Birgit Nilsson sings Isolde's Liebestod

[skbnvacaville]

This actually made me ask the question, "How would Jesus sing?"

[UNITEDSPACEFLAG]

grandios !!!

[rumpwrestler]

I heard Birgit's first VIenna Isolde. Then her first Bayreuth Isolde (actually this one came first then Vienna), Her first Turandot in the USA (San Francisco). All of her Isoldes in San Francisco. Her DIE FRAUs and ELEKTRAS at the MET.... her farewell (although we didn't know it) concert in Frankfurt.....and NO ONE, repeat, NO ONE could sing like that woman!!!

[macman1940]

The only good thing I can say about such stupid staging is that there is little to attract your attention away from this incredible performance! Nilsson was a phenomenon.

[houghtonga]

@macman1940 to be fair the Thèâtre Antique d'Orange is an openair Roman amphitheater within a bowl of stone seating (note the way Mme Nilsson's chiffon dress is blowing in the wind). If you look at the pictures on Wikipedia the usable size of the stage is really tiny after allowing space for an orchestra - not much space other than for a Bayreuth regitheater set that were in vogue then (although not to my taste, either).

[macman1940]

The only good thing I can say about such stupid staging is that there is little to attract your attention away from this incredible performance!

[AbsGuy]

She was the greatest Wagnerian soprano, bar none.

[jehouse]

Most amazing thing I've seen in years. Damn.

[tomasburi]

To all lovers of dark wagnerian sopranos: Search for "Liebestod Dvorjakova Ludmila" recording. Voice of Ludmila Dvorakova is really worth of listening!

[BritinIsrael]

Only Flagstad beats her in this role.

[lexusis220d]

THE Isolde of all times!

[MastersoftheOpera]

After Kirsten Flagstad, Birgit Nilsson took the title of best Isolde and Wagnerian soprano. I love this Theater Antique D'Orange performance from the 70's with John Vickers, except for the costumes and set which look like the set of a sci fi outer space movie. Nilsson singing this Libestod is GLORIOUS. You just can't find a single soprano who can sing it this way. I like today's Nina Stemme as Isolde but Nilsson is a goddess, a legend, unbeatable. Wagner himself would have been in awe of her.

[bladezone1]

Perfection just perfection!!!!!!!

[vocalpianist]

she's a TITAN

[ssballs]

How divine to sit outdoors in d'Orange,breeze in 1973 and have that voice waft through the air.

[gaemp]

I've never heard a conductor more boring than Böhm....

[ssballs]

@gaemp Ha!,you must be a musician,or a clown?

[gaemp]

@ssballs I studied music for many years and I had the luck to follow the work of many conductors... anyway, that's my opinion. BTW... who are you....?

[ssballs]

@gaemp How fortunate we both are.

Who am i?One thing i am not is a couch-critic of people who i know have more talent than i will ever have and was an"offspring" of Strauss,Berg.Bohm was that person.Boring ...?If you would have said Nilsson sings like a cow in this i could have agreed quietly.I bet you're a conductor too?Of the local high school,if you're luckyJust my guess."Never",more","boring"..­..Ha!Do some research and open your ears.

[gaemp]

yes, I studied conducting at Rome Opera House and in Milano. I had the luck to meet people like Pierre Dervaux, Santi, Sawallisch, Daniel Oren, G. Patanè and others. It has nothing to do with research and I never said anything about Nillson... You don't accept my opinion, this is your main problem.

[ssballs]

@gaemp I don't have a problem with opinions.Or taste.saying that someone is boring that obviously has not been to millions seems "a problem".But alas.Keep on conducting.I am done,basta.And it's Nilsson with 1 L.But then...it's just a letter,like Bohm is boring.lol;-)"I've never heard a conductor more boring that...."I am amused,thank you,that alone speaks of talent.

[morningstoner666]

@gaemp sorry, it's immature but, @ssballs. really? assballs!?! butt, assballs.

i'll leave it at that. rate me down, i would.

[joyfuljoeys27]

impressive but lacks impact compared to Waltraud Meier (which in my view is the definitive version in Munich). Meier has more passion and a stronger voice also doesn't lag as Nilsson seems to be

[Joeleole]

Meier has a stronger voice than nilsson??? You clearly haven't listened to Nilsson enough!

