In all of the 20th century there were only three or four sopranos who could match her vocal virtuosity, and only one, Montserrat Caballe, who was able to produce such sublime, floated pianissimi. Just listen to the last scene of the 1955 recording of Aida with Jussi Bjoerling if you don't know what I mean. She was one of the greatest of all time. Joe Carbia, Miami, Fl
In all of the 20th century there were only three or four sopranos who could match her vocal virtuosity, and only one, Montserrat Caballe, who was able to produce such sublime, floated pianissimi. Just listen to the last scene of the 1955 recording of Aida with Jussi Bjoerling if you don't know what I mean. She was on of the greatest of all time. Joe Carbia, Miami, Fl
She was the greatest singer of the Century. Her control, her poise, her stamina, and her grace always baffles me!! How she kept control and kept her technique flawless until her last performance...I'll never know!
Milanov understood "head voice" and never compromised her beautiful emission of her head voice for some dramatic effect. Focused head voice is how to sing Bel Canto. She did this so well, and lasted a very long time. One of my all time favorite sopranos. Where is her like today?
@Operaddict Try her '52 and '54 "live" Aidas or her '55 studio version and you will see what a beautiful emission, it is almost impossible to listen to, she seems in need of radar to find the notes. And any of her "live" Forzas, '52 or '56 or '53 New Orleans, one worst of the other one
God, I regret Milanov's words on the way she was treated at the Met. I have never hear a bad note on behavior of singers treating colleagues at least with decency. But, all in all, she was a great, great, talent and none can take that away form her. My brother-in-law told me when he was a 17 year old in the Army serving in Korea he kept her picture on him as a reminder that God made great people.
Big thrill a few years ago when the late Blanche Thebom, then 90+, came to our town to speak before a packed hall. She frequently referred to Zinka Milanov as her supreme idol, how the voice pulled you in, wrapped around you, and completely engulfed you. In the question period I remarked that much of what she said about Milanov was true of herself. She thanked me and added that all others stood in the shadow of Zinka Milanov. What generosity from another great artist!
A truly great singer. Her voice was liquid gold. Assertive, but always utterly feminine and soft. I love her in her main roles. And regarding her sometimes outspoken personality, it was an opera-crazy era, and everyone was just defending their turf. Though she was obviously proud of her voice and saw it as superior to others, well, who can blame her. She may not have been superior to others, but then again nobody was superior to her either.
Just a quick footnote: Some have said that Milanov looked more like Cavaradossi's MOTHER in that video and in her late 50s stage productions, but to be fair: Check out how svelte and beautiful she looked on the cover of the NY Times towards the end of this clip; I believe that was how she looked for her 1950 Tosca at La Scala, already 44 but looking 10 years younger.
Zinka was a trip! She used to say things like "Who cares if you can act if you can't sing?" As a teacher she helped a lot of sopranos who were in trouble vocally. They used to say "If you wreck your voice, go see Zinka!" Anna Moffo, Christa Ludwig and many others sought her advice.
Wish I could have asked Zinka why in that Tosca TV clip she was holding her arms in so tight. Probably she didn't want them waving around, but it looks oddly like Nijinsky ballet movement. Please, Zinka, what was it with the arms? Love you anyway.
guys go and get a life ok?...or...( better don't say it...) btw I know much more about the art of singing than you can ever imagine... and also her personality has nothing to do with her outstanding singing, it is fool to mix them... There have been a lot of great Sopranos with horrible personalities.
... also... I love cheese either gorgonzola or roquefort... you probably has a taste for bondiola, perhaps? :)))
mangiatutti's bite and ugliness can only come from a troubled soul. he is to be pitied not scolded. I knew Milanov well and she was a lovely woman, albeit with both strong opinions. So many of her colleagues spoke of her kindness to them. She was private but hardly an emotionallydistant person. And yes she was a supremely great singer.
to some people here, including Lohengrin and Mangiatutti... please guys... where have you learn about art of singing?... in Me cago en el Timpano School of Music?...very sad sad sad comments... but above all a tremendous demostration of ignorance.
And you Birgitfan? where did you learn about the art of and old hen singing ? Listening Zinka Milanov records? She sounds like that and her voice smells like roquefort cheese
Cara Zinka... Egomaníaca non plus ultra, pero en cierto modo tenía razón cuando alababa su propia voz. Tuvo enorme éxito con las dos Leonoras, Gioconda, Aida, Tosca, etc. Su único faux pas, quizás, fue Norma. Fabulosa voz cuando cantaba en su fach.
children commenting on gods that sing. MIlanov was pure beauty of sound. Pure bel canto. OF COURSE they wouldn't agree with this today. Everything is acceptable nowadays. Brava Zinka.
