A Portrait: Kathleen Battle soprano

REVIEW: Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall 2010

2010-02-09T04:36:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Battle still possesses one of the most loveliest voices in the world. Her recital last night revealed this fact on numerous occasions. Accompanied by pianist Olga Kern, Ms. Battle sang a program of music by Schubert, Lizst and Rachmaninoff. The effect of the first half of the program was dampened by the inappropriate use of flash photography and this unfortuantely took Ms. Battle's focus. I wish that the Carnegie Hall staff would have taken more ownership of correcting the distraction of the photography by announcing its inappropriateness at the onset of the program. To this end, Ms. Battle's discomfort was felt by the audience and blanketed the hall with a tension, felt throughtout the first half of the recital.

To Ms. Battle's defense, she has more than earned the right to sing at her own will. A living treasure, in my opinion she made clear that she would not yield to what may acceptable today, as in the inappropriateness of cameras being flashed in a performance. So many artists simply conform and allow the trends of society to take them wherever, Ms. Battle is not one of those artists, only offering forth her gifts when the element of decorum was obtained.

It was in the songs of Rachmanioff and Lizst after the intermission that Ms. Battle asserted herself and reminded everyone assembled why she is one of the most acclaimed sopranos in the world. Glistening high notes, achingly beautiful pianissimos and seamless phrases were all trademark reasons of why many came to hear the great lady sing.

Closing the recital, Ms. Battle sang three spirtuals, Way Up in Heaven-arr. Hall Johnson, This Little Light of Mine-arr. Hale Smith and Ev'rytime I Feel the Spirit-arr. Hall Johnson. Most noteably, Ms. Battle honored the presence of Juanita Smith, the widow of the composer, Hale Smith who recently passed.

Singing four encores, Ms. Battle sang Witness-arr. Hale Smith dedicated to the victims of the Haiti earthquake, O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi, Swing Low Sweet Chariot and a Russian song by Gretchaninoff.

Kathleen Battle to sing Carnegie Hall recital Feb 8, 2010

2010-01-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Battle 2009-2010

2009-10-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Ms. Battle crowns the year with exciting concert performances, including a recital October 2009 in Seoul, Korea andin recital at New York's Carnegie Hall!

Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater
Seoul, Korea, South
GET TICKETS

10/31/2009 7:30:00 PM
Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater
Seoul, Korea, South
GET TICKETS

12/1/2009 7:30:00 PM
Chapman Music Hall
Tulsa, OK
GET TICKETS

12/7/2009 7:30:00 PM
Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
Charleston, SC
GET TICKETS

12/18/2009 8:00:00 PM
Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park
Chicago, IL
GET TICKETS

1/30/2010 8:00:00 PM
Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
Portsmouth, OH
GET TICKETS

2/8/2010 8:00:00 PM
Carnegie Hall - Isaac Stern Auditorium
New York, NY
16
2/16/2010 8:00:00 PM
Segerstrom Hall
Costa Mesa, CA
GET TICKETS
27
5/27/2010 8:00:00 PM
The Music Center at Strathmore
North Bethesda, MD
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5/29/2010 8:00:00 PM
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Baltimore, MD
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Kathleen Battle Sings American Spirituals

2009-04-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Legendary soprano Kathleen Battle sings Great American Spirituals, Palm Sunday, April 4, 2009 at 2PM at Carnegie Hall!

Happy 60th Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

Today marks Ms. Battle's 60th Birthday!!!!!!!! May God continue to bless you sublime artistry.
Your fans look forward to even greater things!

2008-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kathleen Battle in her recent 2008 Concert in Brazil. (photo: Monica Langer)

Ms. Battle's Scheduled Concert Appearances

2008-04-23T20:05:00.001-07:00

UPCOMING RECITALS

Thursday, May 1, 2008 Norfolk, VAVirginia Arts Festival/Harrison Opera House 7:30pm

Friday, May 16, 2008 and Monday, May 19, 2008 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil With the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra, Conductor Roberto Minczuk, Teatro Municipal 8:30pm

Sunday, July 19, 2008 Westhampton Beach, NY Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center 8:30pm

Friday, November 7, 2008 Lakeland, FL Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College Festival of Fine Arts 7:30pm

Sunday, November 16, 2008 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Roy Thomson Hall 2:00pm

Saturday, May 9, 2009 San Rafael, CAMarin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium at Marin Center 8:00pm

Saturday, May 16, 2009 San Diego, CAWith the San Diego Symphony, Conductor Jahja Ling, Copley Symphony Hall 8:00pm

Ms. Battle sings the "The Lord's Prayer" for the Papal Visit

2008-04-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

After just singing a victorious recital at Carnegie Hall in NYC on Sunday, Ms. Battle was in Washington, DC today to sing the Malotte Lord's Prayer for the Papal Festivities.

