Birtgit Nilsson & Leontyne Price in Turandot 1961

[arturo8402]

LP phrasing is AMAZING!



[Republicrat74]

I had the good fortune to see Nilsson as Turandot, with de Stefano as Calaf at the Lyric in Chicago in either 1960 or 61....don't recall who performed Liu. There are several roles which suited di Stefano's voice well but from my experience Calaf was not one of them. I was sitting in the 7th row on the right side of the main floor and it was evident he couldn't hold his own with Nilsson in the last act, getting red in the face trying to keep up during their duet. She was the perfect Turandot!

[sprinter848]

Price's performance is inexpressibly beautiful in sound and intensely moving. Truly heartbreaking , sublime...

[tobobba]

wonderfull

[markgraysondumas]

Price's assumption of this role reaches monumental proportion, perhaps second only to Schwarzkopf's.

[eugenelohks]

omg must be madame price's best recording, most emotional anyway! i finally understand why she is considered one of the best interpretation wise as well!

[90lysander]

Sounds like this may well have been one of Price's best roles.

[asx5252]

I would contemplate selling my soul to be able to see this production

[tenornmd]

This is proof that once upon a time, there was truly great art!

[RVP57]

Bravi tutti!

[johngarner3]

JESUS LEEE

[renzy79]

Oh my God... there are no words. I am simply overwhelmed. When you have a brilliant piece of music with brilliant artsits such as these, it is simply intoxicating!

[martello79]

Leontyne's beautiful interpretation seems to put even Birgit Nilsson to a higher level: I have never heard such a beautiful pianissimo by BN than here on "l'amore" right after Leontyne's "Principessa l'amore".

Bravissime for these two wonderful sopranos!!

[zehtesko]

Why have I not been born 50 years sooner? We do not have great singers like these nowadays.

P-S: BirTgit?

[tobobba]

It´s so fantastic..I love them all...woow..Great voices..

[verdiana29]

Imaginons un instant Corelli à la place de Di Stefano .... On peut rêver !

[FoggyRoad81]

The way the Leontyne sings "l'amore" melts your heart.

[wotansings]

and the "ma chiudetemi la bocca" is freezing your heart!This was obviously an unbelievable performance

[phanface]

Not to mention that last phrase taken in one glorious breath!

And to hear three distinctly different voices--a Swedish hochdramatische Sopran, an African-American spinto soprano, and an Italian tenore lirico-drammatico (I'm doing my best)--is simply an operatic FEAST.

[turandot82]

I totally know where you're coming from. 3 different schools of vocal training coming together to make this great piece of history and art.

[neronnenn]

Nilsson fantastica Turandot e Price una Liù di gran lusso!

[sandytheslayer]

Love Caballe to bits...but Price wins hands down in the Birgit/Liu's death scenario!

[yodavidnavarro]

I totally agree! You're totally right...Great comment!

[urgrad03]

Okay I need this recording.

[neronnenn]

Perfette...peccato che ci sia Di Stefano, inadattissimo (come Pava...) a questo ruolo

[Dtenor87]

any store in europe.....these recordings are as rare as diamonds in america

[tjallew]

have the mercy to afther reading the fantastic bock La Nilsson ( that women will give and give a milenium of year's) LP: Mogan MOR 6101-LP:HRE Records HRE 321. Juni 1961 L.Price, Di Stefano Zaccaria. The memoars except her fantastic humor and life alsow have a fantastic Diskografi, you simply can't get better and I donth know howe to thank's all thise maistros fore there gnerosity to enlight me day after day in there fantastic art ( sorry fore terribly spelling in Swed-Englich).

[billyguns2]

Good heavens, Onegin65, where do you find these treasures? This is an unbelievable cast, with the glorious Leontyne Price singing Liu! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[mjmacmtenor]

Magnificent. I can't imagine any other opera where you could have two such major sopranos in roles that they were perfectly suited to. Since Liu is not the STAR role, in performance it is often allocated to a "lesser known" soprano - although it is a substatial part with 2 killer arias. Exceptions are the Nillson/Caballe pairing online, Renato Scotto's Lius, and of course, the recoding with Nillson/Bjorling and Renata Tebaldi.

