Wagner - Liebestod Scala 2007 Barenboin

[sensibilita]

Daniel Barenboim ... get the name right!

Yes, Waltraud is superb!1

[TheRedMarquise]

Magnifique.

[cherchemusique22]

Absolutely trancendental !

BRAVO WALTRAUD !

[bb1111116]

This brought tears. An emotional performance.

[spastristan]

Sehr,sehr,sehr gut

[wotanBrunhilde]

Terrible singer and bad actress...is he crazy? is this the correct singing for Wagner...? I think no...! she have to sing in her house, only...she is terrible...

[babaeast]

She is living Isolde. it doesn't matter if some of the high notes are flattish.....within her vibrato she mostly gets there. It's such a beautiful moving display of Wagner.. Try to join in this amazing experience..

[RODOLFITO2241]

I cry when I listen to this, the fact that Baremboim (an Argentine-Israeli) champions Wagner shows that his music transcends religion, race and time.

[GanarfGeorgie]

Beautiful beyond all words!

Thank you for this video!

[specsies]

really funny comments here. Too well that this truly lived singing is far from it.

[jklyda]

terrible!!! all high notes are out of tune!!

[fledgehog]

saw the title and thought it would be barenboim playing the liszt transcription...forgot that he is an AMAZING conductor as well!

[icylakepaxphile]

garbage staging.

[Ettoredipugnar]

Please God please . A Normal production . Dear God please .!!!!!

[yusukeundisolde]

danke !

[solidclassic]

dead---death!

[solidclassic]

Beautiful dead!

[racer500gp]

Wagner's genius is simply immeasurable !!!

[RalfLippold]

Amazing - today (5pm, rush to get last minute tickets) and on 6th of February at semperoper.de

[quetepique48]

Espectacular actuación !!!!!

[Sonolumino8939]

I think this song is about something that we all know happens, but can't control - death. A great comedy of life is that we all have to live to see the ones we love die, and become the inanimate from which we too, shall return. Moments like this help us all to forgive that fact, and it deserves thunderous applause.

[PrincessUnicorn69]

That note at 5:40 is one of my favorite parts of any opera, of any musical piece. Thank you Wagner.

[Sonolumino8939]

I'm so sorry, for everything.

[witness124]

Wow. He wasn't entirely happy that people enjoyed the thing, was he?

[PEAinSwe]

This interpretation is getting to the core of the music. Just listen how it moves from standing almost still to an inner movement.. How the intensity grows.

[artistemaudit]

Daniel's facial expression at the end...priceless! ;)

[witness124]

@artistemaudit I will agree with kingcw. some time could have been taken, perhaps half aminute or a minute, after the chord has finished. Anyway, shows it it MUST ave been a great performance, anyway.

DVD will arrive at my house in four days. Sadly, i didn't even know that this existed the year it was performed.

[Epaffio]

E' ciò che di più bello potessi mai desiderare...per essere rapiti da quest'opera leggete il libro di Baremboim e Chereau sulla musica e la regia di questa stessa...tutto prende un senso più compiuto. Io l'ho fatto. Non mi aspettavo di piangere, a 16 anni, per ciò che adesso so essere davvero il maggiore motivo della mia vita!

[kingcw]

Why cannot the audience wait  until the final chord has died away properly before applauding? This is all too common nowadays. Conductor obviously not impressed. A beautiful performance in all other respects.

[jorfel49]

@kingcw

Lol, Italian audience after all!!

But really I don't blame them, if the performance comes across so strongly in a video like this can you imagine what it must have been like watching it live?; I'm surprised the clapping did not start as soon as she falls down dead!!!

Extraordinary performance!!!

[Pictonkiwi]

This scene contains two deaths actually: First Isolde of course, than followed by Barenboim himself - when spectators start to applause, when he is still raising his stick.

[babigyrl5]

I love the conductors expression witht he applause :-)

[pulejus]

Splendida interpretazione e magnifica voce anche se personalmente ritengo che le sensazioni che ci ha donato Hildegard Beherens sono purtroppo ineguagliabili. Ripeto è una sensazione personale che nulla toglie a questa esecuzione

[specsies]

Thank you for this wonderful video!

I hope it will not be eliminated, as so many videos here recently.

[olaig100]

As far as my self is concerned I will never remove. I don't know however, what is in mind of the Youtube administrator :-)) ByBy Olaig

[specsies]

Good to hear, Olaig!

Unfortunately, this video is a little hard to find: for it is not listed, if you just enter the key words "Isolde" or "Liebestod" or "Meier" or even the combination "Isolde Liebestod" ... a bit strange - only the combination "wagner liebestod" works ... but okey: to find pearls, one must dive - and having a long breath.

