WHET Kathleen Battle?\\n\\n

She had a "come back" about four years ago with a recital in Tully I think and somewhere else. a friend played lute on it. She was a frightful mess and the critics basically panned her for not just staying away from the stage like a good has-been should. In my circles stories of "Bad Battle " abound. I know a couple former DG employees and the stories of her hijinks would be any normal person cringe.

Her career hasn't been the same since she was famously fired/banned from the Met by manager Joseph Volpe in 1994. That move echoed Maria Callas' famous ousting by then Met manager Rudolf Bing back in the 60's. Battle has appeared on recordings (Prince's Diamonds & Pearls), movie soundtracks (Fantasia 2000--interestingly with the Met orchestra under James Levine) and done some recitals, but hasn't appeared in an opera since.

she's a freaky cunt

[quote]"Bad Battle"

I always heard her referred to as "Kathleen Battle-ax".

Musicians made and sold t-shirts after some of her more "memorable" escapades with, "I survived the Battle" printed on them.

She made an appearance on the Dynasty reunion thing a few years back, but hasn't done anything since. Kirby was such a wimpy, boring character.

Bipolar?

maybe, but more likely just really low self-esteem issues. She started out at Baldwyn-Wallace college and the ugly duckling in the corner who was expected to go the college in education and become a mousey music teacher. When she popped out of nowhere I really don't believe that she was mentally prepared for the attention or stardom.

WHET? That's hysterically funny.

I love R9.

Back when this crazy, delusional cunt was driving everyone at the Met up the wall (which led to her eventual firing), there was a running joke among the poor folk who had to work with her.

Person 1: "Do you know how to save Kathy Battle from drowning?"

Person 2: "No."

Person 1: "Good!"

There's a story out there, and correct me if I get it wrong.

Apparently she was in a limo in LA, and wanted the air conditioning turned up. But she was too important to tap on the window and have the driver do it. Sp she called her manager in New York, had him call the limo company, who in turn called the driver and told him to turn the air conditioning up.

It's too bad she's so crazy because she has a beautiful voice.

Yup, totally true. I believe that happened MORE than once.

She also simply when AWOL on a recording with St Luke's Chamber orchestra and Izhak Perlman. They were waiting the whole day in the studio for her until later in the day they were notified to simply return the next day as she had decided it was more important to go shopping that day. WHOLE orchestra and famed soloist were paid the whole day to sit and wait.

R12's story has been told about every soprano since the invention of the car. No, the horse.

Kathy invented that story.

r8, I have absolutely no sympathy for her.

As she found out to her sorrow, there were plenty of sopranos with talent who would also work hard and behave like professionals who were just waiting to take her place. If she couldn't handle the fame and adulation, then good: now she's no longer famous or adulated, so problem solved.

Does anyone remember a very old PBS holiday music special in which Battle appeared with Frederica von Stade? At one point, the two divas were singing together. Battle was wearing puff sleeves which jutted out about two feet from her shoulders. This had the effect of almost pushing Freddi off the television screen.

I think that sums up why no one wants to work with this notorious bitch.

Jessie Norman always throws a HUGE B-Day bash for colleagues in the business. a friend of mine who worked at DG was once invited and had a great time. This was when their duet spirituals CD came out, Jesse and Kathy, or whatever. Someone at the party and quoted a review that had mentioned Kathy as "one of the most notable African-American sopranos blah-blah blah" and that apparently Kathy took offense at being referred to as an African-American Soprano. Jesse apparently then gave the hugest eye roll and declared, "well! SOMEONE had to tell her!"

[quote]Does anyone remember a very old PBS holiday music special in which Battle appeared with Frederica von Stade? %0D %0D The singing is sublime. I had the DVD and Battle's "tude" was so annoying that I got the CD and got rid of the DVD.

She was great in my favorite film, "Diva"

[quote]She was great in my favorite film, "Diva"

That was Wilhelmina Fernandez, brainiac.

I had loathed this woman in everything I'd see her do (televised and filmed). Attitude, preening smugness, self-rapt gravitas, etc. The voice was fine, usually, but so what, when it comes to performance, which takes on the whole package? Of all things, her singing of a Christmas song I despise, "O Holy Night," left me feeling like I finally saw her do something authentic. She sang it simply, without the sickening climaxes, and invested a latter-day schlock piece with something great. So hand her something terrible and dare her to make it not stink. But other than that the stories all have the ring of truth.

r22, why did you keep listening to her sing over and over again if you despised her so much?

It's sad to think about how many great performances she could have given had she been able to maintain the minimum standards of professionalism. What a waste of a career.

