Eileen Farrell sings "Mild und Leise" Tristan und Isolde

[operassassin]

Really majestic and without affectation.

[timct222]

Gorgeous sound, not too many German words in there though.

Sorry.

[rvc6506]

My date & I heard her sing this in San Francisco in 1957. I cried (trying to supress sobbing) & made an ass of myself. Years later I wondered if that's why she fell in love with me--because I was "sensative".

[Caligula0078]

Incredible voice, but for me this performance is marred by that awful affectation she has of 'scooping' up to to notes instead of hitting them cleanly. Really annoying.

[bigstrongboy67]

@Caligula0078

I don't hear the "scooping" at all . Just a beautiful legato and wholly free tone. Compelling and wonderful vocalism.

[coryisawake]

Glorious timbre, emotion, everything.

[nispen]

fan-tas-tic.

[elraval15]

wunderschön!



[animpracticaldreamer]

Totally underrated, not only as an opera singer but in her ability to interpret the pop genres. She's as cool as the other side of a pillow. There's only a handful of singers who can make the Liebestod achingly beautiful. Go girl!

[dnettles]

My God! I had forgotten how wonderful she was. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ellandelachapelle]

My new Idol. Best Isolde I´ve ever heard! (so touching. Really moving. First time I cry when I hear this.)

[Laistry]

What a timbre...! Thank you so much for sharing!

[Homoclassicus]

I find this video amazing. Farrell's powerful, sensual and smooth timbre sometimes remind me of Flagstad's, however she has a very individual tone to her voice and she does use it in the most dramatic and romantic - but properly contained - way.

[rupepill]

Thank you for posting this example of singing by a very great soprano.

[coryisawake]

Mesmerizing!

[raunchy9305]

If you can get a copy of her recital album which was originally on Angel records conducted by Thomas Schippers get it. It really gives you a flavor for the range she had. There are also recordings of Farrell with the NY Philharmonic in acts from Wagner operas. She also made a great recording of Cherubini's Medea. I saw her a few times at the Met but she really wanted to stay home and bake blueberry pies for her family. An Andrea Chenier with Correlli was amazing,blockbuster performances

[tommys839]

great control i don't think she got the recognition she deserved she is in the top ten sopranos shivers up my spine sing on

[ShamusMacGuffin]

I haven't heard many great Isolde's from American soprano's, so WHY haven't I heard of this woman before? I considered myself a great fan of opera but had no idea who this woman is. My ignorance is a travesty, because her singing is exquisite!

[Nataliekastro]

best Isolde !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Operaddict]

Such honest, beautiful and noble singing! Heroic in stature, and eternal in its artistry. It is a thrill to hear Miss Farrell in one of her greatest achievements.

[nancywilken]

@Operaddict 

[hugglescake]

Ironically she hated Opera.

[EmilyGreene1984]

@hugglescake How do you know that?

[hugglescake]

@EmilyGreene1984 On her desk she had a plaque that read "Stamp out Opera."

[mutinyinheav3n]

@hugglescake she didn't hate opera.

[hugglescake]

@mutinyinheav3n On her desk she had a plaque that read "Stamp out Opera."

[aspergershawn]

this is just wonderful - had never heard her before

[marlyharris]

In the 1950s, I studied with Eleanor McClellan. My dream was to get to her studio while she was giving a lesson to Eileen Farrell. Alas, it never happened and our paths never crossed. Farrell was one of the greatest singers of our time and all time.

[mewcilsyd]

IM SO PROUD OF EILEEN SHE WAS NOT ONLY A WONDERFUL SINGER SHE WAS EXTREMELY FUNNY WITH MAGARET TRUMAN ON T.V. COMEDY SHOWS.

IM VERY PROUD TO SAY SHE CAME FROM MY LITTLE KNOWN CITY OF WOONSOCKET,R.I. GOD BLESS YOU EILEEN YOU MADE US PROUD!!!

[ElliePearl]

One of the most beautiful interpretations of this aria I've ever heard. Brava.

[razdoburdina]

Mais elle est tout simplement Géniale!! Quelle beauté! Merci! AV

[TrackerAction]

Yes, Nilsson, Flagstad, etc., are wonderful. But why, tell me WHY had this woman not the same notoriety as the others. This is some of the most beautiful singing I've ever heard! Do I dare say, that I prefer Ms. Farrell to. . . . (the others?) I'm waiting for the lightning and opera police now to come get me.

[coryisawake]

It is ashame that she refused to sing more Wagner.

[grig035]

Please, I'm so grateful for this upload. I must know the conductor here (he's superb too) and also the date! Many thanks. I assume the musical performance and what we see here are one and the same (sometimes there was post-dubbing during the '50s to '70s, Farrell's period), particularly since we clearly see Farrell do all the breathing here before the camera. So it may be easy to ascertain the date/conductor info for this appearance? I don't know when I've heard her better! Again, thanks.

[sstunk]

Her recording of the Immolation Scene with Bernstein conducting is AMAZING. I think it is out of print now, which is a crime.

[ricarido1]

Beautiful! Thanks Mike.

[jmccracken1963]

The Irish maiden sung VERY, VERY WELL by a real Irish maiden. OUTSTANDING performance; thank you for sharing this with us!!!!!

[LeonoraPasiniani]

The best Isolde!

[berlinman46]

One of the 20th century`s greatest soprano`s thank you a million times for posting this fab gem!! pxx

[parrotland]

No one does it better. Period.

[mclaire12]

this voice is incomparable. there is nothing even close to it

mclaire12

[ah332]

@mclaire12 flagstad

[mclaire12]

@mclaire12 Thank you so much.Bing at the Met also ignored the great Beverly Sill. look at the video of the finle to Thais with both Sills and Fleming. Sills High D is incredible.I absolutely adore Farrell. Mclaire12

[yasminile]

Perfect Isolde! Thanks for the posting- do you have any more?

[robertdonkers]

Such ashame she was so ignored by the MET.

[singsomuch]

Yes, a true shame!

[marykaye35]

@robertdonkers

[lawdocdc89]

@robertdonkers

Heard her do this once in concert with Bernstein, She married a fireman,had a bunch of babies and was very happy with that decision. She really didn't want to perform that much.

[lawdocdc89]

@robertdonkers

She wasn't ignored, She was very ambivalent about her talent. I heard her live only once. Truly spectacular. But she wanted to stay at home and have babies.

[vstasov]

Gorgeous. What a shame she never recorded a complete Tristan. Thanks for posting.

[wallysrainbow]

pure heaven