Edita Gruberova - Die Entführung aus dem Serail - 1980

[CatalinaDM56]

Fantastic! But her voice lies so HIGH...she struggles with the chest tones. It's amazing...such power as well! But that's ok, she is amazing. I ADORE her.

[choralman8009]

THE Constanza! Sir Georg Solti wrote an amazing tribute to her embodiment of this role in the preface pages of the booklet that accompanies their "Seraglio" recording.

[cosnolon]

Wonderful!

[fraserblades]

i think she is the best soprano I have ever heard, her technique is absolutely amazing, she has such an amazing ring thoughout her range. She is the perfect person for singers to learn from.

[MrLupo23]

I usually hate her, but this performance is really really really good!! Brava!

[D9l3tt]

I really respect her real coloratura, legato line.... no fake ha-ha's. superb performance.

[ilpremio2008]

My God, I read so many obtuse comments.

1. Nobody can sing this aria in this tempo as she does. She's simply fantastic!

2. Don't compare Gruberova with Dessay, it makes no sense: the first is over 60 and is still singing great, the second is already finished. And the reason is that Gruberova has an incredible technical skill, unlike Dessay: not to move while you're singing is one of the most difficult things to achieve, but only singers know that!

[doremicde]

Well, also Callas didn't sing for a long time -don't tell me she died at 55 years old(I think)- and Dessay sacrified herself to give to the audience something new like A6....and also Callas did the same, but guberova is a good singer

[fifou271]

@ilpremio2008 yé!

[vividejuin]

Sublime !!!!!

[vividejuin]

Sublime !!!!!

[ildivino83]

I agree with forallyouknow. Some of her coloratura does drag and she seems like she is REALLY laboring through some of her breathing. She's not an italian trained singer, is she? At least in this performance, she doesn't seem to be at all....

[fairlytaleofnewyork]

Outstanding performance!

[versailles1986]

I think her tempo, and controll are just fine! I hate when it's so fast that you think they are on the way to a fire!

[LeTraveler09]

Edita Gruberova is by no doubt the Queen of Colouratura. BRAVISIMA!!!!

[vully70]

This seems to be the Karl Böhm performance with Gruberova and Araiza - hence the slow tempo.

But why does the video start 2 Minutes into the aria - whithout the orchestral introduction and Gruberova's first notes? It starts with "... mögen warten"

[nanstera]

she is great, but the tempo is too slow. that's why she is suffering a bit. conductor should have noticed!

[forallyouknow]

Oh my. I don't believe this is her best performance of this aria. Some of her coloratura drags, and her breathing at some points seems so labored. And the notes don't ping. Maybe it was an off day? Gruberova's usually so brilliant.

[operaeater]

the tempo is tooo slow, singing coloraturas in faster tempo is easier I think!

[moghedien13]

i think an off day. i cant imagine any pace being too challenging for her in the 80's.

[Dogaradodia]

Bravissima! I love Gruberova!

[6simo9]

gruberova's Martern aller Arten I heard in concert was definitely faster. I think i preffered that, but this still is breathtaking! amazing interpretation, technique and perfect pitch :)

[sour7lemon]

I prefer Dessay's quicker, more truthful to the text version. Here gruberova doesn't even move! Dessay shows emotion!

[Iareto]

If I may, I (used to) like Dessay as much as the next guy, but her acting often tends to be overacting. She likely moved a lot, but I'd bet a lot of it was unnecessary. Give me an understated performance any day. And when the soprano sounds so much better than Dessay (as Gruberova does here), there's no comparison. Opera is theatre, but the music is what makes it special.

[sour7lemon]

She takes this quite slow! Nice though.

[oomidooo]

wow.

[Ravenelvenlady]

Phenomenal interpretation. I've only heard Sutherland do slightly better, and not by much. Gruberova is a quite the diva.

[gustopheles]

@Ravenelvenlady I had no idea Joan sang this - I'm going to look it up now. Thanks!