[joyfuljoeys27]

I meant no lack of respect to Nilsson in general - I was just saying on this particular piece I prefer Meier's interpretation. My comments are restricted just to this performance! sorry

[astronomo16]

Karl Böhm is a geneius. Birgit i think that she has a really beautiful voice, but here (probably due to her age) her voice is not turbulent enoguh for the sensation that require this work. She keeps much the same tone. This cause for other hand a high feeling, but she doesn´t fluctuate. I repeat that it must be because of her age. I heard her years before of that perfomance and she was really fantastic (Böhm even more)

[parzifal40]

I feel so lucky to have seen Ms. Nilsson sing the role of Princess Turandot and Elsa (Lohengrin) with the Met. I, also, saw her perform the entire ring cycle with Georg Solti at Covent Gardens over the Christmas holidays in 1968. I was very young but that stands out above so much.

[urgrad03]

This gives me everything I need.

[symyu]

these films are very precious and wonderful, thank u so much for sharing with us, best regards...

[AmericanEvita]

I saw this final scene of Tristan on Classic Arts Showcase (a cable channel that is like classical music/opera MTV) and it was my first experience of Nilsson..she's like an angel or goddess singing a song about the tragic human experience...I was overwhelmed and brought to tears...she has an amazing voice and this production was post-modern and looked like a Star Wars set (didnt like it) but Jon Vickers and Birgit Nilsson are amazing together

[comey717]

Do you live in the New England area.

[tjallew]

Thank you Onegin65 and god-jul you made mye time on you-tub very sweet.

[ssballs]

Oops,that was supposed to be a thumb up.Thank you indeed.Happies/ New Years.

[tjallew]

thanks and happy new year

[operaspark]

Effortless for Nilsson, the applause at the end says it all realy...simply amazing.

[caphiro]

Fast möchte man jedesmal mitsterben.

[ellandelachapelle]

She doesn't seem to use full voice? Well, if you're driving a Formula 1 racing car, you'd better have FULL CONTROL. So as not to crash! (full control doesn't mean less power. The opposite is true!) It amazes me that they could applaud. I myself was IN SHOCK. (a pleasurable one.)

[ellandelachapelle]

This woman had an EXCEPTIONALLY physically strong disposition. When she was young (in the beginning of her career) she contracted tuberculosis. And then she did the OPPOSITE to what everyone else would have done: she continued to sing! She actually SANG HERSELF WELL! In Sweden (our common native country) she was very popular. As a witty television personality! (most of the viewers had never heard her SING.) "Listen! Birgit Nilsson is telling funny stories again!" (not all of them "decent"...)

[Andante735]

Bravo Sweden!!

[Operanut9]

Andante,

I must echo your "Bravo Sweden" remark. Sweden gave me my favorite soprano, Nilsson, and favorite tenor, Bjoerling. What 's going on up there? Both were giants among giants.

[Andante735]

I'm not sure Operanut9, but I do have a good friend from Sweden, and we've had this discussion. Sweden also gave us Bergman ( both Ingrid and Ingmar ), Garbo, and they were most definitely giants too!

[Telramund]

It took me many years to warm to her steely voice, but after much listening I must admit that she is the best Isolde ever in my view. Just look at this: she's been singing for a solid four hours and she pulls this off as if she'd just walked on stage... and if this doesn't convince you, turn to Bohm's 66-67 Ring cycle recorded at Bayreuth: her immolation scene in Gotterdammerung is unsurpassed.

Bad recording perhaps but a magical evening, clearly.

[greve]

I totally agree with you! Magical beyond words!

[raigekimaru]

@Telramund

agreed. I'm not terribly into steely voices myself, but pulling something like this off after 4 hours of singing requires flawless technique, and that's something you have to respect =)

[birgitnilsson]

A brilliant, steely and llimit,leff voice.Also capable of incredible pianissimi and beautiful nuances.Thanks for posting.

[AnatoleBelge]

Karl Boehm, I think (conducting).

[SPTN58]

Yes, Karl Böhm, one of the greatest conductors of the mid/late 20th Century. Great Mozart, Wagner, Beethoven and Strauss protagonist.

[aircat29]

es de lo mas maravilloso que escuchè jamas!

[REALMASTER06]

C'est un moment unique, d'une intensité exceptionnelle. Karl Böhm sonne juste, sans fioritures inutiles. Birgit Nilsson stupéfiante. La voile blanche masque le superbe mur du Théâtre Antique d'Orange et plonge le spectateur dans la pureté absolue. A la fin le mistral se lève et les mouvements de sa robe la font monter au ciel. C'est un instant unique malgré le mauvais enregistrement de la télévision française. Aucune salle d'opéra ne reproduira une telle extase.

[venise1946]

Exact pour elle. Mais Vickers insupportable!

[pieternooten]

come on people: the sound is just terrible here. what a shame...

[venise1946]

Sound? It is on oppen air!

