She was my singing teacher for 5 years in the Netherlands .... to hear her voice in the same room was like hearing 12 angels all at the same time !!!!! Mind blowing !!!!!

“British guitarist analyses…opera?” YES! This is one of many reasons why I watch this channel 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Thanks for doing this video, Fil. I was an opera singer when I was younger, so you are making me smile. Opera singers learn to focus their sound way way out in front of their face. They have to project the sound through the orchestral sound-wall (that comes straight up from the pit in front of the stage before it hits the deflectors directly above them at the ceiling). This is true even when the notes are pianissimo. That penetration is often referred to as "ping." To help my focus, I used to imagine blowing the toupee off the head of the guy in the last row of the balcony. Fun times. Pop singers learn to focus their sound a couple of inches in front of their faces because that is where the microphone is. You notice very quickly when a pop singer can't focus past their teeth or let the sound get hung up in their mask. More folks should listen to opera. Even recordings provide a musical experience that is very different than pop or jazz. We can't let this stuff die. Cheers.

Well that was fantastic! It’s amazing that she has such control and uses it so well. Thank you for stepping into a different world and celebrating the talent. Thanks Fil.

It has to be experienced live in a good opera house !!!! The power of the voices when they really let go is amazing and with no amplification.

Hi! Beautiful video 😊 opera singer here! I can explain why Christina's voice was, as you aptly observed, homogeneously full and had volume consistency. The key phrase you yourself used "personality and colour of chest voice" in her head voice :) this is the whole crux of it. Back then, opera singers were trained to fully develop their registers before even beginning actual vocal training and singing. This means, the muscles controlling "chest voice" and "head voice" were isolated and developped separately (much like any other muscle group when you go to the gym, haha) and equally. When both sets of muscles were fully and equally developped, this beautiful result we can hear in this video was achieved. A head voice you see, is nothing but the extension of chest voice, that's why you hear so much "chest" in her head voice. But that's not only in regards to volume. The clarity is also maximised, notice the crystal-clear, open vowels. All great singers of that school and era had this kind of sound. Callas, Ponselle, Muzio, Petrella, Tetrazzini.

OMG ! You’re in my wheelhouse. Working at LA Opera for 17 years, I’ve heard the “ Queen of the Night” so many times !!! All about that F sharp I’ve been told. She sounded fantastic. That’s a hard aria. I’ve been in a dressing room when the divas practice the aria, and there’s no mics and it’s in German!! You made my day and cheered me up ❤❤ Love love loved this!! Thank you Fil !!🤘🏿🤘🏿

She didn’t hit the big time until she was in her mid 30s and recorded this, her breakthrough role in the studio at the age of 39. She was the antithesis of too much too soon. Her voice was extremely rich and ripe and remained that way because she did not overuse it when she was younger. She is one of my favorite operatic sopranos of all time and could sing high F like nobody’s business! She was rare in that she could pretty much sing anything from any genre, dramatic, dramatic bel canto, lyric, lyric bel canto and verismo. She suffered from heart problems and had to retire from full performances. However, she remained active giving concerts, which were nothing short of jaw-dropping and spectacular. They were later on in life and the condition of her voice was nothing short of amazing. She would just stand there and sing and often the maestro and orchestra would have looks of astonishment on their faces while the audience screamed in delirium. She was that great and you can find the videos of her giving these concerts and bringing down the house on KZfaq. She was an incredible singer and a great lady.

I feel like there were points where the pitch monitoring software couldn't tell it was even a human voice rather than an instrument. 😂 She's so incredible. Thanks for the analysis, I've been wanting to see what you'd have to say about an opera singer for a while!

Oh my word!!!!! To possess an instrument as beautiful and sonically magical and yet also have total command over it is simply unfair. I love coloratura singing, it's the operatic equivalent of shredding I reckon

Cristina sounds so crazy, doesn't she. Thank you!

A lot of Rock singers should have a listen to this if they ever start to think they're really something special. Quite amazing.

Literally dropped what I was doing at work to watch this. Made my day to watch you appreciating some opera! This is such a great aria. The Magic Flute is one of my favorite operas!

The best part…no auto tune lines! Yes, the resonance is part of classical training. She handles the octave movements so gloriously perfect! Opera houses are created for that type of sound to be filled. Thank you for your analysis. Bravo Fil!

