Varnay is underrated, she is one of the greats, but has unfortunately strained topnotes. Nilsson is the greatest Brunnhilde of all, although Flagstad is her superior in Isolde, and as a singer.
People seem to have a poor opinion of Regine Crespin in the role of Brunnhilde. It's true that she didn't make Brunnhilde a career role like Nilsson, Varnay, and Modl. But I think she sounds great in this studio recording with good heft (though yes she sounds a little out of control in some parts) and great interpretation. Plus her diction is awesome.
I agree with you. As for vocal heft, people (for some reason) forget that Crespin actually had a huge voice. She actually had to scale back in some of the rep she sang. It was quite an instrument.
The first recording of Crespin's artistry I ever heard was of excerpts from Die Walkure (Sieglinde), Lohengrin and Parsifal. The recording also included the Wesendonck Lieder. She was wonderful. Her voice possessed a metallic quality that served her well in this repertoire. I wish there had been a complete recording of her Sieglinde and Kundry. Yes, it was a big voice.
Yep...bigger than anyone else in this contest, for sure. The only singer I can think of among her contemporaries that had a bigger voice was maybe Gwyneth Jones.
The Solti Die Walkure has Regine Crespin as Sieglinde. Also on iTunes there is a complete recording of Parsifal at Colon/Beunos Aires with Crespin as Kundry. There should also be Bayreuth recordings with her out there as well. I instead opted for the 1953 Bayreuth recording with Martha Modl. I bought it about a week ago :-).
jlee800 writes: I "opted for the 1953 Bayreuth recording with Martha Modl" --
OOPS! -- I much appreciate the labor of love here, but the Moedl excerpt is not from Bayreuth '53: Bay. '53 has Hans Hotter, and it's clear that the Wotan heard here with Moedl is Ferdinand Frantz. Hotter's heard here at the end with Varnay, so listeners can hear the difference between the two. Moedl/Frantz means this is a Furtwaengler set -- either VPO or RAI: VPO has finer sound, but Moedl's fresher for RAI.
I think Wagner would prefer Regine even in his hate the French period. As a 11yr old I saw and heard Varnay in Gotterdng at the old Met in 51'. I had nightmares for a week, I am told...
P.S. Yet, Birgit Nilsson for voice clarity & power has the edge on Astrid Varnay but does not match the dramatic & powerful interpretation of her friend & colleague...as for the fiery & spontaneous Martha Mödl -...Told you, it is impossible to chose objectively as they are all absolutely wonderful...
I love the comparison & although they are all good, some are better than others. It's a bit unfair to pit R.Crespin against the three Giants who dominated the Wagnerian scene in the 50s & 60s. Even amongst the remaining three Goddesses, it is extremely difficult to give a 1st prize as the choice becomes suggestive; However for voice, technique, feeling & interpretation, my heart goes to Astrid Varnay.
Thank you for posting that clip. Keep them coming. Regards
CRESPIN ! CRESPIN ! CRESPIN !!!
dapheneo 5 months ago
Varnay is underrated, she is one of the greats, but has unfortunately strained topnotes. Nilsson is the greatest Brunnhilde of all, although Flagstad is her superior in Isolde, and as a singer.
zgopify 1 year ago
Birgit.
s99jonte 1 year ago
I love Crespin, reminds me of G. Lubin, F. Leider, but my heart goes to Varnay.
dermotafan 2 years ago
Astrid Varney is still the best...what a voice, what a power.
mickiandalusia 2 years ago
There's hardly any competition here. Varnay, of course.
sorobji 2 years ago
EEEEH!!!! EL DE VARNAY ESTÁ CORTADOOOOO
en esta escena está muy bien Varnay y Nilsson hace una Brunilda desesperada.
Anibaal 2 years ago
Crespin is my personal favourite, but I think Varnay is the winner.
moghedien13 3 years ago
Crespin was great as Sieglinde and also as Brünhilde but...where is Flagstad?
Johnny1206 3 years ago
not to forget Traubel and Farrell, there was also an awesome Wagner recital from Ludmilla Dvorakova, a completely underrated artist...
wotansings 3 years ago
What times is Nilsson's recording ??
yangmeng6000 3 years ago
People seem to have a poor opinion of Regine Crespin in the role of Brunnhilde. It's true that she didn't make Brunnhilde a career role like Nilsson, Varnay, and Modl. But I think she sounds great in this studio recording with good heft (though yes she sounds a little out of control in some parts) and great interpretation. Plus her diction is awesome.
jlee800 4 years ago 2
I agree with you. As for vocal heft, people (for some reason) forget that Crespin actually had a huge voice. She actually had to scale back in some of the rep she sang. It was quite an instrument.
BeauTenor 4 years ago 2
The first recording of Crespin's artistry I ever heard was of excerpts from Die Walkure (Sieglinde), Lohengrin and Parsifal. The recording also included the Wesendonck Lieder. She was wonderful. Her voice possessed a metallic quality that served her well in this repertoire. I wish there had been a complete recording of her Sieglinde and Kundry. Yes, it was a big voice.
albertthrelkeld 4 years ago
Yep...bigger than anyone else in this contest, for sure. The only singer I can think of among her contemporaries that had a bigger voice was maybe Gwyneth Jones.
BeauTenor 4 years ago
It would have been cool if they had decibel measurements for all the dramatic sopranos ;-).
jlee800 4 years ago
The Solti Die Walkure has Regine Crespin as Sieglinde. Also on iTunes there is a complete recording of Parsifal at Colon/Beunos Aires with Crespin as Kundry. There should also be Bayreuth recordings with her out there as well. I instead opted for the 1953 Bayreuth recording with Martha Modl. I bought it about a week ago :-).
jlee800 4 years ago
jlee800 writes: I "opted for the 1953 Bayreuth recording with Martha Modl" --
OOPS! -- I much appreciate the labor of love here, but the Moedl excerpt is not from Bayreuth '53: Bay. '53 has Hans Hotter, and it's clear that the Wotan heard here with Moedl is Ferdinand Frantz. Hotter's heard here at the end with Varnay, so listeners can hear the difference between the two. Moedl/Frantz means this is a Furtwaengler set -- either VPO or RAI: VPO has finer sound, but Moedl's fresher for RAI.
grig035 2 years ago
I think Wagner would prefer Regine even in his hate the French period. As a 11yr old I saw and heard Varnay in Gotterdng at the old Met in 51'. I had nightmares for a week, I am told...
ufahawaii 4 years ago
P.S. Yet, Birgit Nilsson for voice clarity & power has the edge on Astrid Varnay but does not match the dramatic & powerful interpretation of her friend & colleague...as for the fiery & spontaneous Martha Mödl -...Told you, it is impossible to chose objectively as they are all absolutely wonderful...
nutty42 4 years ago
I love the comparison & although they are all good, some are better than others. It's a bit unfair to pit R.Crespin against the three Giants who dominated the Wagnerian scene in the 50s & 60s. Even amongst the remaining three Goddesses, it is extremely difficult to give a 1st prize as the choice becomes suggestive; However for voice, technique, feeling & interpretation, my heart goes to Astrid Varnay.
Thank you for posting that clip. Keep them coming. Regards
nutty42 4 years ago