It's just too bad that the recording techniques of the 1930's were incapable of capturing the monumental tonal mass that was Flagstad's alone. Fortunately, she kept her voice in gorgeous condition so she re-recorded a lot of items in the late 1940's, still sounding fabulous. Even in the late 1950's, when her voice took on an autumnal glow, she made some fabulous recordings in stereo for London/Decca. Both she and Birgit Nilsson represent the greatest in Wagnerian sopranos in the 20th century.
The tempo is, for once, EXACTLY correct; Isolde sounds as if she is caught up in a transformational experience. Flagstad is in superb voice here as well, and I believe this to be the greatest of all the Liebestods she left us. Her voice was a miracle, one of the greatest of all time. Knappertsbusch is even better in the early stereo recording of Trsitan excerpts with Birgit Nilsson, but Nilsson is not quite up to Flagstad's level.
Flagstad is incomparable.Every time I hear her recordings it is like a shock that such a voice could exist. Centennial programs have called her "the voice of the century" - too small a tribute in my opinion.
It's just too bad that the recording techniques of the 1930's were incapable of capturing the monumental tonal mass that was Flagstad's alone. Fortunately, she kept her voice in gorgeous condition so she re-recorded a lot of items in the late 1940's, still sounding fabulous. Even in the late 1950's, when her voice took on an autumnal glow, she made some fabulous recordings in stereo for London/Decca. Both she and Birgit Nilsson represent the greatest in Wagnerian sopranos in the 20th century.
Zva26 1 year ago
The tempo is, for once, EXACTLY correct; Isolde sounds as if she is caught up in a transformational experience. Flagstad is in superb voice here as well, and I believe this to be the greatest of all the Liebestods she left us. Her voice was a miracle, one of the greatest of all time. Knappertsbusch is even better in the early stereo recording of Trsitan excerpts with Birgit Nilsson, but Nilsson is not quite up to Flagstad's level.
billyguns2 2 years ago
thankx for posting...this is a beautiful recording than the 1952 (Philharmonia) Liebestod (just my opinion)
symyu 2 years ago
Flagstad is incomparable.Every time I hear her recordings it is like a shock that such a voice could exist. Centennial programs have called her "the voice of the century" - too small a tribute in my opinion.
Thanks for posting! MLR
VivaRenata 3 years ago
Most beautiful magical princess of all time! palabras más sabias jamás se han dicho.
LauritzMelchior 3 years ago