The stillness that she achieves is utterly amazing. I've seen quite a few versions of this performed by different singers and you can see how hard they are working. But it looks like she just opens her mouth and the notes just come out. It's amazing and totally congruent with the character she is playing.

Although I've not experienced it, I was told by someone who works at the Seattle Opera that there is physical force to opera singing. If you are standing a few feet away, you will feel buffeted by the singer's voice.

for all you who loves her voice, there is a second song of hers in this opera and you find it on KZfaq and is called: Cristina Deutekom O zittre nicht. be amazed again

One of the best voices I've ever heard. It's especially meaningful seeing a rock guitarist see the beauty in ALL great art. She can't be human. It's not possible otherwise.

Those triplets are divine. She is the only one I know who delivered them sans slurring. Truly Diva Prima Donna Assoluta.

The reverse of Hendrix making his guitar sing, she made her voice sound like a musical instrument. Amazing!

So fascinating, Fil. My daughter had a long-term boyfriend who was a tenor with the Met in NYC. He often sang for us in our living room. It blew off our 20ft ceilings! He loved the school song from the University of Illinois, and would put all his power behind that, as well, sounded as loud as 60,000 people cheering at a football game. I’m a Beatles fan, come to love opera in my old age!

Wow!!! I actually forget that I'm hearing a musical voice and not another type of instrument!!! She's that good!!! And Fil's analysis, as always, leaves no stone unturned! GLORIOUS!!!

BRAVA!!!! Privileged to hear Cristina live! She was phenomenal. Period.

I am not into Opera, but I will say that Cristina did have a beautiful voice, which she had great control over. I appreciate the fact that you are not biased and bring out the best in everything you analyze.

Your average operatic soprano won't even attempt the "Queen of the Night" aria. It is performed by specialists. This woman's voice is a wonderful example of that unique talent.

You seem blown away by Cristina Deutecom vocal range and pitches. great job analyzing an opera performance. My mom had a box set vinal records of Madama Butterfly featuring Leontyne Price, her vocal range and pitches blew me away. thanks for covering all genres of music Fil. 😊👍

Such power and control! Thank You for this amazing analysis, Dear Fil! ❤

Cristina and my mom were classmates...My mom always told me that she was a lovely girl ... Cristina and mom were from the great generation that built the country after WOII.. They are both gone but not forgotten.

" A NIGHT AT THE OPERA" ! GREAT FIL - CONTINUE YOUR ANALYSIS from THIS WONDEDRFUL GENRE !!! 😃🤞👍

She looks like she's giving that girl a good talking to, although I don't understand the language lol! This singer truly uses her voice as an instrument.

Wow! I’m loving it!!! The power and volume she has in her voice it so incredible. I’m so glad you did an analysis on her voice. Wonderful !

Wow 😳

OK FIL. Ya gotta go see the Magic Flute. It's such a fun, crazy fantastical Opera. The Queen of the Night is a "bad" character. Mozart caught heat with this one. It had "Too Many Notes..." Empreor Joseph. 0

Phil, please make a video on all the overdubs Queen does on their live recordings. They have been ruining Freddie's live voice since the very beginning. It's a big shame! Lots of people haven't heard his completely real voice since it's being overdubbed all the time. There are already video's on KZfaq showing it in detail but maybe you could talk about artist integrity and why it's so important.

It's nice that they have the music running along the bottom of the screen so we can sing along! (Really, just kidding, but some of us probably could!) Wonderfully interesting analysis of a stunning performance! Well done, Fil!

