Birgit Nilsson "Ozean, du Ungeheuer!" from Oberon

[joserico282]

Drag queens could learn a lot from operas divas.

[Zva26]

The tonal mass of the Nilsson voice is heard in all its glory here. This aria is one of the toughest challenges ever written for a dramatic soprano. Very few will even touch or go near it. There haven't been very many: Flagstad, Nilsson, Callas, to name a few. It's almost impossible to sing. Only the most accomplished and undaunted dare apply. It's a killer.

[Jakopsohn]

Amazing, and no this is not a lipsync. The studio recording has a much faster tempi, the video is out of synca common problem here. Check out the 1964 tv concert she did, an superhuman perfomance of this aria. The concert also included an Liebestod that could be one of the most beautiful perfomances ever made!

[DivaDeb1234]

Well is it lip synced or not ?

Either way it's great !

I 'd just like to know one way or the other.

[ketillflatnefur]

@DivaDeb1234 yes all of these for german tv were synched

[Agorante]

I generally prefer opera in its original language. Oberon of course was written in ENGLISH. Sutherland once recorded it - "Ocean, Thou Mighty Monster!".

[eugenelohks]

So did the one and only Callas- Callas, Sutherland, Nilsson, Flagstad, all so wonderful, not human!

[Agorante]

OK, you win, your opera scholarship has trumped mine. Now you are obligated to post those recordings. I'm waiting especially for the Callas version.

[stefool]

the Callas version is on youtube... It was posted by primohomme

[phil2u]

Extraordinary! Thanks so much.  Danke

[Rattywotin]

What a performance, it just goes to show that you don't have to have a mouth like a tunnel to produce great opera!!

[Operanut9]

There was nothing like her-- ever-- in the opera house. This gives one some idea, but the voice was a tsunami, totally engulfing the listener. Then, on top of that the most electrifying stage presence I ever encountered.Audiences always were prepared for a true event, not just a performance. She never disappointd.

[lefemmerachael]

what opera is this ???? awesome!!!!

[albertthrelkeld]

This is singing of the highest order!

[FloreoShortia]

First Class.



[hyppolito123]

Marvellous! really a great voice, aloud and beautyful... intense and charming interpretation.

[hypnotizeed]

This is not lipsynced, that's bullshit. I have played with her. The lady layed down at the ground singing toscas vissi d'arte. this role was as easy for here as do the dishes...she don't have to work here, thats why it's looks so easy

[jerryindc]

Not only was Birgit a great singer, she was a very good actress. There is nothing cheap or overly theatrical, no swirling her dress, etc. She was a theatrical goddess.

[Tristiano]

lol...quite yes she was . And in her prime a huge nordic voice ...extraordinary.

[FloreoShortia]

@jerryindc 

[ketillflatnefur]

yes it's easy for her and she can sing on the floor, all true, but this was lip-synced for german tv. there are several like this.

[tobobba]

I saw her 1978 in the operahouse in Stockholm (Tristan)...amazing...

[callasite]

Magnificently sung. But alas, this was obviously lip-synched to her DGG recording of "Oberon" (Kubelik conducting). As far as I am concerned, videos of opera singers lip-sinching their recordings are of minimal interest.

[marchesano]

This is not lip synched. The video is out of synch. Common problem on Youtube and elsewhere. TV of the time often broadcast the audio track separately as well as broadcasting lip synched versions. This tempo is slower than her studio recording. See the other version from a 1960s concert I have posted on YouTube to be sure she could certainly do it.

[figaro0606]

Amazing. I agree with owenboi66, she is one of those singers that I really regret not having seen live on the stage. I have heard stories of her voice literally shaking the seat you were in and filling the hall top to bottom. There is a DVD recording of her 1980 Electra at the Met. Although her retirement was fast approaching, the performance was astounding. Her level of artistry and musicality was unmatched. The encores alone say it all.

[billyguns2]

For me, one of the very few singers who truly earned the title of GREAT; we shall never hear her like again, and how fortunate we are to have so many videos and sound recordings of her incomparable artistry.

[owenboi66]

I completely agree with you. Of all the singers I would love to have heard live - she is the one I would choose - above Callas et al!

[OperaBR]

FANTASTIC! Her voice was very well captured in this video in all its power, pure metallic tone and incredible richness. Such a great dramatic soprano appears once in a lifetime! Nilsson had everything: voice, technique, musicality, charisma. And she also copes very well with the "Bel Canto" demands of this fantastic aria! ;-)

[mornaymariedomini]

Birgit is the more powerful and musically voice and artist. I Have heard herself singing why OsvaCola said she is doubled? Mean the video is a playback?

[OsvaCola]

Yes, she sang very well this aria.Pity that is doubled.

[tannenbergbund]

Sagenhaft.