this G crescendo at the end of the breath is absolute genius ... the vocal stamina, the technique and dramatic intelligence combined together here provide a sense of despair and exhaustion that is incredibly effective .... same thing with the last "perche me renimuneri cosi" .... nothing is hold back, nothing is overly done, the vocal "generosity" of the artist (Sondra holds the notes until the very end of her immense means) resounds, IS the immense generosity of Tosca ... I don't know of many recordings of this aria that could pair with this one indeed ... this one is a gem we can cherish forever ... thank you so much Sondra ... and thank you to the Met to make it available

[acacia-bloom]

The diminuendo after the Bflat @ 2:57 is incredibly hard to pull off successfully. Only the greatest manage it - It seems Radvanovsky is among them

[tristanhnl]

For me, Sondra is THE queen of smooth vocal phrasing today, and she doesn't disappoint here! The messa di voce, the silky smooth Her "Vissi D'arte" is truly one of the finest I've ever heard, even when stacked against the greats of the golden age. Brava Sondra, bravissima!

[tomsillitti]

Absolutely superb!! One of the greatest singing actresses of our day, to be sure. Absolute commitment to the character and her emotions, without losing one ounce of expression and technical excellence. Remarkable singer, greatest of directors, and beloved conductor. Doesn't get any better!

[emely-sophie]

So amazing😍. She is the reason why i started singing🎶🙈💪

[kaochloe]

i flew to NY just to watch the Met Tosca 2021 performed by Sondra Radvanovsky. Dominique Rousselle said it all. It is amazing and I felt I was in heaven. Just wish Met can have more performance of hers. Hopefully the 3 Tudor queens.

[moorfan]

From a technical perspective, Radvanovsky is an "Everest" level singer. As was mentioned below, her messa di voce is unparalleled. Looking forward to hearing this immense voice live AGAIN!

[buenvendor]

She is back at the MET singing Tosca!? She has a voice of steel. I love her singing more than her acting.

[alfredoloyola]

Brava. Sondra!!amazing. B-flat!!a truly Shinto soprano with the proper voice and figure for. Tosca!!
The dim in u end of in one breath
Is incredible!!total control!!
Brava!! Sondra. Brava!!

[cecemckinley]

Ugh I STAN this woman. A true ICON 😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Vishnu]

She killed it! Sounded amazing and that acting was on point!!!

[corneliusbates]

She is amazing! I love it when opera singers really are committed to acting
She is at the top of her game. She is a DIVA!

[miloantonov]

AMAZING! Sondra has it all! Voice, technique, musicality, presence. One of the best rendition of this aria! And the most thrilling soprano of today!

[sladjaraicevic]

Wow!!! Thank you Sondra for this beautiful and moving performance. ❤

[AnnaKarkowskaVirtuoso]

.Excellence in every note, every phrase!!! and in EVERY PERFORMANCE!!! BRINGING PURE BEAUTY!!! THANK YOU MS RADVANOVSKY!! Your musical creations are phenomenal! All those pianos in all colors with this characteristic velvety but sparkling beauty of stars voice with power to rich moon( or brake windows, )or bring tears.I had a rare pleasure to listen to your life performances at MET and sometimes few times a week!! Why? You, your talent brings divine Beauty to life!!!.I don't understand why after Your historical Donizetti Three Qeens You are not at MET more often!!!! God Bless You for all those wonderful moments you creating with such a passion and virtuosity.You, Your Voice are national treasures!!!!

[natalyagayvoronska]

I was very lucky to hear her live! What a voice!!! God bless her to live a long live and to share her voice with us for many years ahead!!!

[tfleiter]

We saw exactly this performance at the MET a year or so ago and now I am coming back to it - grateful for the fantastic evenings we had the pleasure to experience at the MET before the coronavirus crisis. Thanks to everyone working there and the good memories help us to keep going without becoming depressed! Make sure to stay safe and to come back in old glory as soon as the crisis is over continue to generate unforgettable events like this TOSCA performance!

[josevaladez]

Miss Radvanosky is wonderful ! Her voice is beautiful, her timbre is the right one to sing Puccini and Verdi roles.
As far as I remember, she is considered one of the greatest Verdi singers. Thanks for sharing this jewel.

[jiadongma]

I was at this performance. Sondra is fantastic.