Search - Francesco Sacrati, Alessandro Scarlatti, George Frederick Handel :: The Fabulous Victoria de Los Angeles: A Lifetime Achievement

In Memoriam: A Tribute To The Late Victoria

02/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Victoria De Los Angeles died Saturday of heart failure at the age of 83 in Barcelona, Spain. The world of opera mourns her loss. She was a gifted soprano and a wonderful human being. On stage, she was able to directly speak to her audience and communicate with them in a very special and rare way that is not always seen today. She never hid herself behind a facade nor distanced herself from fans and audiences. She was born to sing opera. It was in her blood. This album showcases De Los Angeles in her most memorable and successful roles. Victoria De Los Angeles was one of the first singers from Spain to win worldwide acclaim. Others would follow- Placido Domingo and Montserrat Caballe. De Los Angeles is showcased in this album which may also serve as a tribute to the now late soprano.



Her voice was essentially full lyric with some spinto. Hearing her renditions of "O Mio Babbini Caro"- a signature soprano role, as well as "Ebben Ne Andro Lontana" from La Wally and her performances as Mimi, one is clearly treated to the truest form of a pure lyric soprano. Her voice is spunned gold, with sweet, warm, feminine textures. Her reperotire remained in the Italian and French. Of course, being Spanish, she was a leading singer in Spanish Lieder and romantic ballads. Her Art Songs in Spanish are full of elegance and grace. A champion of obscure composers, she sang and recorded recitals that featured the works of lesser known composers, though strictly Lieder and Folk/Art Song.



Victoria De Los Angeles is fortunately a well-documented artist. Some film footage exist of her performances. I seem to recall that there exists a taped performance of her Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata. She excelled in the lyric roles of Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme, Marguerite in Gounod's Faust. Her Madame Butterfly is a pure lyric rendition, with less of the dramatic intensity other singers have given the role- i.e. Leontine Price, Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, etc. But her Butterfly is actually the way the role ought to be sung. It's a voice of grace, naivete and above all romance that must colorize Butterfly. The dramatic intensity only makes her sound older and madly passionate. She is only a fifteen year old girl who has been deceived and betrayed. She must remain youthful sounding. De Los Angeles does justice to the truest form of Butterfly. She was thrilling in French and Italian operas and her Spanish songs were briliant and beautiful.



Victoria will always be remembered. She was a unique and talented artist of the lyric repertoire. Her pure, lovely voice was like an angel's. There will never be another Victoria De Los Angeles. With her death, the end of an era also passes. In particular, I will always remember one reported incident. She was about to make her first recital in America but she had no accompanist- pianist/guitarist etc. When asked how she would handle this, she remarked: "Well I brought my guitar with me". And she proceeded to accompany herself with the guitar."

A n angelic voice

Emma de Soleil | On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for stu | 02/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"De los Angeles' ability to sing with elegance and style has rarely been equalled and never been surpassed. She's the greatest Charlotte in "Werther", the most tender Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana" and the most sumptuos Nedda in "I Pagliacci". Her Lieder-Recordings are legendary, my favourites are the Spanish ones of course. What a piano-culture and what a velvet sound! Get this set, it's cheap and it has GREAT singing!"

De los Angeles sings ... and unpacks her guitar.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 01/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Well, I have certainly brought my guitar with me," was the answer Victoria de los Angeles gave to reporters, on arriving in Australia in the 1950s, when asked if she would provide her own accompaniments during her forthcoming tour. Add this CD to your cart, and you too will be able to hear her accompany herself on her guitar in a little "farewell to Granada". The bulk of the items derive from a recording session done in Barcelona in 1960 with pianist Gerald Moore. It recreates the experience that formerly could be enjoyed when a singer and piano accompanist gave a recital. There might be a few "arie antiche", a bracket of lieder, some French art songs, and then a selection of items from the singer's special repertoire. In Victoria de los Angeles' case, this meant a number of Spanish songs, usually including the ubiquitous "Clavelitos". Well, that is what can be heard here, for about 50 minutes, including brief spoken introductions to the Spanish songs.To bring the total playing time up to 65 minutes, Testament have included the singer's performance of the aria from a Bachianas Brazileiras recorded under the composer's direction, one of the "Chants d'Auvergne", and an extract from her complete "Carmen" conducted by Beecham. Testament have ensured that many of Victoria de los Angeles' recordings are obtainable in excellent reissues. This one, subtitled "A Lifetime Achievement" provides complete texts, some colour photographs, program notes, and biographical information about a singer who will be eighty years old in 2003."