Birgit Nilsson & Jon Vickers "Love duet" Tristan und Isolde

[mujerado]

If you like acting, this is the one for you. Vickers was the greatest acting tenor of the century. If you like the music and beautiful voices, there are other recordings you'll like more than this one. Vickers took liberties with the vocal line when it suited his performance. Musically, the best Tristan is the live Bayreuth with Nilsson, Windgassen and Bohm.

[paulostroff99]

The definitive performance for the ages. TY Onegin for posting.

[quizjazz1]

Can't hear a thing. What is going on with the sound. Can you fix it?

[Tusson07]

Je ne suis pas sûr de la très grande amitié/complicité entre Nilsson & Vickers. En parlant de lui, elle disait "il croit tout savoir". On reprochait à Vickers la mauvaise qualité de son allemand et les libertés qu'il prenait avec l'interprétation.

[AbsGuy]

They were THE Tristan and Isolde of the 20th century.

[muatlas]

In 1965, I saw Birgit Nilsson sing, act, and dance the role of Salome at the old Met (just before it was closed). It was my first trip to New York (I had grown up in a small town out West and was going to college in Massachusetts). I was the guest of a flamboyant, gay Cuban, who I met by accident and who had a box at the Met and whose escort at-the-last-minute could not attend. It was my first opera performance. I was 18. I was hooked.

[waustad]

I only regret that when I saw Nilsson do Isolde in Wien is that she was near 60 (her birthday was about a week later) and she was paired with Hans Beirer whose peak was many years earlier. After lying still for a while in the third act she took a while to get warmed up for the Liebestod, but she pulled it off. She also sang the Dyer's wife that season in the only parts I saw her do live.

[waustad]

I only regret that when I saw Nilsson do Isolde in Wien is that she was near 60 (her birthday was about a week later) and she was paired with Hans Beirer whose peak was many years earlier. After lying still for a while in the third act she took a while to get warmed up for the Liebestod, but she pulled it off. She also sang the Dyer's wife that season in the only parts I saw her to live.

[sp0590]

musical sex

[AbsGuy]

@sp0590 yes, eros triumphant

[AmocantiInc]

I'd like to know who the drunk is that is running the spotlights. That must have driven the singers crazy. But these two are simply unmatched by anyone for sheer beauty and power of this great love duet.

[crabbe88]

Vickers and Nilsson, (to me) simply the best Tristan and Isolde in history. This recording is a treasure-live and outside, to boot! Nilsson' (and Vickers' for that matter) incredible dynamic range is rarely if ever captured in studio recordings. These live recordings, especially at Orange which many other performers shied away from are such important historical documents of the greats. I will always treasure this recording. Thank you!

[Operanut9]

I saw Vickers as Siegmund. What a performance. I can't imagine anyone, including Melcior, doing it any better. Commanding and heroic! Often, he is too nasal for me, but a perfect Siegmund!

[j72050]

..Vickers was emotionally effective in the Klemperer Fidelio, but on balance, his voice is not pleasing, like Tauber.....instead of poured honey, Vickers voice is like shouting in a bar, his voice is like poured vinegar...but he can wolf out the notes, alright....there is no pleasant tone to Vickers, no golden sound....but they have what they are given....I have Vickers records, but they are at the bottom of the list.....

[CONTESTAR]

You hear what you hear in Vickers and I can understand the qualities in the voice that do not appeal to you.

However, taste is taste and you will (not?) be surprised to hear that the very same qualities others hear as pure gold indeed. The manly sound of a real human being and the velvety depths of a chest resonance unusually dominant for tenors are some of them...

When I first heard him it turned my tenor universe(...) upside down... Thank god.

PS. My Vickers' CDs are at the very top!

[CONTESTAR]

I would never disagree that the singers you mention are glorious...

Regarding Nilsson, she is singing a live performance with a thrilling sound and nobody can be like a recording all the time.

I don't think any tenor on god's earth would think it is beneath(!) him to be her Tristan even after she had quit!!

[OperaBohemian]

I think the wind is a cool effect!

[johnbunny135]

For the full effect of what happens in an outdoor concert, find the Verona Norma performance video with Caballe and Vickers, where the wind was blowing like crazy, and blowing the costumes all around.

[divadeb2000]

That Norma was in Orange, not Verona.

[kevyjo]

Birgit Nilsson must have been a heldontenors worst nightmare, even Vickers seems a bit outmached in a few moments.....

[Greatfan]

This production was done in ORANGE, not Rome. In Rome Nilsson taped Isolde for the Italian Net ( RAI ) but her Tristán then was WINDGASSEN. And it was done in studio with lip synching and playback.

[Dwrght007]

What are you talking about? This is the love duet from act 2. No one's dying. No one's even injured yet, for goodness sake. lol

[jobe413007]

Jobe speaks! The miracle of Wagner is now available to the world via Internet. Forget the man! The Artist reigns supreme!

[jonsaintgermain]

I have this video; it was an outdoor performance in Rome, and you can see a high wind blowing the costumes and hair around. Great dramatic effect, but it appears to have blown the spotlights as well, which explains the shaking. This had to be distracting for the singers.

[birgitnilsson]

Are you sure it was in Rome? I´ve seen this in Orange(France)

[perskram]

The spotlight manager must have been a heavy drinker. Never seen anything like it in all my years. :-)

[paulostroff99]

Glorious! Bravo!

[vickersman]

Happy 81st birthday Maestro Vickers...October 29th,1926.

[stevevandien]

God bless a great artist!

[theropodia]

Such high musical ideals! Replete with the crappy bouncing spotlight... :(

[vickersman]

you are so right about the spotlight...knowing Vickers temperment,I bet he tore a strip off someone after this performance!

[siukola1]

also mödl and vinay are very good

[Elisabetta611]

WOW

Flagstad and Melchior and Nilsson and vickers....the BEST duos for this duet!

[OPERMUSIK]

Vickers y Nilsson en sus ultimos tiempos y los ultimos grandes cantantes wagnerianos, esto sin mencionar al gran maestro austriaco Karl Böhm.

[bobemy1]

This is a very beautiful video.I have the whole video in my library and enjoy it often

[wesleyan97]

Who is singing Brangaene? She has a beautiful voice.

[tenorrman]

Great addition to the history of 'Tristan und Isolde', with argueably two of the very best. I have seen Vickers sing Tristan many times, and seen him and Nilsson in Walkure, but never together in this opera...quite a treat !!!

[Greatfan]

They ; Nilsson & Vickers, always blended to perfection. They were close friends too, we know. Vickers studied Tristan durin 14 years ! He said so in Buenos Aires.

[sgnmath1234]

You're correct. I looked too hastily.It is she.

[sgnmath1234]

This is not Birgit Nilsson as the Title says.

[Comatose7890]

it is Nilsson!

why do u say its not?

[Operanut9]

@sgnmath1234

If you need to look at the title, you have not "experienced" Nilsson and the unique voice that was hers. Even TAXI drivers in New York City recognized her by her voice when she hailed them. LOL!