I'm a big fan of autobiographies, specially singers. I had the chance to read Nilsson's, Horne's, Schwartzkopf's, Sutherland's (ok, that one doesn't count, is not very good), but Varnay's "fifty five years in five acts" is the finest piece of writing done by a singer... I totally recommend it!
She is awesome! Nilsson herself thought that Varnay surpassed the other sopranos in that she was so extremely musical, and thoroughly understood how to interpret the big roles.
This MUST be the Knappertsbusch judging by that paunchy stuttery conducting. But her vocal line and warmth and fantastic and she easily fills out his slow phrasing. I think she was the best all round Brunnhilde because of her lovely middle voice and warm tone.
Imo she was the greatest Brunhilde of them all because she managed to dramatically accentuate the bizarre Wagnerian melody the Immolation scene has and at the same time explore every possible musical meaning of the phrases something that it is so difficult to do in Wagner (they can scream they can shout but usually they dont understand what they sing)
I saw Atrid on stage many times, in Goetterdaemmerung in 1969, very loate in her career for this repertoire but she was in class by herself. When Nilsson (nothing against her was fabulous too) sang "Grane, mein Roos" you thought "Stupid modern production, no horse in sight. When Astrid sang it, the horse was there.
Agree! she was superb. Her presence was enough to fill the whole stage, her voice to fill the whole auditorium & her acting to make you forget where you stood. By Nature, education & temperament she was very much like "Brünnhilde", that is probably why she was able to identify fully with the role & bring it to life so vividly. As far as I am concerned, SHE WAS Brünnhilde.
she was my kind of woman, god bless her.
BenjaminWagnerFan 3 days ago
Stunning voice and perfect face for the stage!
ploplisphilin 10 months ago
this has everything; wonderful
fastborzoi 11 months ago
I have always been a Nilsson fan. But when I hear this.... Thanks Astrid!
Chrissie19242 1 year ago
My mother is a Astrid Varnay's fan and me too.
And, curiously, I've got her name !
MadameOnche 1 year ago
The best, after Flagstad!
Johnny1206 1 year ago
I am absolutely loving Astrid Varnay. I am blown away. Thanks for posting this!
dorothy76 1 year ago
that burnished, warm, penetrative, solid, stentorian, overwhelming soprano!...i CAN NOT get enough of it. i can listen to her sing all day.
spinto12 1 year ago
I'm a big fan of autobiographies, specially singers. I had the chance to read Nilsson's, Horne's, Schwartzkopf's, Sutherland's (ok, that one doesn't count, is not very good), but Varnay's "fifty five years in five acts" is the finest piece of writing done by a singer... I totally recommend it!
loboestepario24 2 years ago
@loboestepario24 have you read the autobiografy of galina vishnevskaya? it´s very interesting!
werther11998877 1 year ago
Nilsson and Flagstad melted into one voice. But the musicallity was all her own.
dermotafan 2 years ago 7
On croirait que ce rôle a été fait pour elle.
isabelle070209 2 years ago 2
Immortal goddess of Wagner.
vstasov 2 years ago
A force of nature!
SPTN58 2 years ago
In a class by herself!
Redteez 2 years ago
She is awesome! Nilsson herself thought that Varnay surpassed the other sopranos in that she was so extremely musical, and thoroughly understood how to interpret the big roles.
mozzrt 2 years ago
I'm quite sure this is the 1951 recording. I don't remember her top coming quite so easily on the later ones.
Chrysothemis 3 years ago
From which year is this recording?
SVENSKSOPRAN 3 years ago
This MUST be the Knappertsbusch judging by that paunchy stuttery conducting. But her vocal line and warmth and fantastic and she easily fills out his slow phrasing. I think she was the best all round Brunnhilde because of her lovely middle voice and warm tone.
Matt54e 3 years ago 3
@Matt54e
Imo she was the greatest Brunhilde of them all because she managed to dramatically accentuate the bizarre Wagnerian melody the Immolation scene has and at the same time explore every possible musical meaning of the phrases something that it is so difficult to do in Wagner (they can scream they can shout but usually they dont understand what they sing)
LohengrinT 1 year ago 2
I saw Atrid on stage many times, in Goetterdaemmerung in 1969, very loate in her career for this repertoire but she was in class by herself. When Nilsson (nothing against her was fabulous too) sang "Grane, mein Roos" you thought "Stupid modern production, no horse in sight. When Astrid sang it, the horse was there.
schwani 3 years ago 3
Agree! she was superb. Her presence was enough to fill the whole stage, her voice to fill the whole auditorium & her acting to make you forget where you stood. By Nature, education & temperament she was very much like "Brünnhilde", that is probably why she was able to identify fully with the role & bring it to life so vividly. As far as I am concerned, SHE WAS Brünnhilde.
I miss her.
nutty42 3 years ago 2
One of the best Brunnhildes of all times... what else is there to say ?
xav71176 3 years ago 3
I agree with mezzomaleprano
agabusdawatchman 3 years ago 2
My God !!! What a voice !!! What a style !!!! Nobody can be better !!! Thanks Mrs Varnay !!!
motardbear15 3 years ago 8
Grane! Meine Rooooooooooooosssss!!! Sei mir GegrÜUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUsssssssst!!!!
xyvp 3 years ago 2
I just love her voice. Amazing Thanks!
CyberElektra 3 years ago 3
Wow!
SDCmorg 4 years ago 3
my most favourite Brunhilde... and definetely my most favourite in Immolation scene
Lohengrin 4 years ago 3
This woman is an utter classic! She is amazing.
MezzoMaleprano 4 years ago 2