Jon Vickers & Leonie Rysanek in Die Walkure 1972

Gala Bing, 1972

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera
• Wagner
• Die
• Walkure
• Sieglinde
• Leonie
• Rysanek
• Siegmung
• Jon
• Vickers

[viverito]

Anybody who would call Leonie Rysanek a pitchless hack knows absolutely nothing about opera. I guess that is why she had such a huge career, why she sang all over the world with the best of the best singers and conductors, recorded so many operas and sang at the greatest opera houses the world over. I guess that is why when I saw her at the MET she got over 30 curtain calls and they had to bring the fire curtain down so people would leave.

[tHEnOOSEsWING]

A big applause for Leonie Rysanek and Jon Vickers and their Walkure interpretations are absolutely remarkable. Thank you.

[operacaster]

AMAZING.... someone please tell me who there is today that can bring such excitement to wagner?  and guess what, it's all pure voice. no microphones. i think the immediate reaction from the audience tells it all...

[Erik83474]

Vickers & Rysanek are for me the greatest tenor & soprano in history....

[bb1111116]

I love listening to this. It is all time great singing.

Vickers & Rysanek are also in my favorite audio recording of Otello.

[morrigambist]

They were at the top of the league, and we shall never hear their like again. Rest in peace, dear lady!

[SPTN58]

Vickers and Rysanek. They owned these roles and had precious few peers, either before or after.

[mish80]

This just brings tears to your eyes.

[ChaunceytheGardener]

@Johnny1206 Must have been quite a few years ago (she died in 1998). She was very generous and accessible to her fans. I once met her in Madrid, and she invited me to visit her at her home on the Azores. Her husband videotaped our conversation. Wish I had a copy of that today.

[Johnny1206]

I'm a big fan of Leonie Rysanek. I saw this great lady live as a magnificent Ortrud and a few years ago in Rio as Klytemnestra. I talked to her, asked her to sign all my librettos of Wagner and Strauss and she is my favorite singer in most of her roles.

[Ruffiello]

I, unfortunately, only heard Madame Rysanek once in the flesh. She portrayed Elisabeth in Tannhauser. It was THRILLING! Her voice was so round and soft in texture that I was reminded of the recordings of Rosa Ponselle. It was also radiantly beautiful and easily the largest instrument I have ever heard. Amongst other beauties, she hit a B natural in the second act that was astonishing. After the note began, it took me several seconds for me to realize that she was the only woman on stage!

[rumpwrestler]

I heard Rysanek sing all of her Strauss and Wagner roles. She was utterly amazing, totally involved. Glad i got to meet her in Houston with her Klytemnestra....what a lovely lady.