Clifton Forbis, Eva Maria Westbroek - Die Walküre Act 1 - Der Männer Sippe...Winterstürme

[tenorschofield]

Bravoooo!!! both sound great!!! , it is wonderful to hear this singers!!! Braviii!!!!

[angryjalapeno]

Westbroek is absolutely fantastic. Clifton is a powerful singer but all I mostly hear are vowels. James King on Bohm didn't give me chills in this aria; neither does Clifton. I guess it's individual preference. Now, Peter Seiffert gives me the chills.

[Scarpia90]

Clifton Forbis! A-MA-ZING! I hadn't heard such a voice in years, the real Helden-tenor of this century, at least, for me! She is really good too!

[addyvander]

Eva Maria, hartelijk dank voor deze prachtige uitvoering. Het is de mooiste die ik tot op heden heb gehoord. Een geweldige stem, we zullen nog veel van je horen !!

Ook dank aan Clifton Forbis en Bernard Haitink uiteraard.

[montallio]

Apart from Westbroek, Mr. Forbes demonstrates a superb tenor voice. Very very good!

[LJBSasha]

I only wish that there was more exposure given to the instrumentalists (even if the videoframe were split so that one could on one side see the singer(s) and/or conductor and the instrumentalists on the other - especially if this be the Royal Concertgebouw Orkest of Amsterdam perchance (since it's Haitink who's conducting). Good the principal trumpeter gets to be seen, but others (notably the horns and tubas) deserve the same too!!!

[visse264]

@LJBSasha Personally, I don't think a split screen would be preferable, it wouldn't be fun to watch. In this musical setting, also because of the story telling of the main characters, it is only natural to capture the singers, whenever they are singing. You could capture them in different ways of course, including some parts of the orchestra for example. I do have the entire recording of this event. Whenever possible, enough attention is being paid to individual members of the orchestra.

[LJBSasha]

@visse264: to each his own. I personally do think that splitting the screen is an entirely legitimate way of sharing credit as well as showing off where an instrumentalist or group thereof (e.g., the tubas or horns) have important lines.

I can only be (a little bit) envious that you have a complete recording of the entire event (including visual as well as audio?) - is it available somewhere (and preferably for free)? Thanks in advance!

[LJBSasha]

The only thing she would do well to watch is that her vibrato doesn't become a wobble (as sometimes one feels it wants to do, alas). If she can keep that under control, she indeed could become an absolute superstar!

I also love that instant where the principal trumpeter at 03:00 actually tries to really make his instrument SING. Not quite entirely successfully, but quite close - a little more (especially if given more leeway by the conductor!)... Definitely a moment to savour nevertheless!

[robertdonkers]

My goodness, what a voice, a real full blown lyric. Surely she will grow into a most glorious dramatic soprano in time. FAB

[LordMgls]

I would have loved to listen to the harp a little louder in the price song.

Both very good singers.

[tensazangetsu69]

la meilleure soprane du moment!!!! great great great voice!!

Everyhing perfect!

[tensazangetsu69]

la meilleure soprane du moment!!!! great great great voice!!

[ahava77]

amazing

[operastud82]

Such a fantastic performance...can we have the rest of the act, please? Especially her singing Du bist der lenz! It's the one major section that is missing in these clips!

[manrico29]

I´m hearing Eva for the first time. The wonderful quality of her voice, her intensity both in singing and expression strikes me as one of the best Sieglinde I have ever heard.

[deutschefach]

Schöne Frau schöne Stimme! Was macht es fein ist das Sie singt. Die Musik hat kurven und natürliche Leidenschaft. Bravo Ihr beide.

[thisizjoey]

i met her in san francisco this past weekend. she is very friendly!

=)

[LJBSasha]

@thisizjoey: forgive my cynicism; however, with all that singers have to worry about relative to both themselves & their colleagues (both vocal and instrumental, not to mention the conductors!), I'd find it very difficult that they would REALLY be THAT able to be truly friendly with all those audience members who come to see them afterwards or whatever! Yes, with individual friends, relatives, etc.; however, the rest is likely simply acting. Hope I'm really wrong (she sings & looks great)!!