[gwirgalon]

@olaig100 O yeah? didn't know they did that. Thanks for speaking out. Must be wierded out by music that doesn't need electronics to get across..ok total snob about our singing! my partner's a recording engineer and I love to tease him that I never need a mic, ever..!

sweet day to you

[rbpenelope2008]

Eh già...quanto spazio ai registi che non rispettano l' autore pur di essere popolari!

[rbpenelope2008]

Bellissimo, grazie Olaig! Ma..." che c' azzecca " il sangue?!!? Dal cervello perché la ferita è nell' anima? Grottesco. Qui non c' è Giulietta che sceglie di morire...siamo in pieno Romanticismo e, quando veniva meno "la volontà di vivere", si moriva ancora per Amore! Tra il buio del mondo e una prossima luce non avrei proprio aggiunto il rosso!!!

[olaig100]

Me lo sono chiesto anch'io. Sulle prime non avevo capito e dopo ho continuato a non capire. Difficile interpretare il disegno del regista, perchè solo da lui dipende questa scelta. Fra l'altro a me ha dato esteticamente fastidio non solo perchè non ci azzecca, ma perchè mi distrae dalla concentrazione sul canto proprio in quel momento sublime. Ma nell'insieme questo Tristanop fu una delle milgiori cose fatte ultimamamente dalla Scala. Ciao

Olaig

[gwirgalon]

@olaig100 é vero, non c'è bisogno per il sangue ecc ecc, è semplicemente che hanno detto che sarebbe cosi e il cuore l'ha lasciato, che non c'era più per tenirla sulla terra e tutto il ragione per seguire suo congiuro..e consorte. L'anima partiva e lei l'ha seguita. punto, basta e infinimentamente misteriosa e semplice così..

[amfortas1978]

i listened to papano and nina stemme in ROH on friday. compare to this, yes, Barenboim is much better wagner conductor....

[amfortas1978]

thing can't be always perfect can it :P

when Meier started to sing this, she was brillant too.... more than 10 years ago....

I wish I can listen to Stemme under Barenboim's conducting. listen to the harmony he created in the final 3 minutes... master...

[Matt54e]

I love his Wagner, tremendously exciting.

[2111velvet]

Bravo Waltraud, du bist eine fantastische

Isolde!

[Clarinet16]

ke kosa ma bonita

[luciferda007]

watch Jessye Norman, she has the real power

[SatanAteMySocks]

Did she ever sing Isolde? I think not.

[ottoweinzierl]

lol, Waltraud Meier is famous for this role, and besides the most famous german female Wagner interpret.

[htshoward]

Love her theatrics and characterization, but not real fond of the voice. Liebestod is one of my favorite arias, but I prefer other singers

[Julitschka85]

5:20 till final is the best!

[jonnyfilippo]

6:28 great!!!

[CabritoGD]

Para poucos, muito poucos!

[Tatsu999999]

LOL Barenboim said he haits people applauding, interrupting the final silence, look at his face 6:55

[Mase251]

haha it looks like just wants to say "d'oh"

[htshoward]

I noticed that. He needed the silence of the moment to linger a bit. Nice observation.

[Tatsu999999]

He actually wrote in his books that quote, as he intend to show the music as a part of the silence, or in this case evolving into silence. Then, the the applauding is interrupting the natural course of music, then one of the most beautiful parts of it: its death...

[gabarra]

...and he's right, damn it!!!

what about that one who barks BRAVO at the end like a dog! Asshole! Do you think you're more intelligent doing that? Does that feel you bigger, stupid peafowl?

How much I hate those people! And it's always so nowadays at la Scala, it's frustrating

[heydrichmuller]

Well he can hardly contain his enthusiasm. I'm sure most would have liked to do the same if not for the snobbery of the those in attendance.

[ShamusMacGuffin]

@heydrichmuller The audience at La Scala is full of snobs? Say it isn't so?! LOL! There are plenty of sycophantic snobs in the opera world, who really don't care for the music, they just want to control it.

[witness124]

@Tatsu999999 Ah, well. I believe that there ahould be a respectful minuite or two, but generally people applauding? I'ts probably because he hates percussion (wink). I heard he cut a timp from this.

[hormigabega]

i agree with KingofKingsV2. I just listened to Ms Stemme and I didnt come away with anything like this experience. As I said on that posting, I feel Ms Meier here conveys so utterly the dissolving of a human being into it's raw emotion, when there is simply nowhere left for those emotions to go. A triumphant celebration of love, involving a singer who manages to be completely un-triumphant. Very, very beautiful. I cry each time I listen. thank you

[leukipos]

Nobody said it better than you did.100% agree.

