The first time Cynthia sang this in front of us, the Cast, there was silence, then gasps, then emotional applause. She was/is a wonderful Woman. Best time of my life.., Summer of 92.
Kacie Colleen Mercer Hi Ms. Mercer, You have to be one of the luckiest singers in history! I posted this, and I'm always going back to sneak a look at her! She's absolutely amazing and I suggest, given her talent, you'll be right up there with her! Grateful to hear from you, and my best wishes! varadero
Kacie Colleen Mercer Warmest congratulations to you and please give my best compliments to Ms. Cynthia Clarey: she is perfect! by singing and by acting. I know very much about opera, it was rather hard finding a good singer as well as good actor/actress. But Ms. Clarey is both! Thank you, Ms. Clarey. From Argentina, Amelia.
This just lets you know how many times you can hear an aria in concert and be truly moved, and then see it fully staged and realize what you can't take away from a static rendition. The stagecraft is superb. Look what it adds to have the whole aria become her thoughts and her work to let him go, when she starts unable to cover his face yet, and then ends that chilling final glissando bowing to the inevitable, dropping the sheet over him, and following it down to bury her own face.
This was the first production of Porgy and Bess that I ever saw and the performance of this aria has always stuck with me and I find I am always using it is a standard.
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS! I remember when originally aired on PBS! My Dad recorded it and we just lost the tape this year! Great to hear again! Brings back memories and the song is great!
I am so impressed and grateful, that we have the technology to see and hear these marvelous voices! Thank you for giving Ytubers this magnificent music and singers!
@early60srcool Un abraco, or a big hug my friend! I thought you might like this. Hearing Ms. Clarey, especially singing this piece, still gives me goose-bumps! Her ultimate cry is so moving it provokes me to back away from the screen; it's that hypnotic!
@primadiva Thanks so much for your comment! I'm happy that Mr. Gershwin lived to see his operatic masterpiece from start to finish. Sadly, I'm pretty certain that his last "Hollywood" effort was completed after his death.
@TiaPamina I'm honored that you find this as entrancing as I do! Watching Ms. Clarey perform here is almost a perilous journey! After viewing, you're never sure if you're going to be able to get back up off the floor. Best to you.
What can I say? This left me speechless and in tears, and the only other time a performance has done that was the Finale to Boito's Mefistofele. Thank you.
+bigrobtheactor Think you got it right with your description! She took us all to school. This clip, and the entire production, were so astounding! I get you about the cold chills! Mine translated into goose-bumps! This lady is a goddess! Grateful to hear from you bigrobtheactor! Best wishes, varadero
@MsSarjen Odd you should say this! I, too can only watch this now and then. Ms. Clarey's rendition of this piece makes me shiver! It's as if I were in the "mourning gallery" right with her. That's how her voice and performance affect me. Thanks for writing!
Snookyooz You won't have wasted your $$! It's a wonderful show, and all of the performers are amazing. I'm so glad you were kind enough to comment; so few do these days. Thank you!!
Chrislyn Cross I'm so grateful for your comment Chrislyn Cross! This is a performance that's not only beautiful, but in my opinion, unbeatable! Ms. Clarey is a genius! Thanks so much for your message! Best, varadero
@primadiva As I said in my comments, listening, and observing her style really is a unique experience! She puts so much of herself into this performance. Some say actors act and singers sing; she excels at both! Thanks for your mention.
I can't believe that I didn't respond to your message! Please accept my apology! I'm no winner, but I receive many messages. I'm sorry that I missed yours! Also, I'm hoping that you really made Ms. Clarey, your friends and family proud with your rendition of this amazing song. As her student I suspect you knocked it out of the park! Please let me know, OK? Best wishes!
So . . . I start the long seach again . . . damn . . . where does one find this film? ? There are several clips from it, but no name, producer, director of the film. I WANT TO SEE THE ENTIRE THING!
The first time Cynthia sang this in front of us, the Cast, there was silence, then gasps, then emotional applause.
She was/is a wonderful Woman.
Best time of my life.., Summer of 92.
There is no version better than this one. It makes me sob, every time, no matter how many times I listen to Cynthia Clarey performing it.
Outstanding!
goosebumps.... brava
This is my voice teacher.
Kacie Colleen Mercer Hi Ms. Mercer,
You have to be one of the luckiest singers in history! I posted this, and I'm always going back to sneak a look at her! She's absolutely amazing and I suggest, given her talent, you'll be right up there with her! Grateful to hear from you, and my best wishes!
varadero
Kacie Colleen Mercer Warmest congratulations to you and please give my best compliments to Ms. Cynthia Clarey: she is perfect! by singing and by acting. I know very much about opera, it was rather hard finding a good singer as well as good actor/actress. But Ms. Clarey is both! Thank you, Ms. Clarey. From Argentina, Amelia.
This just lets you know how many times you can hear an aria in concert and be truly moved, and then see it fully staged and realize what you can't take away from a static rendition. The stagecraft is superb. Look what it adds to have the whole aria become her thoughts and her work to let him go, when she starts unable to cover his face yet, and then ends that chilling final glissando bowing to the inevitable, dropping the sheet over him, and following it down to bury her own face.