Cristina Deutecom was a highly celebrated singer who appeared opposite such great tenors as Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras, Franco Corelli, and Richard Tucker to name a few. (Incidentally, in this scene, she's playing a villainess, the Queen of the Night, who has just handed her daughter a dagger with which to kill a high priest, else she threatens to disown her. So, yeah, some high drama, all the while singing what is considered one of the most challenging arias in all of opera.) Another soprano known for singing this aria, but with decidedly different results was American socialite and heiress Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944). When you watch the following video, I wouldn't be surprised if you concluded that her story is more apropos to be titled "WHAT is this?" She's been described as "the world's worst opera singer...(who liberated herself) from the shackles of musical notation", yet she was admired by the likes of Enrico Caruso, Sir Thomas Beecham, Cole Porter, and other notables of her era. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Foster_Jenkins For direct contrast with Deutecom, Fil, I'm using the Queen of the Night aria we just heard. Actually, I'm supplying two links, which you may listen in wither order. The first is from _Florence Foster Jenkins,_ a 2016 British biopic staring Meryl Streep in the title role, for which she earned an Oscar nomination, Hugh Grant as her manager, and Simon Helberg as Cosmé McMoon, her accompanist. (Helberg, previously known for his role as one of the nerdy friends on TV's sitcom _The Big Bang Theory,_ said he had no experience as a classical accompanist before making the movie, only in jazz, so he had to learn the right chops.) What you'll see in the video is a completely live performance by Streep and Helberg done in one take--so, you can have at with your pitch monitoring. The audience are all extras who were not told what to expect, and given minimal direction (I'm assuming they were told to keep the chuckles down as much as possible, then briskly cheer after the horrible performance, as that's likely what happened in real life.) Her recitals were so popular that one at Carnegie Hall was not only sold out, but had 2000 who had to be turned away due to it being an overflow crowd. I haven't seen the movie, but only this clip, but based on my prior familiarity with Jenkins I can say that Streep's impersonation of the awful singing is spot on. She has some singing ability, but going into this scene she said she had a vocal coach help her practice the aria sung properly, and she said she was able to get it to where she rated a C+ to B-, but then she really had to work to get it down to where she could approximate Jenkin's level of sheer ineptitude. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nc95Zdip3Ky2eps.html The second is a remastered 1940 recording of Jenkins singing the aria in all her discordant glory: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q92km8mp3civmKM.html (This is even worse than Streep's recreation, as there are places where at times her accompanist gets totally lost trying to follow her.) Enjoy!

Can you imagine the energy she had to muster for a performance like this? Can't imagine someone could do this night after night

DAMN! THAT WOMAN IS FAN-TASTIC!!! Sad she's not with us any longer. WOW! WEE! LORD ALMIGHTY. SHE COULD SHATTER THE GLASS ON THE WINDOWS!!! My ex and I saw an Italian opera singer when we went to Paris for our honeymoon. He sang in a chapel and OH, HE KNEW HE WAS GREAT. He had such a smug look on his face. And he was SO GOOD!! I've NEVER SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING LIKE HIS SINGING BEFORE AND HE BLEW MY SOCKS OFF!!! I never knew his name, but he was something else! ❤❤❤🌸👍🌹!

My not so secret pleasure is to take in an opera every once in a while. I've had several friends that were opera singers and they are great down to earth people. I went to an opera once, and my date was impressed because we had seats in front of the stage, even though it was one of the worst venues I've ever heard an opera performed. But the singers were close enough that we could have actually touched them. And my friend sang an aria, looked at us and winked. She was impressed.

Reminded me of 8th grade music class, teacher spent introduced us to opera. The whole class hated it, but I liked some of it. Couldn't understand it but at the same time I would catch myself humming it later in the day, not the singing but the tune.

Awesome! I have a cousin who is a retired professional soprano opera singer and can appreciate what you're saying, Fil. Any soprano who can perform the Magic Flute solo has my utmost respect. Always jawdropping. (BTW, I agree that the tempo was a bit too fast). Whenever I hear this piece, I can't help but think of the movie "Amadeus" -- a must watch for Mozart and music fans.

Thanks fil for doing opera. It’s easier to move and act out the emotion on stage than to stand still and sing concert style.

Not a fan of opera but wow to that ladies voice .🇺🇸🎵

I'm amazed to see opera here, but what a blast ! Loved every minute of it.

This was great, Fil! The only opera I have ever watched/listened to was Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, so this was fascinating. I loved your explanations and admiration of the beauty of Cristina Deutekom's singing. Thank you for bringing me along.

2:14 My mother used to say that Christina Deutekom was called "the human whistling kettle".

This was fascinating, thank you for your analysis ❤

That was an amazing performance! I enjoyed listening and was impressed by her powerful vocal range which is just incredible. Great analysis Fil!