In the past or in the present there have been singers who violate the basic rules of singing (they never could sing well) like Callas, Simionato two examples from the past, Gruber, Cura two examples from the present
Milanov referred to Callas many times: "She has the voice of a rainbow, a different color for each note" Too bad.
"She was smart to choice Norma for her Met opening night, why she didn't choose Aìda or Forza ? because she knew she would have not success as Aìda or Leonora"
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
yes i know all the trash milanov has said and all the trash she has sung :)) We are discussing pure trash here... my dog could have success as the forza Leonora! Thank God creatures like Milanov do not exist anymore!
Lohengrin podrá ser maleducado pero al menos tiene buen gusto. Vos sos aún más maleducado y encima adorás lo que dice una envidiosa com la Zinka, o sea, tenés mal gusto.
ah expedito o Pedro tambien te parece buena la soprano coloratura norteamericana Maria Callas?.Tus conocimientos de canto y tu gusto son peores que pegarle a la madre
Sos una gracia Fleville. Ojalá sigamos estas charlas porque sos superdivertido, sobre todo en lo que a tus opiniones se refiere. Con beautenor lloramos de risa. Te van a poner en la lista de los records.
Sos tan divertido que hasta sos capaz de decir que la Tebaldi y la Zinka son mejores que la Turca ! Más besitos gostosão !!!
Hola Fleville here I find you again and as always you are saying nonsense. Please why dont't you leave Mme.Callas in peace? You can't live withought her.
Just listen to your dear Tebaldi (Her Casta Diva should be a nice idea). Besitos
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
To some, Milanov combined the beauty of Tebaldi's voice and the dramatic intensity of Callas' singing. I think she stands on her own merit as one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of the twentieth century. Not appreciated enough today.
Milanov was one of the exceptional singers of the mid-twentieth century. I saw her GIOCONDA in 1962/63 - magnificent - with Corelli and Merrill. Top that cast today.
In all of the 20th century there were only three or four sopranos who could match her vocal virtuosity, and only one, Montserrat Caballe, who was able to produce such sublime, floated pianissimi. Just listen to the last scene of the 1955 recording of Aida with Jussi Bjoerling if you don't know what I mean. She was one of the greatest of all time. Joe Carbia, Miami, Fl
1Victorinus 6 months ago
In all of the 20th century there were only three or four sopranos who could match her vocal virtuosity, and only one, Montserrat Caballe, who was able to produce such sublime, floated pianissimi. Just listen to the last scene of the 1955 recording of Aida with Jussi Bjoerling if you don't know what I mean. She was on of the greatest of all time. Joe Carbia, Miami, Fl
1Victorinus 6 months ago
She was the greatest singer of the Century. Her control, her poise, her stamina, and her grace always baffles me!! How she kept control and kept her technique flawless until her last performance...I'll never know!
castadiva13 7 months ago
They should be shouting this woman's name from the rooftops! Why is it that she is not held up as a paragon today?
Is this the Tosca video? If it is, I'll plan to get a copy. Where is the biography???
Ruffiello 1 year ago
very enjoyable-- thanks
roselandalvin 1 year ago
Milanov understood "head voice" and never compromised her beautiful emission of her head voice for some dramatic effect. Focused head voice is how to sing Bel Canto. She did this so well, and lasted a very long time. One of my all time favorite sopranos. Where is her like today?
Operaddict 1 year ago
@Operaddict Try her '52 and '54 "live" Aidas or her '55 studio version and you will see what a beautiful emission, it is almost impossible to listen to, she seems in need of radar to find the notes. And any of her "live" Forzas, '52 or '56 or '53 New Orleans, one worst of the other one
paternostro63 1 year ago
@Operaddict no where. they want sloppy anna netrebko
moghedien13 9 months ago
Is that Birgit Nilsson speaking in the beginning?
JeeRant 1 year ago
God, I regret Milanov's words on the way she was treated at the Met. I have never hear a bad note on behavior of singers treating colleagues at least with decency. But, all in all, she was a great, great, talent and none can take that away form her. My brother-in-law told me when he was a 17 year old in the Army serving in Korea he kept her picture on him as a reminder that God made great people.
cieobt2 1 year ago
Big thrill a few years ago when the late Blanche Thebom, then 90+, came to our town to speak before a packed hall. She frequently referred to Zinka Milanov as her supreme idol, how the voice pulled you in, wrapped around you, and completely engulfed you. In the question period I remarked that much of what she said about Milanov was true of herself. She thanked me and added that all others stood in the shadow of Zinka Milanov. What generosity from another great artist!