Click Here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M959EKqr_N8

The Triumphal Return to Carnegie Hall

2008-04-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

(Captured by a Concert Go-er with a Camera Phone)

(photo: Hiroyuko Ito, for the New York Times)

Sunday, April 13, 2008 will be forever etched in my mind and heart as one of the joyous times of my life. Soprano Kathleen Battle returned to Carnegie Hall in a glorious recital. We as the audience did not only feel like we were just attending a mere concert, but that we were actually a part of a greater picture: a celebration of a great artist. The moment finally came that we all had been waiting for. At 2PM, people were still pouring in for the concert and the house was filled to capacity.

As noted on the program, Ms. Battle was to begin the recital with songs of Purcell, accompanied by Daniel Swenberg on theorbo. Before her entrance, Mr. Swenberg took the stage with his baroque instrument and provided a wonderful prelude to the concert, which also served as the entrance for Ms. Battle. Never have I experienced an artist receiving the type of greeting bestowed upon Ms. Battle on Sunday afternoon. Shouts of Brava!, whistles, admiration, all led into a rousing standing ovation , so richly deserved. The standing ovation was rendered before Ms. Battle even sang a note. She was visually moved and delivered a full bow to the house, with hands clasped in gratitude. The program opened with three songs by Purcell, which served as the vehicle for Ms. Battle to fully deliver in the Schubert and Mendelssohn lieder. Her accompanist, Ted Taylor was a wonderful partner in the music making and shared a wonderful rapport with Ms. Battle the entire afternoon. In these pieces, Ms. Battle sang with the loveliest color and the voice was a picture of angelic beauty. Rounding out the program were chansons by Gabriel Faure, Spanish songs by Montsalvatge and Turina and spirituals by Robert Sadin. Ms. Battle is a great communicator and makes the audience feel special, not that you just bought a ticket to a concert, but rather to an experience! The afternoon treated us to several great occurences. The spiritual "Hold On" was arranged for Ms. Battle by her long time collaborator and friend, Robert Sadin. Ms. Battle announced to the audience that this piece was written expressly for this ocassion. At the conclusion of the work, it was greeted with a standing ovation by the audience. Ms. Battle was trying to find Mr. Sadin so that the could be recognized, but he was sitting right beside me in the First Tier. I pointed and pointed and others in the audience begin to turn there attention to the back of the hall. Mr. Sadin stood and received the expressions of appreciation from Ms. Battle and the audience.
Another surprise was the insertion of "Were You There." a moving spiritual about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I remember in an interview Ms. Battle speaking about how this was a deep, probing spiritual and how one had to be emotionally prepared to render such a piece on such a serious subject. For this selection, Ms. Battle returned to the stage without her accompanist. This was such a moving rendering of this spiritual . The audience was taking from one station of the cross to the next, from character to character.

This was such a joyous day I am sure for Ms. Battle, as it was for her most ardent fans and supporters. New York City came out in droves and Carnegie Hall was filled to capacity. You could just fill the love in the room. There were so many standing ovations and Ms. Battle expressed her appreciation to at the audience that she could feel the love an support and what it meant to both her and Mr. Taylor.

The audience did not want to let her go and she also sang O mio babbini caro-Puccini, He's Eye is on the Sparrow-which she noted was one of her favorite hymns and Swing Low Sweet Chariot as encores. The audience again responded in kind with a long thunderous standing ovation. At this point was vocally spent, but the audience continued to show their love and appreciation to her with applause that allowed for multiple bows to the house.

Other notables, spotted in the audience was Peter Gelb and I had the oppotunity to meet personally my fraternity brother, Dr. Cornell West and NPR personality Tavis Smiley who both expressed great admiration for Ms. Battle.

Please share your thoughts! I ran into a great deal of fans who are members of Veronika's Kathy Battle yahoo group and the Kathleen Battle page on Facebook.

BRAVA! BRAVA! BRAVA!

2008-04-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

I can hardly stand it! On Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 2PM, Ms. Battle will make her triumphal return to Carnegie Hall.

Fans are coming in droves from all over, especially those who are in the Kathy Battle Group created by Veronika Arkangel. I know I am there for sure, along with Rodari, Makeda, Dave, Veronika, Monica, Will, Matthew...........are you in the number?

