Eleanor Steber - "Depuis le jour" from Charpentier's "Louise"

[intelegentable]

Brava Diva! Steber was a lady who liked a good time. It was part of the reason she had problems at the Met.Her talent was never in question her ability was undeniable.The woman could sing like a Goddess.However her discipline and work ethic was an issue and mounting huge new productions around her was deemed risky and rarely done. She is a phenomenal singer in hindsight her work stands far above most artist at the met at the time she was.

[assindiastignani]

@intelegentable It's true, Steber did drink a bit too much sometimes (unhappy private life, bad marriage to a terrible person) but her main problem was severe and vocally crippling asthma (often, but not always brought on by nerves and stress) which when it struck made it impossible for her to keep commitments. Her main problem at the MET was that Rudolf Bing just didn't like her - for whatever reasons - and was more interested in promoting certain European artists in her repertory.

[baltoman24]

Sublime performance by a great American artist! And the orchestral accompanyment is superb, how Susskind illuminates the inner voices and the flawless way Charpentier has orchestrated this glorious aria! thank you!

[sairamnagarajan]

This has since grown on me! I believe this might be the definitive rendering of this aria; under the weather or not.

What incredible pianissimo she has! and that flawless full voiced vibrato, dear lord in heaven. *shudders*

[sairamnagarajan]

This was perfection. Her diction is unsurpassed! Good lord; did she live in France?

[7inga7]

What glorious singing.

[abracadabranque]

Beaucoup de finesse!

[goldie0800]

Lovely voice indeed! Beautiful aria. What more can one ask for? ;- ) ...

[mrantiquedealer]

What shimmering elegance and style! Always underrated, she is finally "coming into her own"! God love her...

[stingabe]

Everything! Voice and beauty...everything!

[rodlarocque]

Brava-there are no voices like this today

[GylchrisSprauve]

We should celebrate her artistry more. It's a shame that Eleanor Steber still isn't a household name among younger generations of American singers. I'm gonna do my part. Wow...absolutely terrific. Thanks for posting!

[jrtrmish]

Steber was doubtless one of the two greatest Strauss (Richard) interpreters of her time. The other? Maria Stader.

[Lovelytenor1]

Vocal gold.............

[robertwbecker]

Hi, I was Eleanors Pecks bad boy, as she called me, back in the 60's, she was a wonderful human being, A TRULEY GREAT SINGER,,,,,I hope GOD shed his blessings on this wonderful person, she changed my life for ever,,,,, I really love her ,,,,, Thanks!

[sairamnagarajan]

@robertwbecker How do you mean "bad boy"?

[leprincebeaumont]

Che meraviglia!

[AulicExclusiva]

Wonderful! I've always felt this performance to be outstanding—the orchestral accompaniment under Susskind is superb—even if one finds that Steber does sound a little under the weather. She sings with great warmth and passion.

[Chimat71]

Although I am a fan of Eleanor Steber, I had never heard this recording before, and I was stunned by the beauty of her singing. And in ONE take? This is the way this aria should be performed! "They just don't sing like this anymore!"

[shaun20483]

Magnificent!

[rodlarocque]

Ahh...there are no voices like this anymore. How sad; She was spectacular

[SchwarzBass]

There is a Voice of Firestone video with her doing this live. Every bit as astounding as this! There really is no singer today that can touch this amazing singer.

[Operabuffbabe]

@SchwarzBass but there could be!! It's just singers today don't work hard enough or have the right attitude towards singing - you can hear the utter passion in voices like Steber, but today, there is that love of being "famous" that starts to take over and the work on the voice gives way to the work on the body looking spectacular... there are voices like Steber, they are just as yet, undiscovered!

[jmccracken1963]

OUTSTANDING!!!!! Thank you very much for sharing this gem with us; Steber's singing and Susskind's conducting and the Philharmonia's playing are all masterful. NOBODY active today could do this role justice!!!!!

[sospello]

ES--love the voice and her great vitality--quite a personality. Around :48 is just exceptional here.

[nclysander]

The whole thing is just exception. :P

[meganailsa]

Beautiful as always - Ms Steber constantly amazes me with her gorgeous singing.

[paulostroff99]

Stunning! Brava! TY.