Eileen Farrell sings Isolde (vaimusic.com)

[windstorm1000]

Ms. Farrell was one of the greats. My gosh, what an incredible voice and stage presence that this woman had!! Unbelievably flexible register--no break in it! And it goes without saying--amazing breath control. She's a cross between Horne and Flagstad. To label Ms Farrell a mezzo would only be partly true--she had such incredible range and ringing tone. One is reminded of the term "Golden".  Why wasn't she at the MET more often??

[baltoman24]

Absolutely glorious singing from one of the greatest American artists. As kraftpr has said- where is great music on TV now- commercial television has become a cesspool of trash- to think that the A&E channel- which stood for Arts and Entertainment is all "reality Crime" shows. And worse- but it will not improve unless the public demands it, and that is very unlikely.

[gwirgalon]

goddess, I love the technique of her time, as well as her gorgeous voice. High and easy, no damaging push as too often now..

A joy to hear.

Thank you very much for the gift of this.

[mca1218]

Amazingly, this is a color videotape from a *1959* broadcast!! Remarkable sharpness and clarity. And Ms. Farrell is a perfect interpreter for the Wagnerian. This aria is gorgeous!! Thank both NBC for "Bell Telephone," and vainmusic for putting this all on DVD!!

[azizaziz]

what is the point ?

[geomusic]

Brilliant!

[Orfeo68]

HOLY SHIT.....she can SANG some Isolde!

[paulostroff99]

Up there with the very best! Brava!

[lamusicahera]

F A N T A S TI C

BRAVA

WONDERFUL

She has been unique and shure with voice and interpretation GREAT!

[AmericanEvita]

Eileen was also said to be friends with Beverly Sills...and any friend of the now dearly departed Bev Sills isa friend of mine...what a voice on Eileen! What passion and grandeur...

[SENAFOREVER]

My favourite aria by Farell is Beethoven's AH PERFIDO!.

She was always so gorgeous...thank you!!!

[kraftpr]

Whatever happened to this GLORIOUS programming on Commercial television stations? Corporate giants like Ma Bell & Firestone supported symphony orchestras and brought artists of this calibre into our homes! So sad what's become of television today. Aside from the handful of "Live From Lincoln Center" & "Live From the Met" productions, 95% or more of what's on the BOOB TUBE today is GARBAGE!! FILTH! GUTTER-TALK! INANE DRIVEL aimed at the lowest common denominator. BRING BACK QUALITY PROGRAMMING!

[vigwig]

She and Birgit Nilsson were the greatest sopranos I have ever heard. Their live voices in the house were towering, huge and exquisite -- way beyond anything you can hear today. Both had ABSOLUTE control of their breath, both consummate artists. Thank you for sharing this.

[SilentApprentice]

goodness, shivers up my spine. amazing

[randymanswell]

Its true love from me! My heary moves in waves of emotion! Breathtaking!

[operafan60]

Ooh this is wonderful. Do you have the beginning of the aria, too! My parents always talked of Farrell. Such a sweet sound.

[operaboy81]

Beautiful voice. She sings with such passion and sweetness.

[unclealand]

Once, in an interview, Callas is supposed to have said something like "The Met, they think they have everything. They don't have Farrell." Even Callas rated her high.

[SusieQT2]

The World stood still just now!...Priceless! She was truly a gift sent from God.

[paulostroff99]

Her duets with Richard Tucker were my entry into opera appreciation.For this and her great talent-I sincerely applaud her.

[mrmuch]

Eileen Farrell was my voice teacher at Indiana University from 1974-77. She was a great dynamic lady, the greatest American-born dramatic soprano to date and, personally, was just as common and earthy and comfortable as an old shoe.

[ozarkboy1964]

Oh how I envy you!  She has always been my number one soprano ever since listening to a recording my uncle had of her when I was just a teen. No one else can come close!

[billyguns2]

EIleen Farrell had one of the greatest, most gorgeous voices of all time! I heard her several times in concert and will always remember her unforgettable qualities. She could sing equally well from pppp to ffff, and she had the best English diction of any soprano I ever heard.

[jkircher314]

God, I love her! She is gorgeous beyond belief. You're fortunate to have heard her live.

[verdiguy]

Incredible!

Wagner sung with such purity of tone that

it takes the breath away!

What an amazing voice!

She didn't have as long a career at the

Met as her talent warranted so it's nice

to have these little excerpts to we can

more fully appreciate her great gift.

Thank you for posting!

[796824]

Please watch INTERRUPTED MELODY on YOU TUBE with ELEANOR PARKER. EILEEN FARRELL PERFORMS the SAME aria with a SUPERIOR SOUND track. This doesn't do justice to America's greatest Dramatic Soprano, but it's still wonderful to have to watch her perform and I am grateful for the opportunity.

[puccinislarondine]

yes, I was lucky enough to tape INTERRUPTED MELODY off of TCM (in letterbox, no less!) and it is one of my treasures! I saw that movie when I was just a kid & it inspired me- little did I know at that time that the fabulous voice I was hearing singing 3 languages and soprano & mezzo and Wagnerian roles was all one fabulous soprano, Eileen Farrell (not given any screen credit, though she has a small cameo as a singer who can't ironically, hit a high note in Vissi d'arte) Her art is unequalled.

[owenboi66]

Thank you for this. What a beautiful sound. Bel canto Wagner - and all the better for it!

[marchesano]

Sound from this broadcast doesn't get even 1/2 her voice. It was a huge sound sweeping over orchestra like a tidal wave. Unlike the focused, silver lightning of Nilsson, this was a sweet, bright, and huge, round sound. Listen to the NY Philharmonic live recording with Bernstein conducting. Someone recorded from the audience, back some distance in the hall. She covers the brass and full orchestra in Brunnhilde's Immolation Scene!

[foothillsbear]

She was a great dramatic soprano, woefully underrecorded. One of her few complete opera recordings is Maria Stuarda with Beverly Sill, where Farrell sings Queen Elizabeth I.

[squabbler123]

Don't know if it's still available, but I have her doing Marie in a complete recording of Wozzeck. She was stunning no matter what she sang. Loved every time I heard her sing, and I've got nearly everything she recorded commercially.

[rupepill]

What a wonder of a voice, and how well it was used.

As if Farrell's talent at operatic singing was not enough, the many musical styles she commanded even included blues.

[themackdiva]

One must remember great American Sopranos...the great Eileen Farrell!

[veramour]

She was called the "Niagara of Sound" for a reason! Great singer.

[erin129]

such elegant phrasing, gorgeous singing throughout. wonderful document of a soprano nobody talks about anymore.