[Johnny1206]

In 68 she gave us her best live recording of Tristan under Böhm in Bayreuth, only surpassed by Flagstad under Furtwängler.

[Lohengrin]

fantastic scenography, singing, stage direction... dreadful hairdo, she looks like pop singer of the 70s...

[Greatfan]

First of all: Nilsson WAS a great singer. Second, she started at 29, others at 21. Third: One thing is to master the Liebestod and other , very different is to master ALL Isolde for 25 years. Fourth : Maria Callas, who was the greates, had barel 20 years. Endurance is not the only available test.

[Greatfan]

I must add a few things. You can hear a studio perfect Turandot, more..expressive or more something than Nilsson, but Nilsson COULD. Opera is a matter of being able to sing the roles, not of showing a pedantic bit. And singing does not depend only on technique but on physiques. And intensity of repertoir. Nilsson here had at her back 300 performances of Turandot and more than 200 of Elektra. That wears the voice.Varnay started at 21 at the Met and she was worn at 40 something.

[DivaDeb1234]

I just saw this last night at LA opera. I would have rather seen Birgit...at any age. Flat? Listen again.

[Greatfan]

I add something for Scalatti: I heard her in Siegried's Brünhilde 1967,all in pitch and ripe and have never, ever, heard a sound so crystal clear and huge as hers.A voice like Nilsson's has not been replaced.Huge voices are very difficult to handle and by 1973 with almost 30 years career she was in decay.

[Scalatti]

Man!, this is lousy!!! The whole piece is pancake-flat. Will never understand the big deal surrounding this woman.

[Greatfan]

In 1973 she was past her prime, and although she had notlost her shine she sang flat quite often. Her muscles were tired. Nilsson's name was not made for nothing. People had ears but forgave her last years. She was absolutely wonderful, that was the big deal.Not here, I admit.

[mxl2003]

Listen to a different rendition, even from this time period. This DVD is notorious for its subpar sound quality. It's as you say, the *whole* piece, orchestra included...making it obvious that the "pancake-flatness" has nothing to do with "this woman."

[Andante735]

Perhaps then you should spend some time figuring out what the big deal is surrounding you.... not that I'm suggesting there is....

[swe50]

Nilsson was the greatest Wagner sängerin in her generation. Flagstad before her was even greater in this particular aria. Want some more power singing? Pse listen to Nilsson in "questa reggia", Turandot. There she really excells and no one can match her!

[paulostroff99]

Lotte Lehmann was at least her equal.What of Flagstad? For warmth I'll take Flagstad any time.

[swe50]

Obviously you did not read my comment. Or do you mean that Flagstad did in cuesta reggia on record? If so, which I doubt, I may have

forseen it totally. I have never heard it.

My comment on Flagstad could not be more flattering !

[paulostroff99]

Then I apologize for misunderstanding.I believe her to be in the class of Rosa Ponselle,as one of the 2 greatest sopranos of the twentieth century.Nilsson was also very great with the most powerful voice.

[manwithemeraldeyes]

Rosa Ponselle? Who?

[manwithemeraldeyes]

oh good. now we know what you think. :) awesome! I was wondering, seeing as how I know nothing at all about anything. can I trust you to help me with your saying whenever I need it?

-.-

[metacarple]

I think that you should compare like with like- Flagstad's performance with Furtwangler is a studio recording and the liebestod was recorded at the beginning of a session when madame Flagstad was fresh, not at the the end of a live, open-air performance when Madame Nilsson had just sung the whole role!  Please compare Madame Nilsson's recording with Solti with Madame Flagstad's recording on which, as I am sure you are aware, she had Elizabeth Schwarzkopf sing the high notes.

[paulostroff99]

metacarple-No,I was not aware of this being the case. What is your source of information on this contention. I was never aware that Flagstad needed the additional help,and have never before heard this That her (Flagstad's) high notes not being powerful enough is truly news to me.

[Operanut9]

It is definitely true that Flagsatd had to have Schwarzkopf sing her high Cs in the legendary Furtwangler recording of "Tristan."Flastad never had a strong "top."

[metacarple]

The high 'c's in act 2 were sung by Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, whose husband, Walter Legge, was the producer of the recording. This is not intended to take away from Madame Flagstad's incredible musicianship or artistry - she was just afraid of the top notes. For my money, Flagstad is at her very best as Fricka in Solti's 'Das Rheingold - golden voiced indeed and is to be regretted that she died before the recording of 'Die Walküre' was made.

[hypnotizeed]

It's said that when she sang turandot in verone, u could here here far away from the city. Of course she is the greatest wagnersinger, with the steealy laserlike voice no one will ever have. No technique in the world, not even today could capture here voice, it's too BIG. And i know because i played with her. She was 82 years old and she sang me of the grand piano!