I can run this quite successfully in my head, but as a low alto, got no hope of ever singing it. ( I am part of the humble chorus in opera and light opera productions) This piece is a challenge even for many High sops. A magnificent performance. I have stood next to some very good voices on stage and yeah it does blow you away. Ps we never use Microphones>

As an opera fan I welcomed and enjoyed you taking this on. What makes or breaks a performance of Bethoven's 9th for me is how the vocals are done.

Thanks for this. What power and range. I'm not an opera person but I can appreciate a genus.

Her voice in slow motion is crazy. I love this aria. The movie Amadeus is a great introduction to Mozart.

What an amazing range and control. Thanks Fil.

Ain't Opera Great??😁✊ Yes! Opera Singers ARE Actors - They ACT The Emotion Of The Story & Each Part & Bring Them To Life Vocally! Colouratura Sopranos Are Such Truly Gifted ARTISTS - They Are Not Only Amazing To Listen To But This Is Singing From The DIAPHRAM & Colouring Thru The CONTROL & Responsiveness Of The Vocal Cords &, As You Point Out - SO CLEANLY & So Dead On The Notes, AND With Consistent Power!....I Pitty Those Who Cannot APPRECIATE The SKILL & CONTROL To Sing This Way .... As Close To Perfection As A Human Can Get! And - After All, How Can You NOT Love SINGING MOZART??🤯 One Of The Reasons I Love Pat Benatars' Voice So Much - Even Though She Doesn't Choose To Sing Opera - Is Because She Is A CLASSICALLY Trained Singer Like Her Mother, Who Was An Opera Singer! Patty Is AMAZING - I Love Her BADASS Hard Classic Rock (She DID, After All, Aspire To BE Jimmy Paige...😉) & Her BLUES Are Out Of This World! Pat Can Sing It ALL! And In Honour Of The Induction Of Pat AND Her Husband, Co-Writer & Producer & Lead Guitarist🎸Spider - Neil Gerardo - Into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame In Just A Few Days - Will You Do One Or Two Analysis Videos Of QUEEN BENATAR?? Cheers From Colorado, USA!! Thanks, Fil! Love Your Channel!🤗🎸✊

Hmmm. There was one piece in there that grated a bit stylistically for me (am more used to more modern versions such as by Diana Damrau). Opera is always fascinating though! My voice teacher is a dramatic opera soprano. The power up close is astounding!

Wow, Fil, Christina Deutekom is a name I haven't heard in years. She was a big name in classical/opera world. Sadly she was/is barely known in the Netherlands. She used to sing this aria as a warming up for her voice. Let that sink in!!! As always great analysis, Fil 🤘

Thank you for this, Fil, it is more my kind of stuff. The company I worked for once upon a time sponsored Lesley Garrett for an event. She was giving a talk and my table was right at the front, within a few feet of the great lady. When she had finished the talk she that she couldn't leave without giving us a tune. Although I have been to many operatic performances, this almost literally knocked me off my chair. The sheer volume was astonishing.

I wish I could give you more than a big thumbs up because this has been your most important and useful voice analyses. As they say in one of my most favourite movie quotes, "You have chosen wisely" in selecting The Magic Flute for your first analysis of classically trained vocal technique. As it just so happens, The Magic Flute is the first piece of music that was specifically designed to be pop music. Of course, "pop music" in those days meant, using the musical tools then available ie. orchestras and trained voices. But it does have some of the greatest, catchiest pop songs ever written. It came out three or so months before Mozart died; he had SO MUCH to offer. After him there was no more pop music until the Italians got underway with Verdi and then Puccini, and then in the 1920s, the Gershwin brothers who really cemented the concept with Swannee (GG was 19 at the time) and Stairway to Paradise (incredible chords, so closely modelled by the Beatles), and tied it to the emerging recorded music business. (The great German Lieder movement of the early 1800s can't be thought of as pop music but was more like an extension of folk music into trained voices). As for this performance, you may have unknowingly picked up on an unfortunate fact about classical music production: some conductors wanting to sound "special" while not really being special, actually insist on their music being tuned just a few cents above standard tuning. This is especially difficult for wind instruments, which are tuned by construction - you are either out of pitch with the rest of the orchestra or have to use different instruments! BUT another way they do this is by playing at standard pitch and speeding up the whole recording. You can see that she is a little sharp everywhere so yes you are right in supposing that the recording has been fiddled with. She would definitely not be sharp in real life. Another thing, a classically trained voice easily has vibrato ranging two tones, one up and one down from the pitch. Incidentally, I was listening to I Should Have Known Better the other day and John Lennon jumps his voice ten notes in the scale (something like 6 tones, I haven't counted it), so these incredible jumps in The Queen Of The Night arias (there are two in the opera) definitely find a home in the greatest of pop singers. One last thing - I could go on and on - once I enjoyed a performance of The Magic Flute in the front row of the Sydney Opera House. We were at the side and at one stage Pappagino came right next to us and sang in a quiet voice. I had no doubt that his voice would have carried right across the whole auditorium. There is one thing to sing loudly and another to sing with projection. Projection IS NOT the same as loud volume. In the piece you showcased she has to sing both very loudly and with projection. Projection is always required in opera even in the piano parts (quietly) because you are always singing behind an orchestra, which stands between you and the audience. You are always having to deal with 20 or so violins and violas and everything else, and NO AMPLIFICATION.