[amme9nowlin]

it might also...help..that we're actually seeing the song in action...in it's intended context, rather than just "performed". I heard this song on the radio last night...well, the end of it and I knew I knew it from the end of the DiCaprio/Danes version of "Romeo and Juliet". This time I wanted to remember to look it up...and I did so until almost 2am!!!

[hormigabega]

yes, i agree its partly the performance. ive never really responded to Wagner until hearing this aria by Meier (well actually her other performance in Munich first). compulsive isn't it...

[traydb]

What on earth.

[KingofKingsV2]

The more I watch this clip, the more I realise Waltraud Meier is a supreme artist.

[cleanears]

Oh dear... the blood. You MUST be kidding! hahahaha And she sounds so horrible and harsh. Spare me...

[mclaire12]

For all: there is a story that piatogorski played for Casals and apologized for having played badly and Casals said "never mind my friend i am grateful for one beautiful phrase" i have tears in my eyes she gets it

[ssballs]

She sounds so off and shrill to me,it must be my spoiled 1970's listening.

[4lebenbaum]

Given Isolde's weakened emotional and physical state, Mme. Meier has provided a vocally convincing "Liebestod." We are so used to the stentorian portrayals of Nilsson, Flagstad, et al, we sometimes forget that Isolde has undergone trauma that has shaken her to her very bones. Brava, Mme. Meier!

[pieternooten]

breathtaking never the less...

[RobNYNY1957]

To her credit I will say that it's amazing that she has not blown out her voice doing this repertory, but it's weak and unconvincing singing. Check out Nina Stemme for the way a contemporary Isolde can sing.

[altodivo]

she HAS blown her voice out, which makes this all the more miraculous...

[sagmann]

I agree. I loved Nilsson, still do, but Nina Stemme is a dream...

[DSExMachina]

beautiful.

[klinsha8]

PREPOSTEROUS!! this is neither Wagner or Isolde.

Poor Wagner.

[johanna33560]

for me the best isolde,really, more emotion, musicality, i love her and i hope that i will sing this aria one day... brava!!!!!!! thanks for this

[paulostroff99]

FYI his name is Barenboim,and not Barenboin! He is one of the finest musical personalities of the twentieth century-both as a concert pianist,as well as an orchestra conductor. Waltraud Meier gives us a masterful performance.

Brava! Bravo!

[olaig100]

Sorry for my grat mistake ! I have no world to ask forgiveness to you and the others. I hope I will be able to sleap after the mistake I did offending the great director and pianist and all his admirrers ! Sorry!!!!

Olaig

[sebast3737]

Enfin un comparable à Jessye Norman.

[johanna33560]

really fantastic... i hope to sing this aria one day... i love it!!! brava!!!

[hidigles]

Simply sublime.

[Verityseo]

my goodness.. respect the pathos of the death for a second. hillarious gregarious italian audience!! the conductor cringes!1

[Steinweg9]

That is Barenboim, not a conductor. He is a very great pianist, and a nice and pretty funny, sensible guy. But not a conductor.

[paulostroff99]

Steinweg9-A very fine conductor as well as a great pianist. One of the great musical personalities of the twentieth century!

[Steinweg9]

You are obviously a consumer of "personalities," not a musician yourself. I have sung under DB many (countless!) times. Scala orchestra will lose their awe of him quickly when they tire of never knowing when to begin together. DB should only play the piano, but he makes millions holding conducting posts because marketing is easy. He drives musicians crazy. He likes it "spontaneous" -- different every time, no one ever knows. You probably live in New York.

[paulostroff99]

Steinweg9-Perhaps your abusive and presumed remarks should be directed at the many critics that side with me, and not with you. Marketing is only easy for those with talent as is being a music critic.The inmates will never run the institutions-so quit while you are not yet too far behind. One of the most hated conductors was George Szell,who also happened to have been one of the greatest! Do you wish to debate this as well,or just make more silly assumptions?

[Steinweg9]

Gotcha! Presumed and spot-on. Terrible, isn't it? I apologize, I shouldn't have gone there. I forgot the cardinal rule: never make a woman wrong. Critics know little, they merely opine for public consumption. Inquire of any member of the States' finest orchestra whether the inmates run the institution to get YOUR surprise answer! But don't bother them now, they are rehearsing. Reiner was another one hated, but he and Szell were great conductors. Like who you want, I didn't really care. :) Byebye

[paulostroff99]

Steinweg9-I must say that you are not capable of making me wrong-let alone a woman.If that was a form of sardonic wit,then along with a note recommending a couple of good books on Barenboim to read,will be another recommending better comedic attempts.On this,might I just say-keep your day job. Best wishes.

