What a fantastic recording - blows a lot of modern efforts into the weeds. The real problem is that despite advances in technology there are very few producers who know how to record opera - this is an object lesson on how it's supposed to be done.
I love Ludwig but Klose is the best Ortrud on record. There is a live recording I think from Vienna and the audience interrupts her with an ovation after the Entwihte Gotter. Its incomparable
Glorious singing from the always-glorious Christa Ludwig. But why, oh why, did you have to sour my viewing experience by insulting the also-glorious Elisabeth Grummer in your comments section?
Definitely the two villains make this recording interesting. I wouldn't have thought Dietrich Fischer Dieskau could sound so malicious. And Christa Ludwig is just fabulous. Only high mezzos can pull Ortrud off.
Christa is indeed incomparable in this role I would die to see her live sing this for she was also one of the 3-4 greatest actresses the world of Opera has ever seen.
I saw Ludwig as Ortrud (and many other roles) and it was 1 of the 2 times I ever experienced a Wagner performance interrupted by applause. First was after Ludwig intoned the Invocation to the Pagan Gods. The public burst into spontaneous applause. The only other time was when Nilsson sang GOTTERDAMMERUNG with her arm in a sling after she dislocated her shoulder in a rehearsal accident. The public applauded at her entrance and again when she nailed the High C at the end of the scene.
I still remember when I was 20 years old and was watching some Met Walkurias on the TV, I was about to sleep from boredom when suddenly Fricka appeared. I instantly said who is this "unknown" singer who sings so unbelievably well (I even thought that I should check my ears for considering that great someone so unknown!) My phone rang and a friend said to me: You see Christa Ludwig?? I was flabbergasted as I had never seen her live before and ofc at that age I wasnt able to recognize her timbre
Do not forget Margarete Klose! As much as I love Christa Ludwig, Klose was even greater as Ortrud. I would even go as far as to say that Klose was FAR greater as Ortrud. There is Klose, then a huge gap, then Ludwig and then the rest.
What a fantastic recording - blows a lot of modern efforts into the weeds. The real problem is that despite advances in technology there are very few producers who know how to record opera - this is an object lesson on how it's supposed to be done.
TheVaughan5 2 months ago
DO IT Christa!! There will never br anyone better!
georgerannie 1 year ago
I love Ludwig but Klose is the best Ortrud on record. There is a live recording I think from Vienna and the audience interrupts her with an ovation after the Entwihte Gotter. Its incomparable
whatever456 1 year ago
Glorious singing from the always-glorious Christa Ludwig. But why, oh why, did you have to sour my viewing experience by insulting the also-glorious Elisabeth Grummer in your comments section?
90lysander 1 year ago
Ah Christa Ludwig, my favorite mezzo.
gabriellecorinne 2 years ago
Definitely the two villains make this recording interesting. I wouldn't have thought Dietrich Fischer Dieskau could sound so malicious. And Christa Ludwig is just fabulous. Only high mezzos can pull Ortrud off.
guardian2079 2 years ago
hi mezzos yes, but not high mezzos with middle voice volume gap (like Dolora) because the middle voice must also project with e
LohengrinT 2 years ago
..with equal force...
Christa is indeed incomparable in this role I would die to see her live sing this for she was also one of the 3-4 greatest actresses the world of Opera has ever seen.
LohengrinT 2 years ago
I saw Ludwig as Ortrud (and many other roles) and it was 1 of the 2 times I ever experienced a Wagner performance interrupted by applause. First was after Ludwig intoned the Invocation to the Pagan Gods. The public burst into spontaneous applause. The only other time was when Nilsson sang GOTTERDAMMERUNG with her arm in a sling after she dislocated her shoulder in a rehearsal accident. The public applauded at her entrance and again when she nailed the High C at the end of the scene.
Funghiallapanna 2 years ago
I still remember when I was 20 years old and was watching some Met Walkurias on the TV, I was about to sleep from boredom when suddenly Fricka appeared. I instantly said who is this "unknown" singer who sings so unbelievably well (I even thought that I should check my ears for considering that great someone so unknown!) My phone rang and a friend said to me: You see Christa Ludwig?? I was flabbergasted as I had never seen her live before and ofc at that age I wasnt able to recognize her timbre
LohengrinT 2 years ago
Do not forget Margarete Klose! As much as I love Christa Ludwig, Klose was even greater as Ortrud. I would even go as far as to say that Klose was FAR greater as Ortrud. There is Klose, then a huge gap, then Ludwig and then the rest.
saiserieht 2 years ago
And Jehny Drivala! Dont forget Jehny Drivala, she is the greatest Ortrud of the last 5 centuries! Far better than Ludwig and Klole ;)
LohengrinT 2 years ago
Don't ever believe what "saiserieht" writes here, for "saisserieht" probably has a lot of Klose recordings and wants to re-sell it.
mannail888 2 years ago
Well, maybe "far greater" is exaggerated.
saiserieht 2 years ago
@Funghiallapanna There was also always applause für Rysanek and
(the young) Marton after the "Entweihte Götter" - in NY and San Francisco
anyway. In Europe it's pretty much unheard of, no matter how well the
singer sings that passage in the 2nd Act.
assindiastignani 1 year ago
@Funghiallapanna Yes I remember both very well...Thank you for bringing it up.
profgv 1 year ago