Kathleen Battle to Open International Vocal Recital Series at Roy Thomson Hall

2008-03-31T05:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.roythomson.com/eventInfo.cfm?E=2151&YearMonth=2008,3

Kathleen Battle will open the International Vocal Recital Series at Roy Thomsom Hall in Toronto on November 16, 2008 at 2 PM. Cecilia Bartoli, Nicole Cabell and Renee Fleming follow in the series.

Carnegie Hall Recital Program

2008-03-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

KATHLEEN BATTLE

SOPRANO

Sunday, April 13, 2008

2 PM

Ted Taylor, Pianist

Daniel Swenberg, Theorbo

Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium

http://www.kathleenbattle.com

Music for A While Henry Purcell

There's Not A Swain

Man is for the Woman Made

Alinde Franz Schubert

Die Manner sind Mechant

Nacht und Traume

Versunken

Fruhlingslied Felix Mendelssohn

Neue Liebe

Auf Flugeln des Gesanges

INTERMISSION

Die Lorelei Franz Liszt

Reve D'Amour Gabriel Faure

Mandoline

Notre Amour

Ninghe, Ninghe Montsalvatge

Tu Pupilla as Azul Joaquin Turina

Good News arr. Robert Sadin

Hold On!

Official Website

2008-03-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Ms. Battle's management, Columbia Artists Management have launched a beautifully created website for her. It features concert dates, listings of DVD's, recordings and personal recollections by Ms. Battle. Check it out!

Carnegie Hall Recital Update

2008-02-26T11:36:00.000-08:00

Ms. Battle will be accompanied by Ted Taylor.
Her program will feature music by Mendelssohn, Schubert and Spirituals.

The Triumphal Return

2008-02-20T06:22:00.000-08:00

The last recital that Ms. Battle sang in NYC's Carnegie Hall was in 2001. She has sung numerous performances in the US and abroad, but it is just something about singing a recital in Carnegie Hall from what I understand from great singers.

I do know that NYC audiences have missed her absence immensly and that her reception at Carnegie Hall will be as joyous and enthusiastic as ever!

What repertoire will she sing? What would you like her to sing? Who will accompany her: JJ Penna? Howard Watkins? Cliff Jackson? Margo Garrett, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, Ted Taylor or Dennis Helmrich?

What are your thoughts?

The Journey Begins to Carnegie Hall!

2008-02-11T06:26:00.001-08:00

Well, I bought my ticket for Ms. Battle's recital in NYC at Carnegie Hall. I am just filled with such joy and anticipation, it is like being a child again at Christmas. Aside from this blog, there are other internet sites that are devoted to focus on Ms. Battle's artistry. The yahoo group created by Veronika was my first introduction to sites of this nature. Thus, I created this blog and also a Kathleen Battle Page on Facebook, with well over 100 members!

This will be my fifth time hearing Ms. Battle live, but my first time attending a concert in Carnegie Hall. What an artist to hear in this magnificent space!

I wonder what repertoire will Ms. Battle choose for this recital? What would you like to hear if you have the opportunity to attend?

Handel, Bach, Schubert, Rossini, Mozart, a little Stevie Wonder?

But hey, it's Ms Battle! She can sing it all!!!!!

Carnegie Hall Recital

2008-02-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

COLUMBIA ARTISTS MANANGEMENT PRESENTS THE GREAT SOPRANO

KATHLEEN BATTLE IN RECITAL AT CARNEGIE HALL ON SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2008 AT 2PM.

http://www.cami.com/?cat=Vocal&webid=27

A Funny Thought

2008-01-31T06:50:00.000-08:00

You know what? I always find it so funny, but baffling that when I read stories or articles about my favorite soprano, the media tends to make a play on words with her last name in the titles they choose for articles: "Battle Royale" "Battle Stations" "Battle Wage War" etc. They in the end always give her credit for her exquisite art, but why do so with these trite titles?

So me being a church musician, schooled in hymnody, I have decided to model my blog on the same note, but not to belittle Ms. Battle, rather TO CROWN HER VICTORIOUS!!!!!!!

The famous Easter entrance hymn "The Strife is O'er, The Battle Won" now be comes: "The Strife is O'er, Ms. Battle Won!!!!!!!

Victory! She has indeed won: Waging war with silence, grace, strength, elegance and endurance

Here's to victory: BRAVA!!!!!!!!!

