From the 2005-”Live on Broadway”-version, with the New York Philharmonic under conductor Marin Alsop. Cunegonde: Kristin Chenoweth The Old Lady: Patti LuPone LYRICS (Thanks to Sarah to send me these!) Glitter and be gay, That’s the part I play; Here I am in Paris, France, Forced to bend my soul To a sordid role, Victimized by bitter, bitter circumstance. Alas for me! Had I remained Beside my lady mother, My virtue had remained unstained Until my maiden hand was gained By some Grand Duke or other. Ah, ’twas not to be; Harsh necessity Brought me to this gilded cage. Born to higher things, Here I droop my wings, Ah! Singing of a sorrow nothing can assuage. And yet of course I rather like to revel, Ha ha! I have no strong objection to champagne, Ha ha! My wardrobe is expensive as the devil, Ha ha! Perhaps it is ignoble to complain… Enough, enough Of being basely tearful! I’ll show my noble stuff By being bright and cheerful! Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha! Pearls and ruby rings… Ah, how can worldly things Take the place of honor lost? Can they compensate For my fallen state, Purchased as they were at such an awful cost? Bracelets…lavalieres Can they dry my tears? Can they blind my eyes to shame? Can the brightest brooch Shield me from reproach? Can the purest diamond purify my name? And yet of course these trinkets are endearing, Ha ha! I’m oh, so glad my sapphire is a star, Ha ha! I rather like a twenty-carat earring, Ha ha! If I’m not pure, at least my jewels are! Enough! Enough …
This sounds better with a soprano, her high notes aren’t the best
@pnewcombutt it was. this is all teenage girl jealousy.
@pnewcombutt trust me i work in an opera house.
One of the most entertaining pieces of musical stage craft I’ve ever seen. This is musical comedy at its best, not heavy-duty opera.. Think Gilbert and Sullivan. To you critics who have posted…lighten up. Kristen Chenowith was simply terrific in this role. Mr. B would have loved it.
@LorraineCash did u really just say that? she’s a trained coloratura soprano, this is what she’s meant to do. The high notes i think are just this particular video because other videos of this same performance have better sound quality (a lot of times high notes get messed up in videos)
@Cyberbob1987 nah its just for a laugh, that notes is an Eb above middle C and right now she’s singing an alto part in Promises, Promises (and she had a low F in wicked)
@heyitshannahbanana too small, haha. wait, that might make it an even funnier part
@jtg10795 I never said she couldn’t sing well, it’s just that she don’t reach nicely the high notes, I sing, so I know what I’m saying, she has a nice voice, but not in the highest notes in this particular song.
@LorraineCash ok its just that you said she wasnt a soprano that was weird. she IS a soprano. I do see what you’re saying on this video with the high notes. she has done them better but ur rite about not on this video
@jtg10795 Ok, well, by saying that she wasn´t a soprano, I wanted to say that she isn’t an opera singer. I just translated from my language, we call soprano to the opera singers. So, that was the confussion.
Tough she sings great! it’s just that her highest notes on that song aren´t the best.
@LorraineCash oh ok, it was just something lost in translation. she was trained as an opera singer, she just hasn’t been singing it as much as broadway stuff. i have seen more “operatic” verstions of this from her, but still not completely opera. im sure with a little practice she could get her voice back up to full on opera, she just didnt take that career path
@jtg10795 Oh I see, well, thanks for telling me.
Any operatic version by her that you recommend me to listen??
And by the way, it was great to discuss the subject with you
She’s a coloratura? Yes?
She’s wonderful. She sings the song, and the song does not dominate her.
@jtg10795 ok *g* I didn’t know that; but I must say that in this case I prefer the version of diana damrau e.g.
@Cyberbob1987 ok, understandable. she does perform it very well (unlike weird June Anderson who Bernstein picked himself for the final version for whatever reason). i personally like it better with lighter voices
Thats a classical coloratura soprano!!!
Che delizia!
Cette fille est incroyable !!!
oh that four foot two bundle of dynamyte! i laughed when they introduced patti lupone… in the end cheno lu-pwned lupone… i kno not funny.
@Selendomono fuck i know, right?! i hate having to simply walk around and stage and sing at the same time!
@blondbergers …Can I just point out that she’s four foot eleven, not four foot two? xD And I actually found that quite funny…
Sorry, I don’t care what anyone says or thinks, you are INSANE if you think this performance is LESS entertaining than those other opera woman who literally stand on the stage and sing with their larynx practically in their ass. Chenoweth actually ACTS this song just as well as she sings it and makes the song hilarious! I think if we had more opera singers like KC, more people would go to the opera.
I concur with “MrMusicJosh” … I’m no “high note” guru but I do know an amazing performance when I see one. Pure’ist here are comparing Kristen’s singing to the others singers…well, what about the other singer’s overall performance presentation when compared to Kristen’s? I just did my own comparisons and Kristen was not only an equal vocal powerhouse for this song but she has the entertainment charisima that far exceeds all the others with no equal … Total Domination!
Even the musicians are entertained by her. Look at the lady playing violin at 1.14.