[sospello]

In terms of significance to the most dramatic and vocally interesting parts of the opera, Liu is central; I think it is a mistake to give the part to sopranos who are not capable of making that clear. Leontyne Price is superlative; I wish she had done the part more; with Corelli replacing Di Stefano this would be the dream cast for Turandot--now Cesare Siepi for Timur and......

[senilangakali]

GRANDIOSE...Never again will these voices be equalled....

[mjmacmtenor]

Does a complete recording exist?? It would be great to have. De Stafano is probably a bit "light" for the roles, but I do not know of a complete recording with Price. Although not the star roles, it was a perfect combination of artist and role that I would love to here (including Act 1)

[wotansings]

one of the greatest moments in recording history indeed. amazing, thrilling...

[shinjitsu85]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! I cant believe you HAVE THIS. This is my favorite section from this opera AND it has Leontyne singing Liu. OMG!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! AHHHH!!!!

[Andante735]

OMG OMG OMG OMG, we're so happy you finally found it.

[shinjitsu85]

lol :) Sorry! It's my favorite opera. What can I say?!?!

[Andante735]

Yes, you've certainly made that clear. It's nice to see such enthusiasm, although I generally prefer that a few notches down the scale.

[shinjitsu85]

I guess it's natural for people to be pricks on here.

[Andante735]

Not neccessarily, although that opportunity presents itself certainly. Are you suggesting I'm a prick? I can be, but more than that I just have dry, sardonic, sense of humour. Your enthusiasm really is refreshing.

[everythinok]

Unearthy. From heaven. That s a proof that there s a God outthere.

[FoggyRoad81]

I keep listening to this over and over. Could you imagine hearing these sounds in the theater? Live? It boggles the mind that this isn't a recording because they both sound *so* perfect and also so unique. You will never see an opera stage with such great contrast and greatness WITHIN the contrasts these days. Ugh, it's amazing!

[SingstaMay]

Price's voice is a gift and a blessing to opera. Fantastic. Brava! Brava! Bravisma!

[Liucalaf]

Absolutely exquisite!

[saverioorlando]

Price:musically stupenda

[Laeliapurpurata]

Price ends it like I've never heard before. Brava.

[trevjr]

How could Puccini write this? So amazing the music and have 2 great artists sing this. 1961 Price was very young, still growing here, so this floating comment is off. When they sing in unison, gee how powerful that is.

But I completely agree that that cast is amazing Nilsson, Corelli, Price oh wait I have that, haha. This is here early prime, such a beautiful expressive voice that we do not have these days.

[cadillacs1981]

Well I agree the cast is amazing, but instead of Corelli you have Di Stefano this time

[Sieglinde84]

God... They are both magnificent!

[dulcamara66]

Il tenore di questo post è cmq Di Stefano....meraviglioso cantante pero' inadatto al ruolo di Calaf..mentre Nilsson e Price sono stupende nei loro rispettivi ruoli.

[macciboma]

Condivido la sua opinione su Di Stefano non è il

suo ruolo Calaf, mentre che tanto la Price e la Nillson, sono fenomenali,Grandiosa la musica

di PucciniGrazie del video.

[Greatfan]

For Swe50 : Nilsson was not always expansive, she did not go praising singers here and there but when she did, wow ! I would like you to find and if possible translate for me what she says about the Caballé episode at Teatro Colón. It is in swedish and you can find it as mini video in AFTONBLADET.

[benderpm]

Yes, my Price is wonderful, magnificent and all of the superlatives that can be mastered to describe a Great singer. Nillson and Corelli are outstanding, too. I love/loved them all.