Ms. Battle's Concert Schedule

2008-01-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

March 25, 2008, 7:30 PM Pabst Theater-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 30, 2008, 2:00 PM Orchestra Hall-Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 7, 2008 Time: TBA Long Performing Arts Center-Austin, Texas

April 13, 2008 Time: TBA Carnegie Hall, New York, NYC

May 1, 2008 7:30 P.M Harrison Opera House, Norfolk, Virginia

Today's Classic Throwback

2008-01-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

Guess what? I was in Borders Music yesterday and saw the initial recording that made me fall in love with Ms. Battle. Remembering that mine was quite scratched and dated, I decided to pick it up. I am between classes right now and I am sitting at my desk listening to the vocal gems on the recording. What vocal beauty!

My favorite works on the disc in the Kantate Nr. 51, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen. In the Chorale, Ms. Battle sings to the heavens:

Praise, glory and honour be to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

He would increase in us that which he hath promised us in His mercy, so that we might steadfastly put our confidence in Him, rely utterly upon Him, put our heartfelt trust in Him, so that our spirit, heart and mind might cling fast to Him: Whereupon we sing this very hour: Amen! we shall attain it, this we believe from the bottom of our heart: Alleluja!

What a glorious musical proclamation sung by one who sincerely

believes this tenant with all her heart.

Brava!

Classical Music: Is diva Kathleen Battle making a comeback?

2008-01-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

Classical Music: Is diva Kathleen Battle making a comeback?

A Musical Love Affair-My introduction to Ms. Battle

2008-01-29T07:01:00.001-08:00

Anyone who knows me now in my adult life can attest that I am a die hard Ms. Battle fan. Like anything else we are passionate about, we will get on the defensive if someone does or says anything that will threaten that particular thing. My regard for Ms. Battle's art is no exception!

I first truly discovered her voice in my teenage years, around 1992 when I was a young singer in high school. Yes, I vaguely heard her name in passing as I flipped through PBS stations or an ocassional program, but never paid any attention because at that time I was ignorant to the fact that African-American musicians were doing anything other than hip-hop or r&b. My life changed as I saw this striking CD cover at a local store with Ms. Battle sitting on an elegant chaise lounge in an elegant wine gown, with Wynton Marsalis standing beside her. That CD was "Baroque Duet" (thats what I am sometimes BROKE with bills!) It caught my attention immediately. I took my allowance and brought the disc, which was about $12.99 at the time. When I got home I immediately put it in. Words can not merely describe what I felt when I heard the virtuosic sound of Ms. Battle's voice, married with the regal, clarion delivery of Marsalis' trumpet. I was hooked. Soon after, I began buying every Kathleen Battle CD I could find.

As an adult, I have had the opportunity to hear her four times live: At the Brevard Music Festival, Richmond ,Virginia and twice at the Kennedy Center. Each time, she has been the model of graciousness, contrary to any story I have ever heard. Just Christmas of 2007 she sang at the Kennedy Center and it was one of the most joyous days of my life, not only to hear her, but to be acknowledged, welcomed and validated by name by Ms. Battle.

I often wonder: Is there more to the MET incident? Ms. Battle never speaks against the institution or the people involved. When interviewers try to trap her in to doing so, she never gives in. I sincerely feel that Ms. Battle did not get the proper support that she needed in her professional dealings at the MET. She was a young strikingly beautiful 'black" woman who was an extremly exceptional musician and she did not settle for mediocrity. To me, that proved a threat. I admire her courage, strength and determination, not conforming, but being who she was destined to be. What other opera singer do you know has had career for about 40 years and still commands the same level of respect and musical excellence as they did when they were discovered? When Ms. Battle decides to take her final bow, she deserves to have truckloads of roses laid at her feet, because it is her artistry we should concern ourselves with, not myths, legends or mistruths.

Resilence

2008-01-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this blog is to focus on the ARTISTRY of Ms. Battle. It is my desire that all of those persons who truly admires of her art use this as a vehicle to express that adoration. So often, when Ms. Battle's name is mentioned, there is a need to bring up past stories of ill-will or bad behavior. It has been about 12 years since the debacle at the MET. Why won't people let it go? Joseph Volpe even expressed regret in OPERA NEWS about how he wish he would have handled the situation and furthermore admitted that the main reason for firing Ms. Battle was to assert his authority as the boss at the MET.

So many singers have demonstrated similar supposed behavior and have been graciously welcomed back . My plea is that if you are a true fan and moreover a student in the school of forgiveness that you rally behind our favorite diva: Kathleen Battle!