James King "Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond"

[vickersman]

King was fabulous, and apparantly, a wonderful teacher . The fact that we now have viral access to so many performances is such a gift to treasure.I salute your willingness to share it with all of us- mortals!

[Triosfrios]

An American treasure!

[canzonettasullaria]

Thank you so much for posting. For me your father was the greatest Siegmund, Florestan, Max, Rienzi and Stolzing. I hope, I didn't forget something.

[DaveMuc]

Thank you Jimmy for all the life and light you shared with us....so often here in Munich. First time I heared you was as Radames in May 1975, unforgetable all the Wagner & Strauss that followed and of course FLORESTAN......

[giglioart]

King is nothing short of brilliant! Listen and learn.

[SPTN58]

A great voice! I heard him live in several of his signature roles.

[LohenWolfgrin]

Great!!

where to find this, but complete?

[huahuacha]

le timbre si particulier et si attachant! Avec un legato magnifique. Superbe version.

Il était aussi un des meilleurs Lohengrin de tous les temps.

Merci pour ce document

[Pywacket2]

America's greatest heldentenor.

[DavidoffGustav]

I would love to have heard Wunderlich sing this. His Mahler puts everyone else to shame - so for a lyric tenor he had a strong instrument. Check out his Mahler Lieder.. if you doubt me. Especially the Betrunkene im Fruhling

[dilvishselar]

@DavidoffGustav Wunderlich was great singer but his voice was liric. I dont think that he cood sing such a dramatic character.

[DavidoffGustav]

@dilvishselar Listen to him sing the Mahler Lied von Der Erde... He had a strong ping to his voice that is unequaled.. it wouldn't have had the 'depth' of tone... but nevertheless I think it would have been thrilling.

[dilvishselar]

@DavidoffGustav Mahler is not Wagner. Liric tenor can sing Lied von Der Erde but they do not fit the role of Siegmund.

[seattleladt]

Such a glorious and impassioned aria! Aaaaaaaaaah!!

[KONDRACHINE]

Many thanks for this valuable document. I don't know if King was better than Melchior, Lorenz, Ralf or Vinay, but his was a particularly bright and ringing tone, endowed with the best German diction I have ever heard in tenor parts, as well as a splendid and highly refined musical line.

[volkerysilvia]

Yes, King had excellent technique and preserved his voice to an amazing age. "As king, King is still king" - a famous quote about "Die Frau ohne Schatten". The ring of his voice was phenomenal.

[TheCraigMann]

King was excellent. He sang this entire scene live when he was 80 and still sounded fine indeed. I can understand the lovely Sieglinde's obvious delight on this video.

[A7madeus]

who is siglende??? or was she just an actor????? she looks very nice

[seattleladt]

This is a stupendously lovely aria -- for which I have been eagerly searching! LOVE IT!

[stevevandien]

King was wonderful, AND versatile. He sang a fair amount of Wagner as well as Calaf, Mario, Samson, Florestan, etc. Now King wasn't the actor that Vickers was, but his voice was almost as large, and it was free, vibrant and wide-ranging --

[tenorschofield]

Extraordinary!!!!! Fitsy time I hear James King. He has a beautiful voice and great musicality!!!!. I am a fan from now on!!!! BRAVOOO!!!!

[giloubreizh]

C'est bandant!!!

[ironfuscia]

anyone care to guess who had a better voice for this role? (hint: no one!)

[gaemp]

@ironfuscia Lorenz, Suthaus, Windgassen, Svanholm, Melchior... enough??

[mariusfelix]

@gaemp Lorenz, the one and only...nice, that you mentioned him first, but I like James King...

[mariusfelix]

wasn't king Lorenz' pupil? 

[jmccracken1963]

@ironfuscia Better? I agree, no one! But "as good as"? I would vote for Lauritz Melchior, Ramon Vinay, and Jon Vickers - and, earlier in his career, Wolfgang Windgassen.

[bloydaage]

fantastic. I get inspired!!!

[OperaBaritoneJoe]

yes, thank you so much for this.

[ShawDAMAN]

Great voice.

Who is with him here? Don't recognize her- was she an actual singer?

[meltzerboy]

Thanks for sending this my way, ShawDAMAN. Beautiful, expressive singing!

[ShawDAMAN]

I agree. This is a wonderful channel too.

Were you hitherto familiar with King?

He's been one of my favorites since I first heard him some years back. Real, near perfect Helden voice (at least, my impression of what one should sound like, haha.) I have a couple of his excellent complete Fidelio performances from the 60's, maybe I'll post some of it.

[meltzerboy]

Yes, I heard King for many years, mainly on recordings and once live. I agree he is very impressive. I don't recall his Fidelio, however; rather, the other James' recording: McCracken, with Nilsson as Leonora.

[ShawDAMAN]

He made a very good Florestan. (I really like McCracken too, (with Nilsson, great!) I'll have to get my hands on that recording sometime..)

Glad to see King is getting a bit more attention. =)

[steakopera]

Agreed. One of the great talent, overlooked. Who ever she is, she looks voluptuous. Mmmmmm. Thanks for sharing.