That was a fantastic !! Love when you do a analysis on a artist I would not otherwise. Know . Thanks Fil

Cristina's O, zittre nicht and Marten aller Arten are fantastic as well

This is off the scale wonderful. Beautiful control of a wonderful voice. I love classical and Opera. I love all music, as there’s good in all, but I always come back, to this time and again. Marvellous video Fil. Totally nailed it.

You make even opera swing! Highly appreciated!

Yesterday I was thinking I would like to learn more about the Soprano vocal range...and there we have it. Helpful. Thanks!

I would love a comparison analysis of Eileen Farrell singing I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues" next to an operatic aria like Suicidio from La Gioconda. 3:31 Crossover singing is rarely this good.

what a powerful voice.

Great review Fil. Incredible that Mozart composed this at the end of the 18th Century clearly expecting contemporary sopranos to be able to tackle it. I wonder how those renditions would compare with the total mastery (mistressery?!) we hear here.

I love your vocal analysis videos Fil but WOW! This one was really special. I've always loved and enjoyed all styles of music except Opera and it's a style I've never been able to fully appreciate until now. Maybe I'll check out some Opera in future. Thanks for sharing your musical knowledge with everyone.

That's the song the woman was singing in thr isle next to my husband during a performance of Wizards of Winter performance. My husband was never into opera but he was so impressed with her voice and to hear her right next to him. Whenever he hears this songs he talks about the lady singing next to him. I applaud this performance. Very beautiful. 👍🙂👍

Just a little bit of vocal gymnastics Fil that is all. I never seen you so flabbergasted. I don't care for Opera myself but I definitely can appreciate. The choir that I am in now has taught me something about vowels and singing. I have learned when consonants especially hard ones are in a word it can cause you to go flat so if the note gets to a certain height on the scale we only sing the vowel of the word. Another great analysis Fill kudos.

Truly astonishing voice control! Wow...

Long time opera fan but I love the idea of sharing the love of the human voice. The power, the perfection and the drama is epitomized in opera.

I love all the different genres that you analyze. I have learned alot. Thanks Fil😊

This channel deserves more views! Amazing content

Pavarotti’s famous ‘Nessun Dorma’ next PLEASE!!!

Thanks again for this, Fil. I went to the performance video and watched / listened a second time. That rarely happens. As I said, I'm not an opera fan. But this was indeed incredible. Cheers to the other singer/actress as well. That's got to blow your eardrums out, being at such close range. I was wondering if she'd survive, LOL!

This is right up my alley! More opera and classical singing analysis please!!!

I sang with Deutekom. This voice was NOT small.

GREAT , my favorite singer, and what an opera-singer ! Thanks, she never got her credits because she was Dutch and quete voloptuous ! Loove to see your site !

There is another video on KZfaq “ Who sang the Queen of the Night staccatos the best” Well worth a look. Love your videos!