[SDCmorg]

Magnificent! Would add Astrid Varnay to the list of Great Wagnerian Hochdramatischsopran (at least before that darn wobble set in in the 60's).

Anyhow! Birgit's fabulously witty and revealing memoir has finally been translated into English. Look for 'La Nilsson' at the bookstores near you!

[kayakpt]

dont know if she was the greatest, dont know if the voice was laserlike, never had the good fortune of listening to her live. but one thing i know, the wagnerian repertoire will never be the same again.

[tobobba]

..sorry..this is recorded 1973...

[tobobba]

I was at the Operahouse in Stockholm 1978 and saw Birgit in Tristan..(maybe this recording?) It was so great...I stand 1 week for the ticket (outdoors)...one week...

Daniel

[HERMOSABLACKROSE]

Just one word: SUBLIME

[fuzmiq]

she looks so beautiful in that white. and sounds lovely as well. those high notes just soar.

[mornaymariedomini]

She has been the best Isold I have ever heard...and in other title roles; technically secure and so powerful, THE example for the onsets! Ever voice student has to listen to Birgit Nilsson even no having a wagnerian voice. Her way of singing is the very vocal science.

[birgitnilsson]

Mirror, mirror on the wall....who is the fairest of us all?

Birgit Nilsson, and don´t you ever forget it.

[tenormcgee]

what i would do to have lived before my generation to hear all the classic singers...i would die if i heard her live...amazing.

[AbsGuy]

I heard her last full Ring at the Met. And I somehow broke through security to meet her afterwards (I knew one of her fans). Then only one more live concert...

[podertres]

Just like someone say here, Birgit magic was only understud when she was listened in a performance because her voice reached and fulled every single space even in the biggest opera house..that is why is knowed like "the laser"

[mmbriggshere]

if you never heard nilsson in person, say at the huge met--then you really have never heard nilsson. unless you heard her huge soaring full tones seem to float above you even in the back of the met, you have no idea why she was the greatest wagnerian soprano of the 20th century and perhpas all tim---and you poor dear--you never will! brava diva

[GABYCONSTANZA]

thank you  i did and it was sheer joy and excitement.

a fine human being too. what a loss. had a true affection for her

[ezayitas]

Definitely... even though I never heard Kirsten personally cause Im too young and if I would, I would´ve been hipnotized by that beautiful sound. I have to say that this isn´t the best recording of Isolde from Birgit. She has done MUCH BETTER than here. But anyway, INCREDIBLE VOICE!!!

[chubblove]

although i adore Birgit i cannot be disloyal to the very wonderful Kirsten Flagstad who reduced me to tears upon hearing here recordings of this delicious peice of music, but Birgit is the second greatest isolde.

[jolicrasseux]

Total agreement with you. But your words: to be disloyal, look like we are the Kirsten's husband and Birgit is our mistress...Only two wonderful voices, unique, sublime each one of her kind. Furthermore, we are widows.

[wildh34rt]

actually both of them are in the same level. they are the only wagnerian singers to date, that i know of. i mean flagstad and nilssin..nyhahahha!!!!

[nycmetbound]

*gets out the nails and and planks*

[htshoward]

I never understood the Nilsson appeal. She had a great following, but I just find the voice to be loud and rather hollow. Sorry, crucify me if you must, but not appealing to the ear at all.

[scargo1013]

you have no ear

[jtmcg]

Hollow??? Good Lord. Did you ever hear her in person? It was a rich beautiful sound. Who do you like for heaven's sake?

[gataca1976]

oh my god! how you dare? you have to know much more about what you are talking about! no recording technique was ever able to record nilsson's voice like it really was. her voice was a mystery. she had a complete voice and the technology- at the time she sang at her best- couldn't capture it at all. we all are still waiting for a new isolde, but it will never happen again. nilsson was a 'live' thing to hear. she could filled the biggest teatre on earth with her voice!

[tenorrman]

When there is talk of big voices-Birgit Nilsson-when there is talk of BIG and BEAUTIFUL voices-there is Nilsson!

[mcdiva1]

This is Birgit at her best. Abosolutely wonderful and amazing performance. I own this performance on dvd and she was flawless from beginning to end. It's unfortunate that we lost this gift from the heavens last X'Mas. She will definitely be missed.

[courthousedoc]

Absolutely amazing. Nilsson is amazing. Only one small correction -- "Mild und Leise".  But thanks again for this fabulous post.

[BillyBudd56]

Nilsson is insurmountable in this roll