[FoggyRoad81]

She is AMAZING. She reminds me of a young Voigt, the voice opens and blossoms wonderfully at the top, instead of thinning out, engaged with the text, nice vocal colorings.

[vidiegoquam]

I cannot believe how good she is. Having seen Meier in the last Met Ring, I was afraid (indeed, pretty well convinced) that I could not but be disappointed in next season's lineup. Well... welcome, Ms. Westbroek! I love her ferocity, and I truly can't get over how rich that sound is (on YouTube!) And to see her giving Jonas Kaufmann's Siegmund a run for his money... oh, yes, please!

[visse264]

@vidiegoquam

I totally agree with you, she is very, very special. I would like to do a run for my own money to see them both perform. Unfortunately it is not much use. I cannot afford it. Have a good time there.

[TheTenorjeff]

@vidiegoquam Agreed! If only we could see Clifton Forbis as Siegmund instead of Kaufmann..

[blktenorpower]

She is great. BUT MY GOD! he DOES it for ME!!! Great sound

[sirenadellopera]

Oh my God....she is fabulous.

[saagua1953]

She has a big enough voice, but I find her reading of it a bit sloppy compared to the great Jessye Norman.

[sadnikroman]

So gefühlvoll, so emotional, so schön gesungen,....Bravo!

[torontostreetcars]

Best combination I have seen in a long time is Clifton Forbis (Siegmund) and Adrienne Pieczonka (Sieglinde.) Saw them twice together in Die Walkure in 2004 and 2006 with the Canadian Opera Company.

[martello79]

Eva-Maria is awesome here!! Looking forward for her Fanciulla in December in Amsterdam!

[58wotan]

I,m not offenced, I said "lol " ( lot of laughs) because my last comment was a joke, and " is that word right " is because my english language is bad, only that, and I will to chane Eva for Meier is the future day it Meier is decaying singing and acting, it will no be by your opinnion, sorry, if I,m not explaining well

[58wotan]

visse264, maybe it, if this succes occur, I will change Meier by Eva ( I try to be perfectionist, always the best), I know it is impossible the perfection in humans, otherwise the humans do rebel counter God, lol

[visse264]

I wouldn't really care if you change Meier for Eva or not, it's all up to yourself, you don't need to change your opinion because of me. I was just speaking for myself and the way I experience EMW as Sieglinde. I hope you don't mean to say God is perfection..., I would disagree. I've got the feeling you're trying to hide your true feelings by using words like 'lol' and 'is that word right'. Just a feeling. No offense meant.

[58wotan]

agree with you, but for me the best ( singing and acting) is Meier, of course, I respect your " taste " ( is that word right?)

[visse264]

Until Eva-Maria made it to the stage, Meier was the 'perfect Sieglinde'. Now, I would say, Meier is the 'almost perfect Sieglinde'. Fascinating to see there are still ways to improve the Sieglinde performance. Eva-Maria showed it is possible. I think in the future there may well be others to do so. Just wait and see.

[58wotan]

I have the feeling it, here Eva have more feeling acting, she look like is living your actuation, only that, only is my impression, excuse me, my english is bad, I dont know if I do good explanation, if it,s so, sorry

[visse264]

Trying to understand what you mean, I think it's definitely true her acting stands out even more in 'concertante' than in opera because in the latter you would expect some real acting and in 'concertante' it is just very rare to see a singer perform with the acting and dramatic skills Eva has. Because of the 'concertante' setting it's all the more striking. There were some great Sieglindes in the past, but none with the dramatic skills EWM has.

[58wotan]

for me Eva Maria is better here ( acting) than aix en provence with Gambill

[dynamicstuff73]

Beautiful!

[visse264]

Thanks for this beautiful HQ post! It perfectly matches the High Quality performances of Eva-Maria and Clifton. But for the little mistake on 2:54 it was also a beautiful performance of the RCO.