Claire Watson as Contessa "Dove sono" la nozze de Figaro

[heula1]

What a magnificent costume!

[avalokiteshivara]

perfect, magnific, incribile!!

Nunca ví tanto refinamento musical!!

[MaryBess714]

It was customary for singers to acknowlege applause in this way in those days. Claire Watson was not doing anything unusual in that regard. And you have to admit that she knew how to curtsey! She was a wonderfully elegant singer who radiated warmth on stage and off.

[vonmeppen]

Claire Watson at her best. What a wonderful Pianissmo!

[mgrrowe]

The first performance I have seen that portrays a Countess in character. Restrained, passionate and sublime. None of the scoops that many other better known sopranos give us. Lovely!

[muzzeu]

great!

[pppreakness]

anyone know if i can get this recording on dvd?!

[Heraopera]

Good sound as a contassa needs! Distinguish and pure legato and clean phrase.... a little to slow..... But she didnt get the attacked tones as Caballe did well and charmy!

[MusicaParola]

Delicious, simply delicious. A great artist.

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

riveting

[VoyArrasando]

I just seen this on Classical Arts showcase, Amazing, right up there with La Norman's and Dame Kiri's. Brava claire!

[bobzeschin]

Claire Watson was the queen of the Bayerische Staatsoper for over a decade, and sang very little in America. Hearing her Countess in Munich in 1968 (with a young Brigitte Fassbaender the perfect Cherubino)is one of my most cherished operatic memories, and I was overjoyed when this Salzburg performance was released on DVD.

Watson was incapable of an unlovely moment onstage, and I could watch those exquisite bows all night.

[bobzeschin]

Although she died, much too young, 20 years ago, and gave her last performance at the Staatsoper a decade earlier, memories of Claire Watson are alive and well in her beloved Munich. Yesterday I Googled her name to see if any other performances are now available on CD or DVD, and learned that last year, the city named a street after her!

Claire-Watson-Strasse is in a neighborhood with several operatically named streets. Nearby are Wotanstrasse, Valhallastrasse, and Frickastrasse!

[vonmeppen]

Listen to the brave and wonderful pianissimo in the second part of the aria! It's very adimirable. A jewel.

[bosancherosi]

This aria is impossibly difficult. Almost everyone I ever hear crashes and burns with this one. Ms. Watson sings it very beautifully here.

[operamusicfan]

What's with the curtain calls?? Otherwise, she's great.

[symphonialover427]

*agrees* Wouldn't it have been a lot simpler to stay put, take her bows, then leave at the end of them? Eh, it's opera :)

[operamusicfan]

But why should she take any bows in the middle of things. She should wait till the end of the performance.

[symphonialover427]

*shrugs* Again, opera :)

[SENAFOREVER]

And you should shut up sometimes.

Bravissima!