Merci, haymon, white, gregg, sporting life et tous les comédins-chanteurs de cette version !
I am surprised that this particular rendition doesn't have more accolades. This is perhaps one of the very best versions of this exquisite piece.
Le plus bel opéra du monde,! Merci, monsieur, gershwin! Tu es en bonne compagnie, au paradis des musiciens et des poétes !
I was a coworker of hers some years ago. It was cool talking to her about the world of entertainment, especially live performance.
This is such a moving performance. Here I am in 2021 knowing its just an opera, but still tears coming from my eyes.
This is one of most fantastic song ever! And her interpretation is ...I have no words.
I'm so grateful to read your kind words! It does have that ability to leave one breathless! Thanks once again!
varadero
Absolutely gorgeous. One of the most fabulous musicals of all time.
Thanks so much my very kind friend! Be well, and I'm very grateful!
@DenSantos Thank you so much DenSantos! I'm grateful, and in your debt for this comment! Ms. Clarey is just amazing.
This was the first production of Porgy and Bess that I ever saw and the performance of this aria has always stuck with me and I find I am always using it is a standard.
@cyc1069 Hello, and you're welcome! This is one amazing lady, and a very chilling performance. Glad you liked this!
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS! I remember when originally aired on PBS! My Dad recorded it and we just lost the tape this year! Great to hear again! Brings back memories and the song is great!
I am so impressed and grateful, that we have the technology to see and hear these marvelous voices! Thank you for giving Ytubers this magnificent music and singers!
Bought the whole opera on ITunes. $AUD16.99, great value. Can't wait to listen to it all!
QUE LLANTO! This touched me deeply. Transforms you right to the depths of what sorrow and grief feels like. Absolutely grips you completely. WOW!
@early60srcool Un abraco, or a big hug my friend! I thought you might like this. Hearing Ms. Clarey, especially singing this piece, still gives me goose-bumps! Her ultimate cry is so moving it provokes me to back away from the screen; it's that hypnotic!
@primadiva Thanks so much for your comment! I'm happy that Mr. Gershwin lived to see his operatic masterpiece from start to finish. Sadly, I'm pretty certain that his last "Hollywood" effort was completed after his death.
@TiaPamina I'm honored that you find this as entrancing as I do! Watching Ms. Clarey perform here is almost a perilous journey! After viewing, you're never sure if you're going to be able to get back up off the floor. Best to you.
A wonderful voice and a really sweet person.
I'm going to meet her at my school (Roosevelt University) in the fall semester of 2011...She's amazing
What can I say? This left me speechless and in tears, and the only other time a performance has done that was the Finale to Boito's Mefistofele. Thank you.
Absolutely . Cold chills. It doesn't get any better. Not in this world it don't..
+bigrobtheactor Think you got it right with your description! She took us all to school. This clip, and the entire production, were so astounding! I get you about the cold chills! Mine translated into goose-bumps! This lady is a goddess! Grateful to hear from you bigrobtheactor! Best wishes,
varadero
The BEST version of this song!
This is simply incredible . . .
@MsSarjen Odd you should say this! I, too can only watch this now and then. Ms. Clarey's rendition of this piece makes me shiver! It's as if I were in the "mourning gallery" right with her. That's how her voice and performance affect me. Thanks for writing!
i cant wait to get my dvd....yaaaaay! sing it cynthia clarey
This is absolutely wonderful. I have this video taped on an old VCR tape. Thank you for posting this amazing performance.
Spine-chilling. Must buy the whole thing.
Snookyooz You won't have wasted your $$! It's a wonderful show, and all of the performers are amazing. I'm so glad you were kind enough to comment; so few do these days. Thank you!!
@carosta You're welcome! Her interpretation is miraculous! Grateful to hear from you.
who ever posted this thank you sooooo much i love this version of simon rattle's nobody like him!!!!
Amazing and inspiring!!
Chrislyn Cross I'm so grateful for your comment Chrislyn Cross! This is a performance that's not only beautiful, but in my opinion, unbeatable! Ms. Clarey is a genius! Thanks so much for your message!
Best,
varadero
varadero1839 Yes, SHE IS OUTSTANDING!
@primadiva As I said in my comments, listening, and observing her style really is a unique experience! She puts so much of herself into this performance. Some say actors act and singers sing; she excels at both! Thanks for your mention.
Wow!! Thank you!!!
Wonderful, thank you!
So wonderful! Thank You!
Damn she's good!
She's scary good! I love her performance here; it's bone-chilling! many thanks for writing!
varadero
@varadero1839 This version brings tears to my eyes. Plain beautiful!
I can't believe that I didn't respond to your message! Please accept my apology! I'm no winner, but I receive many messages. I'm sorry that I missed yours! Also, I'm hoping that you really made Ms. Clarey, your friends and family proud with your rendition of this amazing song. As her student I suspect you knocked it out of the park! Please let me know, OK? Best wishes!
So . . . I start the long seach again . . . damn . . . where does one find this film? ? There are several clips from it, but no name, producer, director of the film. I WANT TO SEE THE ENTIRE THING!
+Rein Whitt-Pritchette You can buy it on Amazon now!
Amazon has it.
All i can say is that i absolutly second 9aspengold and 11777766. And Thanks so much 4 shring