MTondeleo 1 year ago
um...who was that other female voice? it resembles B.Nilsson?
symyu 1 year ago
She sung in Yugoslavian?!
What nonsence is that!? She sung in Serbo-croatian.
There is and never was such thing as Yugoslav language.
amballa 2 years ago
She sang in Yugoslavia! Not in Yugoslavian!
xafnndapp 2 years ago
She sais in 1:24 "can you immagine I sang in Yugoslav" which indicates a language not state. The Dutch translation is true to her statement.
But you are right, she sang in Yugoslavia too, just not in Yugoslav ;)
amballa 2 years ago
@xafnndapp
true. She actually premiered in Slovenia in Ljubljana Opera house. But she herself said that she sang in Yugoslavian...
amballa 10 months ago
I like her. Plain spoken!
beaubarri 2 years ago 2
A truly great singer. Her voice was liquid gold. Assertive, but always utterly feminine and soft. I love her in her main roles. And regarding her sometimes outspoken personality, it was an opera-crazy era, and everyone was just defending their turf. Though she was obviously proud of her voice and saw it as superior to others, well, who can blame her. She may not have been superior to others, but then again nobody was superior to her either.
Aldobrandini 3 years ago 6
Just a quick footnote: Some have said that Milanov looked more like Cavaradossi's MOTHER in that video and in her late 50s stage productions, but to be fair: Check out how svelte and beautiful she looked on the cover of the NY Times towards the end of this clip; I believe that was how she looked for her 1950 Tosca at La Scala, already 44 but looking 10 years younger.
Aldobrandini 2 years ago
@Aldobrandini but no seriously she rocked.
Tsunade3Sannin 2 weeks ago
Can anyone else hear Ethel Merman creeping into "Vissi D'arte"???
sandytheslayer 3 years ago
Yes! old slavic soprano Zinka Milanov looks like Ethel Merman, very much resemblance, fat and old both too
claraprellitensky 3 years ago
Yea, yea, just wait till you get old. Fat or skinny, you will age badly.
madisonelectronic 2 years ago
@claraprellitensky You too will be old someday. Then you will understand it does not matter.
eflaspo 1 year ago
lol. Now that was just plain rude. lol.
blktenor 3 years ago
THE LIRICO SPINTO FROM YUGOSLAVIA with for me one of the best voices for Verdi! BRAVA!
Heraopera 3 years ago
How can one write so stupid comments about such a great artist?
SENAFOREVER 3 years ago
Zinka was a trip! She used to say things like "Who cares if you can act if you can't sing?" As a teacher she helped a lot of sopranos who were in trouble vocally. They used to say "If you wreck your voice, go see Zinka!" Anna Moffo, Christa Ludwig and many others sought her advice.
DanRobSo 3 years ago 3
that voice was something to behold.."Suicidio" is just a thing of beauty. LOVE her...
pronkking 3 years ago
Wish I could have asked Zinka why in that Tosca TV clip she was holding her arms in so tight. Probably she didn't want them waving around, but it looks oddly like Nijinsky ballet movement. Please, Zinka, what was it with the arms? Love you anyway.
fedtrooper 3 years ago
ora ora ora ora ora ora
coryisawake 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
dare57 3 years ago
Bravissimo
galapz 3 years ago
que cantidad de locas imposibles juntas!!!!!
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
one of the most beautiful, opulent, grandiose and fascinating voices of all time. What a grand dame!
bradoperaman 3 years ago 4
guys go and get a life ok?...or...( better don't say it...) btw I know much more about the art of singing than you can ever imagine... and also her personality has nothing to do with her outstanding singing, it is fool to mix them... There have been a lot of great Sopranos with horrible personalities.
... also... I love cheese either gorgonzola or roquefort... you probably has a taste for bondiola, perhaps? :)))
Birgitfan 3 years ago
mangiatutti's bite and ugliness can only come from a troubled soul. he is to be pitied not scolded. I knew Milanov well and she was a lovely woman, albeit with both strong opinions. So many of her colleagues spoke of her kindness to them. She was private but hardly an emotionallydistant person. And yes she was a supremely great singer.
ilprincipedipersia 3 years ago 2
to some people here, including Lohengrin and Mangiatutti... please guys... where have you learn about art of singing?... in Me cago en el Timpano School of Music?...very sad sad sad comments... but above all a tremendous demostration of ignorance.
