How delightful that the wonderful Robert Merrill, Brooklyn accent and all, is the interviewer:). For me, Kirsten wasn't a spinto, not quite. She was a full-bodied lyric soprano who could therefore sustain a few heavier roles, like Tosca. That is NOT to denigrate her in any way. Kirsten sang beautifully and effectively for 30-something years:) - -
Tenia una exquisita y dulce voz de soprano, por cierto, no exenta de poder, de gran legato, musicalidad, control diafragmatico y calidos pianisimos. Su grabacion de 1959-60 de "The Vagabond King", junto a Mario Lanza, otro grande, aunque injustamente subestimado tenor, es una caricia para nuestros oidos. Disfrutenla aca mismo en youtube.
Compare her to the divas of the time: Albanese, Milanov, Tebaldi. She outsings them all. They had great voices. She had a great voice and the artistry they lacked.
@tebaldicallas, I disagree with your assessment. I think Kirsten is better than Tebaldi and Milanov. Kirsten has a clarity and precision that the other two never had. I'm sure it's just a subjective preference, you prefer a vocal style that is different than Kirsten's.
The interviewer has the exactly voice of Leonard Bernstein..at least looks to me so! I see the different prima donna's ideas on tosca everyday! Thanks for posting such incredible videos...i'd like to see Nilsson video on tosca...I became curious now.
One of my favorite sopranos. In her prime. She was great in "the great caruso" (vocally.) Her upper register was so clear and smooth, not harsh or screechy at all. One of the few sopranos who has never made me cringe.. :D
She was a great singer with a great voice and made many recordings but was limited the way Tucker was by being under contract to Columbia not RCA and remember she was born in 1910 she acted very well in the movie the great Caruso and sang wonderfully, i heard her in concert in 1975 at age 65, she still was terrific top intact she sang lyric roles but also Tosca and Lescaut many times at the met in the 40's with Bjorling and the 50's with Tucker, plus popular songs of the day. Beautiful lady.
no... she was a very attractive lady and a good singer. another epoch when there were very few record companies. today ANYONE can go into a studio and make a recording and market it... no Kirsten was a great performer in that she sang a lot of roles and was serious about it!
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I will not call her a beautiful woman and a great voice either - she is pleasant. If she had a great voice she would have made more recordings. She is a good singer that is all.
Making recordings has NOTHING to do with what kind of singer you are, or how great you are at it. Like the voice or not, she had great technique and was a wonderful singer who kept her voice in great shape(INCLUDING the top)...unlike your obvious favorite.
She was only a house soprano with any italian bites in her singing and her voice was small.
tebaldicallas 2 days ago
She does not have a great voice also her italian is so so, otherwise she is ok.
She is not in the same league of Tebaldi, Callas, Milanov.
tebaldicallas 1 year ago
How delightful that the wonderful Robert Merrill, Brooklyn accent and all, is the interviewer:). For me, Kirsten wasn't a spinto, not quite. She was a full-bodied lyric soprano who could therefore sustain a few heavier roles, like Tosca. That is NOT to denigrate her in any way. Kirsten sang beautifully and effectively for 30-something years:) - -
stevevandien 1 year ago
Tenia una exquisita y dulce voz de soprano, por cierto, no exenta de poder, de gran legato, musicalidad, control diafragmatico y calidos pianisimos. Su grabacion de 1959-60 de "The Vagabond King", junto a Mario Lanza, otro grande, aunque injustamente subestimado tenor, es una caricia para nuestros oidos. Disfrutenla aca mismo en youtube.
oswaldosucre 2 years ago
Compare her to the divas of the time: Albanese, Milanov, Tebaldi. She outsings them all. They had great voices. She had a great voice and the artistry they lacked.
kelwien 3 years ago
Kirsten did not have a great voice, she can't be compared to Tebaldi and Milanov.
Albanese did not a great voice.
Her italian diction is not that great.
tebaldicallas 1 year ago
@tebaldicallas, I disagree with your assessment. I think Kirsten is better than Tebaldi and Milanov. Kirsten has a clarity and precision that the other two never had. I'm sure it's just a subjective preference, you prefer a vocal style that is different than Kirsten's.
tempname1100 1 year ago
@tempname1100 Kirsten had a small voice, not very good italian diction.
Milanov and Tebaldi had great voices. She was an ok singer not a great singer.
tebaldicallas 1 year ago
@kelwien '
Kirsten did not have a great voice, and her italian diction was not that great,.
She can't be compared to Milanov and Tebaldi.
tebaldicallas 1 year ago
The interviewer has the exactly voice of Leonard Bernstein..at least looks to me so! I see the different prima donna's ideas on tosca everyday! Thanks for posting such incredible videos...i'd like to see Nilsson video on tosca...I became curious now.
Tiagoerg 3 years ago
That interviewer is Robert Merrill
Joeleole 2 years ago
I don't think she had a great voice. I think it was good but not great. Sorry.
pesciolinotriste 3 years ago
One of my favorite sopranos. In her prime. She was great in "the great caruso" (vocally.) Her upper register was so clear and smooth, not harsh or screechy at all. One of the few sopranos who has never made me cringe.. :D
ShawDAMAN 3 years ago
She was a great singer with a great voice and made many recordings but was limited the way Tucker was by being under contract to Columbia not RCA and remember she was born in 1910 she acted very well in the movie the great Caruso and sang wonderfully, i heard her in concert in 1975 at age 65, she still was terrific top intact she sang lyric roles but also Tosca and Lescaut many times at the met in the 40's with Bjorling and the 50's with Tucker, plus popular songs of the day. Beautiful lady.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago
i think she was a great singer.. she just was not a singer who knew her limitations..
dare57 3 years ago
Hmmm...I think she absolutely knew what her limitations were. She had a long career, and her voice held up very VERY well.
BeauTenor 3 years ago 4
She was the spinto version of Anna Moffo.
kmillard 4 years ago
no... she was a very attractive lady and a good singer. another epoch when there were very few record companies. today ANYONE can go into a studio and make a recording and market it... no Kirsten was a great performer in that she sang a lot of roles and was serious about it!
cleanears 4 years ago 3
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I will not call her a beautiful woman and a great voice either - she is pleasant. If she had a great voice she would have made more recordings. She is a good singer that is all.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago
Making recordings has NOTHING to do with what kind of singer you are, or how great you are at it. Like the voice or not, she had great technique and was a wonderful singer who kept her voice in great shape(INCLUDING the top)...unlike your obvious favorite.
BeauTenor 3 years ago 7
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you are an idiot yourself.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago
Perhaps the greatest Butterfly and Manon Lescaut...her voice captures the Puccini "little woman" so wonderfully...
Dymension 4 years ago 2
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Not a great voice, she is very pleasant to listen to. Lack italia bites in her singing.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago
One of the greatest singers ever!
rjw0886 4 years ago
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I will not call her a great singer, but she is a good singer. Not a great voice.
VivaTebaldi 4 years ago