Not really r24. She had passed her peak vocally and was starting to really struggle with her top which was why she became famous. She was always a cunt, but her vocal decline exacerbated her behavior. She didn't have much of an operatic career left at the point she was fired.

However, she could have had a great finish with high fee recitals, and that's where she lost out.

[quote]why did you keep listening to her sing over and over again if you despised her so much?

she was UBIQUITOUS at one point.

That's interesting, R25. I didn't realize that her career was about over when she was fired. I assumed that she was in her prime. How old was she, around 40?

She started as a refreshing soprano ingenue, but was just getting to 40 and hoping to turn more diva, a la Jessye Norman.

But whereas Norman had a great warmth under her diva attitude, Battle had only the attitude.

Those kind of singers are totally expendable.

Here is an interview where she across as an arrogant bitch.

Don't fuck with me, fellas!

Wow! that was a typical move of hers

She was 46 when she was fired from the Met in 1994 r27, which is well past the sell by date for most soubrettes/light lyric coloraturas.

Also realize that she'd had a substantial career since the early seventies, and had been singing professionally at major venues for over twenty years. The wear and tear had started to show around the time she had turned forty.

The only reason she didn't go earlier was because of her stardom and that she was able to pull the beautiful quality out of her back pocket when she needed to, but the shine coming off the voice combined with the impossible behavior led to her being finished in the opera world.

Even those who were friends with her say she was a nightmare. Her manager was mine at one point, and the limo story was true.

I was on a cruise with her once.

We all survived.

you mean "THE" James Galway?

Kathleen went all the way to West Frankfort, Illinois to be on WHET -c97.7

Didn't some of her former colleagues at the Met take to referring to her as "that uppity n****r"?

Back when A&E was actually Arts & Entertainment, they aired a Kathleen Battle recital that was lovely. It's a pity she was such a PITA.

I love this rendition of Gounod's "Ave Maria" with Christopher Parkening on guitar.

R1, R32 or anyone: please give us more insider stories about Kathleen Battle. were/are she and Jessye Norman friendly with each other? do you think Battle will ever be awarded the Kennedy Center Honor?%0D %0D off topic: why do you think Shirley Verrett was never awarded the Kennedy Center Honor, yet Grace Bumbry was (she's great too i'll admit.)%0D %0D has Dencye Graves career peaked? is she in vocal decline (and/or over)?%0D %0D can someone start a thread on both Jessye Norman and Leontyne Price? i'd love to know inside information on both of them.

I heard Leontyne was a big ol' lez but have nothing to back that up. I adore her either way.

a friend once went backstage with others in 1990 or so after a Leontyne Price recital. some bold guy allegedly had the nerve to say to Leontyne; "so, we hear you're a lesbian". everyone was shocked (especially since this came from a guy studying voice at a major conservatory.) after moments of silence, Leontyne allegedly said; "oh really"? someone then quickly changed the subject. my friend isn't the type to make something like that up. %0D %0D btw, i wonder if Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle are straight. anyone know anything?%0D %0D when was the last time Denyce Graves sang at the MET?

OK, I've only got one Leontyne Price encounter story.

Picture it. Champaign, Illinois, late 70's. My voice major roommate (straight, oddly enough) and I are at the local Steak 'N' Shake around 2am.

I'm facing the door. A couple comes in to order take out (or Takehomasak) as it's so cleverly put. This extremely handsome African-American couple. He's distinguished, she's out of control fabulous with a floor length sable and matching sable hat. Not often seen in Champaign circles.

Holy shit, Mike! Turn around! Turn around! It's Leontyne Price and William Warfield!

You sick fuck. Don't mess with me.

He turns around and almost soiled himself because it was Leontyne Price and William Warfield.

Warfield taught voice at the University of Illinois. They had been married, and apparently were still friends (she obviously got over that pesky gay thing of his).

So that is my claim to opera fame. Leontyne Price and William Warfield getting Steakburgers for takeout in a midwest college town at 2 am.

I ran into Battle at JFK after a flight from Tokyo. I complimented her and she couldn't have been more gracious.

bump

I think the music business can make sopranos lose their minds. I saw Kathleen Battle in a recital 3 years ago, and was convinced she is a genius. She is really brilliant. A lot of geniuses have been psychologically problematic. This is all I can say.

I heard a 1992 performance of "Elisir d'amore" today with Battle.

What an incredibly beautiful voice she had. Agree with R45--a genius.

She is performing in Philadelphia in a few months.

Bump for Jessye.

[quote]That was Wilhelmina Fernandez, brainiac.

She did a revival of CARMEN JONES I love listening to.