2/2--1939 FLAGSTAD-BRÜNNHILDE--IMMOLATION SCENE

[noj8484]

Wow, this is ridiculously rushed. She's obviously a fabulous singer, but Nilsson still holds the spot as my personal favorite Brunnhilde. The orchestra needs to take some time, too. Maybe I'm just so used to modern recordings, but I think they need to just let the music happen here. It's so beautiful that it's almost criminal if rushed.

[mrboombasticx]

@noj8484 I agree. Not sure if it was due to recording conditions of the time or not. I doubt it. Still, I notice it seems like more than half of the many versions of this scene I've listened to rush parts then slow down to a crawl then rush again and it's annoying. I think the music calls for moderate variation in tempo while maintaining a fairly steady gait. My favorite example of this is the Immolation Scene from Levine's Compact Ring recording. Not too fast, not too slow, in my opinion.

[vstasov]

The greatest. Thank you for this brilliant upload.

[Operaddict]

Flagstad at the height of her monumental powers. Greatness in song. A rendition of this fabulous music which is legendary in every way. Oh, to have heard this live! Who today can even dream of one tenth of such artistry? She scales the heights of these phrases with total beauty, freedom, power and joy.