[swe50]

Birgit Nilsson actually was a little envious of Price!!Being Birgit´s fellow country man I know that she tried to escape all comments when asked by reporters of the quality of Price. Stupendous!This proves that Birgit, for all her splendor, was very much aware of Leontyne Price´s enormous gift. Anyhow, they do marvels together! Outrageously beautiful singing on both parts! Price excells and is no way in awe of Nilsson! Bravissimi !!

[Greatfan]

I do notknow, she spoke marvels of Price here and then, in fact she said she did not sing " Forza " for she loved Price's voice in that opera.Price also praised Nilsson. She called her " Big B " affectionately.

[swe50]

I am very content with your comment. I have been disapponinted with Nilsson´s attitude which seemed incomprehensable. Happy to hear that the two giants appreciated each other. Price´s Forza was tremedous! And Nilsson was a truly great singer. Thank you for posting it!! I don´t like the idea of Nilsson not being able to acknowledge the skill of her peers.

[Greatfan]

If you read many of her comments in her books she is definitely very appreciative of them.Here in Argentina she said of Price : " A serious affair as singer " of Tebaldi " The voice I love " of Callas " When she was in a good day she was better than all of us put together " of Sutherland " Prima, prima donna assoluta ") this in her book, of Caballe " I fell in love with her breathing, pianissimi and incredible legato " So you see !

[swe50]

I read the autobiography of Nilsson in our own native tongue as soon as it was publiced and did not find any comment on Price other than "ms Price´s creamy soprano". I´m really statisfied that she acknowledged all the others in such a positive way. I find it very strange that I never found these praises in the book. I most certainly have to re- read it, since it was years ago while Nilsson still was very much the focus of attention in Sweden!! Thank you!

[Greatfan]

Many of those comments have been done personally, oters were found in interviews or for instance in a booklet sent to me by the Royal Opera House Stockholm. Nilsson said of Siv Wennberg : " She will be the next Leontyne Price " That of Tebaldi THE VOICE I LOVE, or the Callas comment were done in private in Teatro Colón dressing rooms.

[ExcellentTaste]

DEar Swe50:

I don't know what there is to be envious of, other than the fact that Leontyne "floats" her high notes, and Nilsson sings them.

THere is a pirated recording of Turandot in Seattle in the early 70's... Turandot, Birgit Nilsson, Calaf, Franco Corelli, and Liu is Leontyne Price. What a cast. These days we have NOTHING like any one of those singers.

[liamandsarah]

I think today we do have voices that can match up to the old voices - I just don't think they ever make it to the stage because they do not fit into the confines that "modern" directors like to see - ie: thin like Anna Netrebko. none of the singers we love from the "golden age" of opera would get work these days because they don't conform to the newly established THIN mans opera.

[liamandsarah]

Instead, we have second rate voices with first rate bodies singing the great roles while the first rate voices sit at home and listen to the recording.

[swe50]

I believe you may be right. The outstanding singers of last century were not a one occurence only. I am sure there are excellent singers out there. Regretfully some seem more focused on their looks than their singing propelled by televized recitals (Ms Fleming inter alia)

[yodavidnavarro]

I think Damrau has the potential to be a great one!

[eugenelohks]

@liamandsarah not sure about that... Anna Netrebko isn't thin at all, especially recently. I think it's more the culture: young singers go on stage without having a full, complete training process, and then they do every fach of roles from light coloratura to wagnerian. It's impossible! That's why they ruin their voices before we get to hear their true potential!

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Oh please name 1.2. or 3 of those singers of today please, the whole world NEEDS to know them.Then your saying grand opera has become a visual art form.?Do we only care how they look as long as they just know the music ?

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Someone who heard Nilsson live, told me inperson "She nailed you to the wall"

[liamandsarah]

@topmeat69 I think you misunderstood my comment. I am appalled at todays singers being fantastic just because they are thin and conform to the "sex appeal". Birgit is a freaking legend!!

