Wow, I just took a look at all these comments. I should come here when I'm having a bad day! Thank you, everyone!! I thought I had commented up here before, but I don't see it. This was at my beloved Houston Grand Opera in 2001, shortly after 9/11. We had to start rehearsals late because our Rigoletto (the late, great Dimitri Hvorostovsky, may he RIP) and I could not get any flights out of Europe to Houston for at least a week or so. It was a strange and magical time. My dear Patrick Summers conducted, and Frank Corsaro directed. I reprised the role in Dallas ten years later with the same Michael Yeargan set, under direction by Harry Silverstein, for those who seem confused. This is definitely the HGO performance, as I recognize many chorus members, some of whom are no longer of this world. You can hear erstwhile young artist program members Joshua Winograde (now a big deal in the management part of opera!) as Ceprano, and Scott Scully (Met artist) as Borsa here, as well. For those of you interested, I do have a website and a youtube channel. Since most of my live recordings belong to the orchestras or operas where I sang them, I can not put up a lot of my own content, but instead have put up a playlist where you will find performances of mine I have found online. The website is lauraclaycomb.com and the KZfaq channel is kzfaq.info And, yes, it is easier to sing that high note lying down. :-)

That's the FINEST Caro Nome I have ever heard

I was in the audience for her professional debut of this role. I don't remember an ovation as raucous and heartfelt as the one she elicited. Why is she not more widely known?

I was in the audience that night. Absolutely amazing.

I saw her in recital and asked her about the high E, she said that laying down and singing that E was the easy part...

Stunning. Effortless. A marvel.

OMG - how effortless and AMAZING she truly IS

I....I can't. I just can't. It is SO BEAUTIFUL. I literally enjoy every single second.

She has so much control that she can sound as beautiful as bird singing while on her back!

How will I ever be able to listen to this aria sung by another singer now?? Nobody will be able to top this! Unbelievable!

Oh my god!! Unbelievable!! That was pure perfection. Not just the sound, but her musicianship and probably the best use of rubato I've ever heard.

That trill 😭😭 @laura claycomb you are a gem ma'am 😭😭

So perfect and beautiful I could die. I have yet to hear a soprano live who blows me away as much as she does. She is a gift to opera.

Absolute GOLD AND DIAMONDS.This soprano is INSUPERABLE there

Laura is amazing. Her voice is full, she transitions smooth and her voice is simply pleasant.

Up there with the very, very best of all times! A perfection

She is absolutely wonderful. I keep coming back to this video.

Who could dislike this? This is awesome!!!!!

Perfetto !! She is unfortunate for not being known that much

her voice is so....so....so....i don't how i can describe it...♥ in the upper register its so...dazzling! It gave me chiillsszzzzzzzz

I had the ultimate life experience to be there when this was recorded --it was like touching heaven to work with her --to be on stage with her ---this was the high-lite of Dallas Opera to have been blessed by Laura's heavenly talent and her gracious spirit and caring personality. I hope I have another chance to work with her --Brilliant!

This fenomenal... A-fucking-mazing. The technique is ALL in there. This is a masterclass AND a delight to hear. The acting too, at the very beginning I was so confused, I thought this wasn't live, thought it was a movie as Miss Claycomb sings so naturally. The acting is amazing, natural, effortless. Love, LOVE this!

This one performance makes me want to quit singing all together and also work my tushy off all at the same time. How is this humanly possible??? Pefectly executed with perfect artistry!! Just amazing.

non capisco chi abbia messo un voto negativo....é la piu' spettacolare di tutte.

She is out of this world! Love her so much. What a technique, voice, agility, acting, interpretation! Wow

Phenomenal! I had heard just the audio of this before, but to see the video where she sings the entire cadenza lying down, I'm stunned at the ease, clarity and control -- that spinning tone on high is otherworldly. This is the Caro Nome of my wildest dreams. This is why i love high sopranos.

this woman deserves more recognition then she gets...maravillosa!!!! what a technique, I simply love her and her miraculous instrument.

Hands down the best caro nome I've ever heard... Her voice has the most beautiful shimmer throughout all registers. I could listen to this all day ^_^

This is so good almost unreal especially the ending.

Old School Coloratura? Yes. Love it.

I want to say that this was at the Met, but could definitely be wrong. I saw this production at the Houston Grand Opera about 5 years ago, and to hear it live is beyond belief.

WOW!! What a cool ending to this aria! Never heard it done like that before!! BRAVA!!! I enjoyed the whole thing thoroughly.

Simply Beautiful voice! A true listening pleasure. A very lovely lady with a truly amazing vocal gift.

One of the best -if not the best - versions of caro nome I´ve ever heard

mai sentita Caro Nome fatta così perfettamente!!! che voce limpida e piacevole! e che mi finale! mi sono innamorata...

