Frida LEIDER ~ Isolde's "LIEBESTOD" (1931)

[MrAxel3232]

The most musically perfect Isolde I've heard. She really understands Isolde's feelings.

After this You just wanna lie back and light a cigarett...

[CurzonRoad]

@MrAxel3232

Thanks... very much!

[Tenortalker]

I am both moved and impressed by Leider. She makes huge efforts to weld the phrases into a continuous beautiful line. I knew her name but had never heard her voice. Thank you so much for this.

[ComtessaDi]

... Bis in den Tod!

[alternatehistories]

Oops...please disregard my previous post...it seems that I was spelling her name wrong...its Frida Leider....NOT Frieda Lieder...Duh!!!

[millriv]

May I suggest to all of you to listen to the live recording of Flagstand's Isolde from Buenos Aires from1947. That Liebestod is the benchmark to all others, herself included. After the war, her singing took on a new dramatic scope due to the death of her beloved (and maligned) husband - her anguish and wailing make this performance completely unique.

[mozart200657]

Grande, stupenda, meravigliosa! E un plauso anche a Barbirolli!

[jacquesurlus]

Je n'ai jamais entendu pareil Liebestod, ni Flagstad ni Nilsson ne m'ont autant ému.

C'est comme une synthèse entre Mozart et Wagner...

Merci Doug!!

Denis.

[CurzonRoad]

....  and thank YOU, Denis!

[gwirgalon]

@jacquesurlus Pour moi, c'est ainsi justement qu'il faut chanter Wagner, comme Mozart, avec la ligne etendue un peu plus, comme une arc en ciel..

Merci mille fois Curzon Road pour ceci d'étudier..

[SENAFOREVER]

What a delight...

[andyjwalker60]

It is sad that 78's did not allow this to be sung at a slower tempo. Allowing for that, this is still up with the greats (Nilsson, Flagstad and, more recently Waltraud Meier).

[paulostroff99]

Stupendous singing. A little too fast,but that is probably due to recording time limitations.

[CurzonRoad]

Merci Genia: While some prefer Flagstad (or any number of other recordings), for me Leider's is the definitive version. THANKS! Douglasio --

[genia106]

My Dear Douglosio,

MAGNIFICENT!

I recently was priveleged to see Tristan and Isolde at the Met. I am so thrilled to have found this treasure. Merci Mon Cher.

[Musicologistsunited]

Flagstad and so many more seemed to believe it is expressive and intensely emotional if you "howl" into the notes, if that makes sense, so that it takes actually 1 or 2 seconds until the actual note is really hit.I hope this does not sound nasty, it is not meant like it. Frida Leider sings so "straight", and how much more emotionally intense it is than anything else, any manerism...! I cannot wait to hear more, thank you so so much for sharing this precious document!!!

[Musicologistsunited]

Dear CurzonRoad, thanks to you, I've just had a musical revelation of my life, and I don't exaggerate. Searching for the ONE voice for years, I have found it.

[AulicExclusiva]

This is, of course, the "official" recording of the Liebestod, by the greatest Wagnerian Heldensopran, ever.

I love the visual presentation. Very effective.

[meltzerboy]

All in all, Frida Leider might very well be the greatest of all Wagnerian sopranos. Perhaps Flagstad had more sheer voice and tonal beauty and Nilsson more tremendous and brilliant intensity; but the rare combination of voice, technique, and artistry that Leider possessed forms a unique amalgam which is unsurpassed.

[Operanut9]

meltzerboy,

Melcior seems to have preferred Leider to Flagstad. I definitely prefer Nilsson to Flagstad, but have not heard enough of Leider to say. What I've heard is impressive, indeed.

[meltzerboy]

Interesting, since Melchior likened Flagstad's voice to a diamond and Traubel's to a ruby, I wonder what he might have compared Leider's voice to? Leider, Flagstad, and Nilsson are all so great that it is difficult to say who was the greatest. Perhaps Flagstad is best for tonal beauty and richness, Nilsson for interpretive ability and brilliance, and Leider for technique and passion.

[minacciosa]

WOw, fast tempo, but it really works. Would be tremendously effective in modern sound. She was one of the great voices of all. Thanks for this. Made my night!

[foropera]

What a voice she had, I love this feminine, tender sound. With Meta Seinemeyer, my top Isolde.

A bit strange that her high notes are often low, is it the recording of that time that did not allow to capture all the spectrum of her rich voice?

It 's also interesting to hear when these great singers were doing portamenti or not, the tradition chnaged little by little.

[CurzonRoad]

Thank you for your comment. Can only speculate on the recording capabilities of 80+ years go. Leider remains a favorite, as is Meta Seinemeyer (trust you're familiar with the website devoted to her?). Thanks again, and all best.

[KatousHarley]

You know how to set the mood! Fantastic!

[cantorandopera]

While the tempo is quicker than is usually done today, it captures an urgency not found in today's slower versions. And that pace is kept up during the whole aria - landing on a great climax. Anyone listening to this version must recognize that this is a great singer for all time! Anway - this is one of the greatest pieces of music EVER written . ..

[myxklptk]

She might have done it a little quicker than usual in order to get it to fit on one side (!!!) of the record. Most performances of this aria on 78's were recorded on two sides. Five minutes is unusually long for a 78, so they were pushing the limit.

[gwirgalon]

@myxklptk Ya, but also I don't think that is was written to be sung deathly [sic!] slow..There is movement in the words, in the lines...

It was often the habit then indeed, but, even if done as you wisely suggest, for the 78, it doesn't shock in the least..I find it is juste...