Thanks a lot! It's so perfect I don't have anything to add. She is performing the Queen of the Night, expressing steelpointed hatred and maniac wish for revenge, and it really penetrates as a pure sword from Toledo. You encouraged wishes, so here is one: I have heard it live filling the whole concert hall, sitting furthest back and high up, because of a last minute notice that Dmitri Hvorostovsky came to sing in Malmoe, Sweden. He lived in London for a few decades before he died of cancer. He developed the most beautiful voice in my mind. Do listen to Farewell to Joy kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y9F0Za2myNadmmQ.html (there are many other versions, too, often performed as an extra to the end of a concert.) The audience dares hardly breathe and the ovations wouldn't stop as a last farewell from them to the young winner of the "Cardiff Singer of the World" and ever since then a huge favourite in all the world among those who love classical singing...

This was like an operatic version of a face melting performance! Fabulous!♥️

Holy wah! This is a surprise! Love education 🎹 When I was young my Mom bought a stereo and I listened to some of her records. Liked Mario Lanza although my preferences drifted to Elvis, Roy, Del, Brenda, Jackie W and the Grand Ole Opry style. This video is amazing. ❣

Beautiful analysis of her operatic singing technique. The one thing that's missing from this aria is piannissimo singing which is an equally impressive technical feat as these fortissimo fireworks. A little FFF goes a long way. The coloratura singing though is incredibly clean and impressive. She's captured the piccolo-sounding staccato whistle tone style perfectly as well as the legato runs.

13:26 Deutekom's execution of the A-F-A-C F-C-D-B♭ C-F-A-C F-C-D-B♭ passage is mind blowing. While other sopranos slow down the tempo or speed through it, Deutekom keeps it constant in precise time. One famous soprano actually transposed the entire aria a half step lower.

Brilliant version of it. Mimi Coertse (South African) was also excellent at it! Great break-down from you, thank you!

Deutekom was great. Amazing high notes. Never received the acclaim of the most famous dramatic coloratura sopranos like Joan Sutherland, but was a great talent. Her recording of the great aria, Oh Quante Volte from Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, is magical and she was great in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.

With different genres of music, there is so much you can learn from. Even with singers who do other styles, they can still be an influence. Thanks for sharing this analysis video. Cheers, Fil! ✌️

Fantastic analysis Fil. Many thanks

You remember i told you about ny cousins mother doing opera and this is one she could not do and thats why she wasnt able to go pro. . This is phenomenal!

Thanks, Fil, for jumping into the world of opera; the land of the well trained voice.

We've never heard of her before. She is simply off the charts. Could you please do Mario Lanza??

Thanks for broadening our horizons. I think I have heard more opera singers and their work in the past 20/30(?) years through rockers than I ever did in the whole rest of my life. Now I'm impressed. Opera singers are amazing.

i remember this because i'm dutch and from 71. this is great.

The manager of a service company i worked with was an italian with a barrel chest and a knack for opera. He did some singing occasionally. Once he did full power tenor in my direction only 2 meters away and i had a tinnitus for some hours. Later i tried some singing and was surprised i was able to fill a truck repair hall with my bass. A colleague once asked me about and i did some lines. A new young guy app 10 meters away stumbled some steps back when i did.

Queen of the night aria is very hard. apparently it was written for a particular soprano that had that 'flute ' like quality to her voice.

Perfect! An artist that has complete control.

Fabs! I also adore Diana Damrau as Queen of the Night. Her version is well worth checking out! My German grandmother performed this role in Vienna. Btw- Home Free just put out an opera video of Nessun Dorma. Rob will blow you out of the water! I see you haven’t yet reacted to the vocal sensation that is Home Free. Check them out- they are amazing singers in acapella with the world’s greatest best boxer IMO.

This is my all time favourite opera piece and Christina is brilliant and like to see this clip regularly. Then I saw your analysis in the listings which I enjoy. I watched your analysis of Connie Francis who I’m also a fan of. Nobody will ever be able to beat Christina’s performance.

I had classical lessons in high school. My vocal coach always said your mouth is your horn. Open your throat, keep it as relaxed as possible, and use your diaphragm. I made the all state chorus my senior year, but I never got to that standard. Love opera.

Fil - As much as the reviews themselves, I'm enjoying your ability to appreciate musical excellence in other generes, including country and now opera. I'm equally enjoying the ability of a couple classically trained people to do reviews appreciating excellence in rock. I guess I'm in my cross-genere appreciation period. Thanks!