Mesmerizing!!! Gads, what a perfect voice! I was so lucky to see her in a live performance of Rigoletto in Toronto about 15 years ago. I'll never forget her performance. She nailed it then; but nut as much as she nailed it here. What a voice!!

Sono felice,sentito sua Gilda in Salero 28 di settembre.BRAVISSIMA!!!

Magnifique!!!! Quelle maîtrise !!!!

Stupenda sia nell'aspetto che nel canto! Spettacolare! 🌟🌟💛💛💫💫

She is incredible. The voice of an angel.

This is marvelous. The phrasing,breath support and the interconection with words and music is so well done. She is perfect singer.I never heard before this name. She delivers perfection on stage.

Flawless, absolute perfection!

Impeccable technique!!! Amazing performance.

Magic! 🥰 I listen again and again

Brava! Furthermore she is very kind in giving voice students a few hints on YT regarding vocal technique.

BRAVISSIMA! The finest performance of this aria I have ever heard!

Spectacular! Glorious ❤

Goosebumps!

exquisite!!!! I could listen to this all day.

what a great high note!!!

This is just PERFECT!! I have been performing this song, and I would kill to sound like her!!

That was a beautiful lyric soprano performance! Brava Laura Claycomb!!

O my this is just marvelous. It is a treasure to find another soprano end with the E. Bravo!!!

She isn't underrated at all, she tours all over the world. She is in all essence a virtuoso.

Such ease and grace, this is truly amazing!

Maravillosa!

Outstanding - and still now, as 2 days ago as Giuliette in I capuletti (in Karlsruhe, Germany), blessed by sensivity and an extraorinary voice - top performance, touching!

Unbelievable.

¡Maravillosa! ¡Y el final es simplemente perfecto!

Fantastica !!! 🌹👏👏👏

Absolutely amazing! I've been a devoted fan of Renata Scotto's 1964 performance since I was 9. - But I'm in awe of Laura Claycombe's 'interpolated high E...' ❤️ #thedetailrenataforgot

Unearthly rendition. Brava!

Espectacular! De lo mejor que he oído. Bellísimo Caro Nomd

This defines ‘tour de force.’ Phenomenal! 💕

I heard Laura Claycomb sing this role with the Canadian Opera Company. The gigantic Hummingbird Center exploded with bravas! It was like something you'd experience at a rock concert.

bravissima, estupenda, wonderwoman! i love her and her glorious instrument.

How many could do this, make it look so effortless, and have such obvious fun doing it? Impressive!

Si esto no es ser un artista en estado de plenitud.....entonces. Cuánta BELLEZA sonora y de actuación. Una locuraaaaaaa. Maravillosa. Gracias.

Who doesn't like this exquisite ethereal voice? A find for me till tonight thanks to the web.

oh my goodness! She's the Gilda of my dreams!

I listen to her first in Idomeneo and then in les contes d'hoffman and I had the same feeling as you! She reminded me of that deep, warm but at the same time, agile, great high notes... I even wanted to post that comment on youtube!!! We should create a youtube fan-club of Laura!!! I really do believe she's amazing!

Bravo!!!! 💐💐💐

Beautiful voice. A great Gilda.

Stunning!

The best !!!!!

Her singing fully animates her characters. This is a flesh and bone Gilda- so realistic.

Wow! That was fantastic! Brava!

My favorite for this aria.

Unbelievable. Saw her with the Houston grand Opera perform the most amazing Caro Nome ever

Best voice I ever heard !!!!Love it !!!

That was freaking amazing.

Straordinario!!

Phenomenal.

Dallas, Texas represent! Sounded like a songbird! And howwwww did she sing those high notes lying down? Impressive.

Saw this performance with the Houston Grand Opera. Have been in Love ever since

maravillosa...que voz tan prodigiosa...canta como le da la gana...que tecnica y que sonido tan espontaneo

Brava! mi piace molto!

Gilda exceptionnelle! Technique et musicalité exemplaires,bravo!

Honestly now, YOU may know she will die for that love later (with the benefit of a libretto), but at this stage of the opera, Gilda is a sweet 16 year old girl infatuated with her recent encounter. She is falling in love with the idea of falling in love for someone. Nothing but brightness and perhaps naive innocence should be conveyed, and she hits the bulls-eye for this youthful exuberance in her voice. Outstanding!

Just marvellous

Amazing. Loved this performance

I've seen her do this live to similar effect. This is from Houston I think, so It might have been the same performance. Laying down for the cadenza! Such freedom!

Best Caro Nome EVER!!!!

Outstanding!

I went last saturday to see her, it was awesoome!!

Astonishing. Speechless.

Por Dios qué belleza

Beautiful

Just perfect!

where has she been?...how have I just found her??? I'm sure not going to lose her....Laura rules my world!!!!!!!