Hers is just the right voice for Salome in my opinion. It's got that spinto size needed to cut through that huge orchestra and yet it's still youthful and silvery enough to be believable. And I think musically this is superb - love hearing a Salome who can still spin those phrases out of one breath instead of those so-called dramatics who have to gasp for air after every other word because they have no other choice but to pressure masses of air against their chords to produce their 'huge' sound.
Generally, the public & critics loved Behren's Salome but I find that she was past her prime the entire time she was singing the role. When Karajan discovered her, she was already approaching 50. Her voice is not "old" sounding, rather it does have a child-like youthful bloom and it's a very light lyric voice. This was what set her apart from previous Salomes with bigger voices - Nilsson, Varnay, Rysanek, Caballe. But I find that her voice is too small for the role.
@AmericanEvita that may be so, but her acting eclipsed all of the above--they were ladies with big voices---Behrens was the Brando of opera. We go to opera to look as well as listen. She was incomparable. Also, her acting translates into her singing--which is admittedly not big--but see what she does with it!
Hers is just the right voice for Salome in my opinion. It's got that spinto size needed to cut through that huge orchestra and yet it's still youthful and silvery enough to be believable. And I think musically this is superb - love hearing a Salome who can still spin those phrases out of one breath instead of those so-called dramatics who have to gasp for air after every other word because they have no other choice but to pressure masses of air against their chords to produce their 'huge' sound.
Lindow 1 year ago
Generally, the public & critics loved Behren's Salome but I find that she was past her prime the entire time she was singing the role. When Karajan discovered her, she was already approaching 50. Her voice is not "old" sounding, rather it does have a child-like youthful bloom and it's a very light lyric voice. This was what set her apart from previous Salomes with bigger voices - Nilsson, Varnay, Rysanek, Caballe. But I find that her voice is too small for the role.
AmericanEvita 1 year ago
@AmericanEvita that may be so, but her acting eclipsed all of the above--they were ladies with big voices---Behrens was the Brando of opera. We go to opera to look as well as listen. She was incomparable. Also, her acting translates into her singing--which is admittedly not big--but see what she does with it!
windstorm1000 2 weeks ago
Her ghostlike "Ich habe deinen Mund" never fails to send shivers up my spine. Then her voice opens like a silver flower.
tekalynn 2 years ago 5
Comment removed
shakingguy 2 years ago
Sublime Salomé!
michmarlin99 2 years ago 3
HILDEGARD Bherens DEATH 18/08/09
Anibaal 2 years ago