The best recording by Kirsten Flagstad of Dido's lament (Purcell)

[sdegrace]

There is a mix a refinement, freshness, power, honesty and richness to her voice that is so special and rare.

[gerardbedecarter]

Beautiful!

[LacrimaLunaMortua]

Speechless...

<3

[pinintra]

Flagstad, Nilsson, Varnay, Modl, Leider, Traubel, Muller...the best!!! But today?Nothing!!!

[aninhap300]

@pinintra, listen to Eiko Senda! you will be surprised!

[dorjenne]

I prefer to listen to this beautiful music and enjoy it without worrying about being a critic. If you're not trying to judge style and minor details , it is just such a spiritual experience just to take it in emotionally.

[AntW11]

A great singer. Singing with a rich, sonorous sound and unerring emotional integrity. A great performance. Thank you for posting this. 

[PippaHayes1]

Divine!.. beautiful timbre..Love Purcell!

[ezev8logos]

wow... i'm on tears!!!

bravo!!!!!!!!!!

[Tenortalker]

I am actually amazed, as with her Handel recordings at her feeling for the style of the music. It was recorded before the British baroque revival of the 1950's. She is very moving, musical and at the end of a long career should we be carping at a performance of such sensitivity and beauty? Ok she was a Wagnerian, but we would be the poorer if she hadn't performed and recorded this role too. Let's enjoy it for what it is!

[barakfer]

that's the voice!!! I love her timbre. thank's for posting that jewell.

[puffin02]

I agree with cellowiss. This is a great Wagnerian mezzo singing a baroque lament - the greatest ever written. But the combination isn't good. It's heavy where it should be delicate, powerful where it should be ethereal, robust where it should be fragile. The first intoned "remember me" (not the high note) particularly comes over as actually clumsy, with a gliss between the syllables. Won't do. Sorry.

[hobo1975]

@puffin02 she is dying.

[mikkimus]

@puffin02

Who cares, this is just pure haunting emotion

[Hammered001]

@puffin02 Bitch! Brit, no doubt.

[achantus1]

@Hammered001 Well, not French, that's for sure! The french are just disgusting traitors!

[Motskov1000]

@achantus1 Please, give some explanations.

[2211JW]

@puffin02 You stupid cunt.

[Federicopera]

Is this Flagstad or Traubel photograph???

[celloswiss]

Couldn't disagree more. Orchestration is too heavy and the singing style far too old-fashioned. She's too Wagnerian in her demeanor and vocalization. I much prefer modern-day mezzos - particularly Sarah Connolly.

[AuthenticFeirce]

@celloswiss And this is way you suck

[lorsujan]

Beautiful, just beautiful

[tenor220]

I have been listening to this recording for almost an hour now.

[Torelaw]

Kirsten Flagstad sang Dido's lament as the final song in her very final public appearance; in London, a church concert. Not allowed to applaud, the audience stood up and wept loudly for 30 minutes when she left....

[2211JW]

@Torelaw Beautiful.

[sirigi22]

awesome

[sagalat]

Wow...Instant Favorite....I have no words....for once....BRAVA