Birgitfan 3 years ago
And you Birgitfan? where did you learn about the art of and old hen singing ? Listening Zinka Milanov records? She sounds like that and her voice smells like roquefort cheese
mangiatutti 3 years ago
Lohengrin you are a toothless hillbilly
Maledetto3 4 years ago
Cara Zinka... Egomaníaca non plus ultra, pero en cierto modo tenía razón cuando alababa su propia voz. Tuvo enorme éxito con las dos Leonoras, Gioconda, Aida, Tosca, etc. Su único faux pas, quizás, fue Norma. Fabulosa voz cuando cantaba en su fach.
osvaldito55 4 years ago
Thank you and brava Zinka!!!
kenofer 4 years ago
God bless Zinka Milanov. Her recordings still bring me enjoyment.
juadan 4 years ago 3
children commenting on gods that sing. MIlanov was pure beauty of sound. Pure bel canto. OF COURSE they wouldn't agree with this today. Everything is acceptable nowadays. Brava Zinka.
A7sogno 4 years ago 11
u must never change the color of the phrase? ahahahhaahha Omg trash from the past!
Lohengrin 4 years ago
In the past or in the present there have been singers who violate the basic rules of singing (they never could sing well) like Callas, Simionato two examples from the past, Gruber, Cura two examples from the present
fleville 4 years ago
You´d bettter wash your brain with some ajax before posting comments like this one!
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
directed at fleville, on his statement from 3 months ago, page 3)
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
Milanov referred to Callas many times: "She has the voice of a rainbow, a different color for each note" Too bad.
"She was smart to choice Norma for her Met opening night, why she didn't choose Aìda or Forza ? because she knew she would have not success as Aìda or Leonora"
There are many other Milanov quotes
fleville 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
yes i know all the trash milanov has said and all the trash she has sung :)) We are discussing pure trash here... my dog could have success as the forza Leonora! Thank God creatures like Milanov do not exist anymore!
Lohengrin 4 years ago
maleducado
fleville 4 years ago
Lohengrin podrá ser maleducado pero al menos tiene buen gusto. Vos sos aún más maleducado y encima adorás lo que dice una envidiosa com la Zinka, o sea, tenés mal gusto.
fazendasantoexpedito 4 years ago
ah expedito o Pedro tambien te parece buena la soprano coloratura norteamericana Maria Callas?.Tus conocimientos de canto y tu gusto son peores que pegarle a la madre
fleville 4 years ago
Sos una gracia Fleville. Ojalá sigamos estas charlas porque sos superdivertido, sobre todo en lo que a tus opiniones se refiere. Con beautenor lloramos de risa. Te van a poner en la lista de los records.
Sos tan divertido que hasta sos capaz de decir que la Tebaldi y la Zinka son mejores que la Turca ! Más besitos gostosão !!!
Edermalde 4 years ago
Yo que tu llorarìa pero de pena si tuvieras idea de las idiotices que escribes como en el mensaje de arriba.Beautenor es otra penosa igual que tu.
fleville 4 years ago
Beautenor es una loca imposible.
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Milanov was always old and orribile cantante.Her voice smells like gorgonzola cheese.
mangiatutti 3 years ago
Hola Fleville here I find you again and as always you are saying nonsense. Please why dont't you leave Mme.Callas in peace? You can't live withought her.
Just listen to your dear Tebaldi (Her Casta Diva should be a nice idea). Besitos
fazendasantoexpedito 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
To some, Milanov combined the beauty of Tebaldi's voice and the dramatic intensity of Callas' singing. I think she stands on her own merit as one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of the twentieth century. Not appreciated enough today.
meltzerboy 4 years ago
Milanov was one of the exceptional singers of the mid-twentieth century. I saw her GIOCONDA in 1962/63 - magnificent - with Corelli and Merrill. Top that cast today.
bobopera 4 years ago 2
Is that Birgit Nilsson who says in the beginning "I think it's easier to go from Wagner to Puccini..."?
operamusicfan 4 years ago
i thought so too
ilprincipedipersia 4 years ago
No, it´s not B.Nilsson. She knew it very well, though
birgitnilsson 3 years ago
At times she remind me of Tebaldi.
Great singer is Milanov.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago 2
Another idiot commentary by VivaTebaldi
lohengrinteo 4 years ago
staggering, mind boggling and incredible. the studi trovatore will never ever ever be beat.
suncollection 4 years ago
real legend!!!
gacija 4 years ago
She was indeed. Her memory plays her false. She sang Elsa Elisabeth and sieglinde. A very great woman. a great friend and a singular singer
ilprincipedipersia 4 years ago