[futues]

Fantastic Waltraud Meier. Thanks Olaig for posting it

[olaig100]

I am glade you loved.

Olaig

[edcassells]

Anyone know why there is blood streaming down her face and how it got there? Also, look at the surge of blood on her cheek at 2:03. How is that done?

[evangelion53]

The blood is because she's dying. During the song she's willing herself to die so that she can be with Tristan. How they did the trick, well, I imagine it was something like a tube woven through her hair, or maybe it's a wig over her real hair? The control for it might have been in her pocket or something. It was kind of jarring to see it because I've never seen anything like it! A definite 'Wow!' moment.

[Steinweg9]

It is ridiculous. It's not in the music. Poor Meier. The things stupid directors make them do these days, it's terrible. Nothing in the legend, nothing in Wagner's translation of the old story, andnothing in the music indicates it. And it looks ridiculous, lending a note of the macabre to the ending of this opera that is just wrong. It distracts from everything. I think there should be no directors of operas for several years now. None today are good. All silly.

[podkivanok]

Yessss

[killtampabay]

Love the look on his face at the first "Bravo!".

[doodlydoo3]

she wins the acting award!

[ALYSSZ]

This is absolutely amazing! Do you have the whole Opera? (If yes, can you please please please *puppy-eyes* send me a PM? If you would like to do that, you are my new hero! <33)

Love, Alyssa

[CyberElektra]

I love her. Wonderfully acted. She's a star! It's was Tristan's blood, I presume, as he took his bandages off to bleed to death.

Thanks for posting this. ;):)

[evangelion53]

She wills herself to die and I think the bleeding is meant to show that. She does such a fantastic job of it, too. Her rendition(s) of this aria are my favorites.

[Anibaal]

Excelente cantante, excelente actriz, sin duda Meir es una de las más grandes cantantes de entre siglos. Más que nada del siglo XX. Por qué? Porque conmueve, trasmite sinceridad, es una gran Isolda. Lástima que no cantase Salomé, Elektra.

[saverioorlando]

Wort Ton Drama am besten!

[valtrob4]

this is exquisite

thank you very much

for posting it

[ilmaestro18]

Why the hell does Barenboim cringe at 6:54? It's not like there was booing or anything.

[olaig100]

For the contrary. He was acclaimed for 15 minutes. One of the greates success of his careear so far.

[altodivo]

I think because the audience starts applauding so quickly, instead of there being those few seconds of magic silence which conductors love.

[Manya1759]

I agree. I also think, that audience was... too quick :) Applause broken this wonderful atmosphere.

I heard this on radio; Tristan was... hm... let's say: he wasn't very good. But Waltraud Meier was simply great. I prefer Nilsson, but I didn't heard about better Isolde which still sing than WM.

[SteveNelsonBrigade]

Yep. Damn Italians.

[cirocastro]

It´s a italian audience. The opera experience for then is diferent from a german audience. They feel with extremily passion and they like big voices instead musicaly performances.

[cirocastro]

I´m not saying that wasn't a good performance. She is one of the greats singers. Five stars!!!

[canafinwe]

I heard this on radio. WM is still one of the best Wagnerian Sopranos.

But why this blood? And how? I hope nobody shot her. :) It doesn't seem a modern performance...

[altodivo]

Its a nice touch. Maybe she got hurt in the scuffle when Kurwenal is killed..maybe her body is on auto-destruct cause she can't live without Tristan...

[beunt]

maybe Brangäne glitched after all :)

[gomezmichaelr]

She is no Nilsson, but it was not bad.

[altodivo]

Nilsson's dead. Meier is alive. This is what we have. And its a lot more than 'not bad'. Nilsson couldn't act like Meier, nor look as beautiful. Nilsson never stopped being Nilsson, but Meier absolutely 'becomes' Isolde.

[leukipos]

100% agree.Besides,people must to see her on stage,greatest and clever wagnerian ever.

[leukipos]

I can't agree more.Every single Wagner part just becomes her,Kundry,Sieglinde,Isolde,Ve­nus,Waltraute.Who can denies she is the greatest and clever wagnerian singer ever?

[SteveNelsonBrigade]

Absolutely. It's also amazing how she has moved from the Wagnerian mezzo roles -- Sieglinde, Waltraute, Kundry -- into Isolde. How many Isoldes are there in the world anyway? Not many.

[myeshofuni]

Best Liebestod ever! Meier exceeded herself!! Amazing!

[MmeFigaro]

I saw this production live. One of the greatest experiences I ve ever had. Wlatraud is e unique Isolde. Look her face, she doesn t only sing, she lives the part.