Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper - Shallow (From A Star Is Born/Live From The Oscars)

Obama Song x JOEY GALLANT - Farewell Obama Tribute

My Favourite Time of Year - The Florin Street Band (New Christmas Songs)

Susan Boyle (Joel Osteen) ~ "You Raise Me Up" ~ (17 Nov 13)

Susan Boyle (Joel Osteen) ~ "You Raise Me Up" ~ (17 Nov 13)

Susan Boyle First Audition - Britain's Got Talent - "I Dreamed A Dream

Susan Boyle First Audition - Britain's Got Talent - "I Dreamed A Dream

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I Dreamed A Dream - Boston Pops Orchestra - John Williams

I Dreamed A Dream - Boston Pops Orchestra - John Williams

Fiedler's favourite overtures (Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra - 1971)

Fiedler's favourite overtures (Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra - 1971)

The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra - Full Concert - 07/16/07 - Martha's Vineyard, MA (OFFICIAL)

The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra - Full Concert - 07/16/07 - Martha's Vineyard, MA (OFFICIAL)

The Soul of Elisabeth Welch

American-born British musical theatre and cabaret singer (born Feb. 27, 1904, New York) she was known for her show-stopping performances in plays by Cole Porter, Ivor Novello, and Noel Coward. Welch began her career in New York City, where she created a sensation in 1931 with her rendition of Porter's 'Love for Sale'. She was a cabaret singer in Paris before becoming a fixture in London's West End. From the 1930s she appeared in films and on British radio and television. Welch was particularly associated with the songs 'Stormy Weather', which she introduced to English audiences in 1933, and 'Solomon', written for her by Porter. Later she was a hit in the musical Pippin (1970), and in 1980 a half century after her last appearance in New York City she made a triumphant return to Broadway. She died on July 15, 2003, Northolt, Middlesex, England at the age of 99 years old.

Additional Information provided by William Dillard at Facebook:
Today in History: Elisabeth Welch
Elisabeth Welch was born on this date in 1904. She was a African American chanteuse singer and dancer.

From New York City, her mother was from Scotland and her father was of African and Native American decent. Welch’s career began as a child, singing in school productions and in the choir at St. Cypian’s Episcopal Church. It was in 1923 that her choir was invited to sing in the Broadway production of “Runnin Wild.” Here she introduced the Charleston, a new dance to the tune of the same name. In 1928 she joined Lew Leslie's historic Blackbirds of 1928, where her co-stars were Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, Aida Ward and Adelaide Hall.

When the show transferred to Paris all the black artists became the toast of cafe society beginning a new career for her in nightclubs and cabaret. By 1933 she had moved and settled in London, where she remained for more than 50 years. Throughout the thirties she established herself as one of the biggest stars of London nightlife. Cole Porter wrote a part for her in Nymph Errant (1933), which also starred Gertrude Lawrence. Welch's number, Solomon, literally stopped the show and went on to become her signature tune. Later revues and musicals included Glamorous Night (1935), It's in the Bag (1937), Arc de Triomphe (1943), Tuppence Coloured (1947), Penny Plain (1951) and The Crooked Mile (1959).

Other songs with which she was associated, As Time Goes By, Love for Sale and La Vie En Rose, have since become standards. During the Second World War she entertained the troops in Gibraltar and the Middle East with such stars as Edith Evans and John Gielgud. She also appeared at the London Palladium in Happy and Glorious from 1944 to 1946. Later stage appearances included playing the fairy godmother in Cindy-Ella (1962, revived 1963 and 1976) and in 1970 she starred in her own one-woman show, A Marvellous Party (Hampstead Theatre Club). By the seventies Welch had achieved something of a cult status with theatergoers.

A new and younger generation discovered her when she made a guest appearance (lying on a sofa) in the musical Pippin (1973) and once again she stopped the show. Six years later she gave one of the most remarkable performances of her career when she sang Stormy Weather in the offbeat film of The Tempest. In 1985, while returning home, she was beat-up by a mugger but was back onstage the following day. Later the same year a new one-woman show in New York, “Elisabeth Welch A Time to Start Living” won her an Obie Award.

Welch was one of the great survivors of show business; she virtually never stopped working. She made countless film, radio and television appearances as well as recording numerous albums, many of them classics. Throughout the eighties and nineties she made triumphant appearances in Australia, Russia and at New York's Carnegie Hall. One of her last public appearances was in 1992 when stars gathered at London's Lyric Theatre to pay tribute to her and she was given five standing ovations. Her career spanned eight decades.

She also starred in many British movies in the 1930s, appearing alongside Paul Robeson and Rex Harrison. The African-American actress and singer was one of the most redoubtable entertainers of the 20th century. Celebrated for her sultry singing voice, she was a great interpreter of popular song and her long career took her from New York's jazz-age theatre to Paris cabaret and numerous West End musicals and revues. Elisabeth Welch died in Denville Hall, Middlesex, on July 15, aged 99.
Elisabeth Welch sings Stormy Weather


Elisabeth Welch: Harlem In My Heart



Elisabeth Welch "THE GIRL I KNEW" (1935)



Elisabeth Welch - The Man I Love (George & Ira Gershwin)



Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Welch - The River of Dreams

Josh Groban and Brian Mcknight, bridge over troubled water

josh groban and brian mcknight bridge over troubled water

Whitney Houston - I Look To You

Missing Whitney Houston today, let's take a break from opera.