Unfortunately, opera has become a visual artform in that singers are often hired on their looks first and voices second and that's a fact in many of the opera houses worldwide. It's wrong, opera is abut the music and the way the right voice(not body) portrays that music, character etc that makes it great!

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Who can remember all the many different forms of fine art that used to enter peoples homes for free on TV and Radio. Even ATT UVerse has mony hundreds of TV channels but NOT ONE for any fine arts at all.Shame on ATT.. anyone remember" CBS Cable" in the 70s?Live from the MET, Live from Lincoln Center ?And nothing wrong with looking good with sex appeal, its the REAL healthy people who LOOK great, lets celebrate that too.

[liamandsarah]

@topmeat69 Opera is not meant to be a visual artform, but with the emergence of popstars like Gaga, Xtina, and Britney, it forces opera singers, sopranos in particular to try and conform to the "pop" ideal just to be hired. There are many talented young opera singers who are left to pasture without even being tested because they don't meet this ideal. It is something that I find morally disturbing that this 'visual' concern is becoming so prevalent in every facet of society and art.You disagree?

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Lets not confuse fine art with entertainment,one can never be ther other.I'm thankful I'm not a snob or an opera queen, I love the best of entertainment and fine art.Well If these fine young voices do exist, YOU TUBE is a place they can be heard by the world for free,to see IF they can establish an audience.Anericans should be talking about which of the 8 young American Tenors they like best,There is no such talk because we dont have such Americans out there performing.

[jimuk63]

@liamandsarah Goodness gracious "Opera is not meant to be a visual artform" I could have sworn that opera first took to the stage in the late 16th century when the only way to hear it was to see it too.

[tenorismo]

@topmeat69 Exactly . To the wall a peircing voice ,but a beautifull voice. Also a great Verdi soprano.

[tobobba]

@topmeat69 I have..1978 in Tristan and Isolde..fabulose

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Can you share one with us on you tube??I can share LOTS of real bad one on your tube,sadly

[topmeat69]

@liamandsarah Where do YOU hear " voices that can match up to the old voices" -,where do you hear them today??

[liamandsarah]

@topmeat69 Jennifer Wilson is a pretty damn good Wagner Sop. There are some out there, they are obviously yet to be discovered. Saying good voices only existed during the golden age, is just ignorant. There are stunning voices today, I just think it's harder to forge a career, there is so much involved today. The competition is fierce and the pressure to conform to the "sex appeal" mould is hard, especially for the bigger voices, and money is short. Overall, it's just a different time.

[AuthenticFeirce]

This Di Stefano.

[ktpj]

A film of Turandot was planned starring Nilsson,Price, and Franco Corelli. Sadly, it it never was made.

[gj2855]

All of these voices are amazing. Price and Nilsson so unique but both stunning. Birgit could make the walls of Jericho fall with that piercing power, lol. Price voice is unrelentlessly goregous as always! Brava Divas!

[Greatfan]

Two of my favourite prima donnas together, thank you so much Oneguin ! Nilsson strong and full of '`ping ', Price round and sensuous. They do not make personalities like that anymore ! If someone appears in a contest, they don't choose him / her . That is the sad truth. Juries now want tidiness for its own sake and...obedience.

[mwk12kev]

Voices like these are hardly ever found today. There are very few practitioners around that know how to develop an operatic voice. They all push from the throat and have no clue about what head voice and singing in the mask is about....

Thanks for this posting -- it is fantastic!

[violageo]

OMG!!!!!!!!!! 3:50 -4:15 is pure magic!

[FoggyRoad81]

um, can't breath it's so amazing.

[feelsgoodinsideme2]

The VERY best there is!

[MrCafiero]

Fantastic!

[cantorandopera]

Price's voice is so magnificent here. This is one of the best "Tu che di gel"'s I have ever heard. What a glorious, rich and cleanly produced sound she had in this live performance. Thanks again to our dear friend

Onegin!!!!!