Leonie Rysanek Liebestod

[OperaMystery80]

Judging by this, I feel that Rysanek would have made a terrific Isolde. She was already an accomplished Wagnerian soprano. Her Sieglende made it to Bayreuth and she could sing heavy-dramatic roles in the German repertoire like Salome and Elektra. She also sang Turandot and Lady Macbeth. These were all roles that Birgit Nilsson, a top Wagnerian diva, sang in her own career. So yes Rysanek had it in her to sing Isolde. She's amazing!!

[VivaMariaCallas]

This is quite good, and I can imagine that her voice would have shone gloriously in many of the climaxes of the role (ie. the curse, the higher parts of the Act II love duet). However, I think that she was very wise to not sing this role. Its tessitura is a bit low for her, and singing it (often) would definitely have weakened that great upper register.

[hardtimesincountry]

Thanks for uploading. I've always wanted to hear Leonie Rysanek sing Isolde's Liebestod. I love singers with a strong individuality - Rysanek, Mödl, Hotter, Vinay, Vickers - singers you couldn't mistake for anyone else. So few of them these days.

Still, I think I can see why Isolde didn't become one of Rysanek's stable roles. The part does not "fit" her voice completely, and she could easily have damaged it. Böhm's advice may have been a healthy one in the long run.

[shaun20483]

Thank you! She never sang Isolde,so this this treasure is so unique!

[Johnny1206]

Karl Böhm convinced her never to sing Isolde in order to keep her beautiful high notes easy and fresh.

[MastersoftheOpera]

Leonie Rysanke was a fabulous Wangerian soprano, I don't know if she sang Isolde but she is underrated as far as Wagnerian singing (she was singing at the same time as Birgit Nilsson). Leonie's Isolde sounds like it could be a really amazing performance. She has a beautiful and yet big, dramatic voice. I think this is just how Isolde ought to sound

[starrman22]

Leonie was scheduled to sing Isolde in Stuttgart in the 1960s, and later at Bayreuth for Kleiber, but pulled out both times. She joked in an interview, "I'd much rather have people say 'What a SHAME she never sang Isolde!' than have them say, ' She should NEVER have sung Isolde. It was so wrong for her!'"

[iskenderuna]

WOW - thanks for this treasure!

[shaun20483]

Thanx for this- she has such intensity!

[operaoaf]

This is really beautiful. She is so dramatic.