Whitney Houston - I Look To You

Celine Dion & Josh Groban Live "The Prayer"

Turandot scene 8 in the Forbidden City of Peking China

Act 1: The Duel

Scene 1: The guard room in the castle of Luna (The Palace of Aljafería, Zaragoza, Spain)

Ferrando, the captain of the guards, orders his men to keep watch while Count di Luna wanders restlessly beneath the windows of Leonora, lady-in-waiting to the Princess. Di Luna loves Leonora, and is jealous of his successful rival, the troubadour Manrico. In order to keep the guards awake, Ferrando narrates the history of the count to the guard. (Aria: Di due figli vivea padre beato / "The good Count di Luna lived happily, the father of two sons"). It appears that a gypsy had once bewitched the little brother of the count, making the child weak and ill, and for this had been burnt alive as a witch. Dying, she had commanded her daughter Azucena to avenge her, which she did by carrying off the younger brother. Although the burnt bones of a child were found in the ashes of the pyre, the father refused to believe in his son's death; dying, he commanded Count di Luna to seek Azucena.

Scene 2: Garden in the palace of the princess

Leonora confesses her love for Manrico to her confidante, Ines. (Tacea la notte placida / "The peaceful night lay silent"... Di tale amor / "A love that words can scarcely describe"). When they have gone, Count di Luna hears the voice of his rival, Manrico, in the distance: (Deserto sulla terra / "Alone upon this earth"). While Leonora in the darkness mistakes the count for her lover, Manrico himself enters the garden, and she rushes to his arms. The count recognises Manrico as his enemy, who has been condemned to death, and compels him to fight. Leonora tries to intervene, but cannot stop them from fighting (Trio: Di geloso amor sprezzato / "The fire of jealous love" ).
[edit] Act 2: The Gypsy Woman

Scene 1: The gypsies' camp

"Stride la vampa"
From act 2. Sung by Gabriella Besanzoni in 1920.
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While Manrico sits at the bedside of his mother, Azucena, the gypsies sing the Anvil Chorus: Vedi le fosche notturne / "See! The endless sky casts off her sombre nightly garb.."). She is the daughter of the Gypsy burnt by the count and, although old, still nurses her vengeance. (Aria: Stride la vampa / "The flames are roaring!"). The Gypsies break camp while Azucena confesses to Manrico that after stealing him she had intended to burn the count's little son, but had thrown her own child into the flames instead (Aria: Condotta ell'era in ceppi / "They dragged her in bonds"). Manrico realises that he is not the son of Azucena, but loves her as if she were indeed his mother, as she has always been faithful and loving to him. Manrico tells Azucena that he defeated Di Luna in their duel, but was held back from killing him by a mysterious power (Duet: Mal reggendo / "He was helpless under my savage attack"). A messenger arrives and reports that Leonora, who believes Manrico dead, is about to enter a convent and take the veil that night. Although Azucena tries to prevent him from leaving in his weak state (Ferma! Son io che parlo a te! / "I must talk to you"), Manrico rushes away to prevent her from carrying out this purpose.

Scene 2: In front of the convent

Di Luna and his attendants intend to abduct Leonora and the Count sings of his love for her (Aria: Il balen del suo sorriso / "The light of her smile" ... Per me ora fatale / "Fatal hour of my life"). Leonora and the nuns appear in procession, but Manrico prevents Di Luna from carrying out his plans and instead, takes Leonora away with him.
[edit] Act 3: The Son of the Gypsy Woman

Scene 1: Di Luna's camp

(Chorus: Or co' dadi ma fra poco / "Now we play at dice") Di Luna's soldiers bring in the captured Azucena. She is recognised by Ferrando, and Di Luna sentences her to be burnt.

Scene 2: A chamber in the castle

Leonora and Manrico live only for each other. (Aria, Manrico: Ah si, ben mio coll'essere / "Ah, yes, my love, in being yours"). As they are about to take their marriage vows, Ruiz, Manrico's comrade, reports that Azucena is to be burned at the stake. Manrico rushes to her aid (Stretta: Di quella pira l'orrendo foco / "The horrid flames of that pyre"). Leonora faints.
[edit] Act 4: The Punishment

Scene 1: Before the dungeon keep

Leonora attempts to free Manrico, who has been captured by Di Luna (Aria: D'amor sull'ali rosee / "On the rosy wings of love"; Chorus & Duet: Miserere / "Lord, thy mercy on this soul"). Leonora begs Di Luna for mercy and offers herself in place of her lover. She promises to give herself to the count, but secretly swallows poison from her ring in order to die before Di Luna can possess her (Duet: Mira, d'acerbe lagrime / "See the bitter tears I shed").

Scene 2: In the dungeon

"Se m'ami ancor ... Ai nostri monti ritorneremo"
Enrico Caruso and Ernestine Schumann-Heink (1913)
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Manrico and Azucena are awaiting their execution. Manrico attempts to soothe Azucena, whose mind wanders to happier days in the mountains (Duet: Ai nostri monti ritorneremo / "Again to our mountains we shall return"). At last the gypsy slumbers. Leonora comes to Manrico and tells him that he is saved, begging him to escape. When he discovers she cannot accompany him, he refuses to leave his prison. He believes Leonora has betrayed him until he realizes that she has taken poison to remain true to him. As she dies in agony in Manrico's arms she confesses that she prefers to die with him than to marry another. (Quartet: Prima che d'altri vivere / "Rather than live as another's") The count enters to find Leonora dead in his rival's arms and orders Manrico to be led to execution. Azucena arises and when Di Luna shows her the dead Manrico, she cries in triumph: Egli era tuo fratello! / "He was your brother..You are avenged, oh mother!" At the same time as Azucena, the count screams in despair E vivo ancor! / "And I must live on!".