Birgit Nilsson & Jon Vickers "Love duet" Tristan und Isolde

From Act 2 Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Ruth Hesse as Bragäne. Karl Böhm conductor. Thèâtre Antique d'Orange. July 7, 1973

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera
• Wagner
• Tristan
• und
• Isolde
• Birgit
• Nilsson
• Jon
• Vickers

[crabbe88]

Vickers and Nilsson, (to me) simply the best Tristan and Isolde in history. This recording is a treasure-live and outside, to boot! Nilsson' (and Vickers' for that matter) incredible dynamic range is rarely if ever captured in studio recordings. These live recordings, especially at Orange which many other performers shied away from are such important historical documents of the greats. I will always treasure this recording. Thank you!

[CONTESTAR]

You hear what you hear in Vickers and I can understand the qualities in the voice that do not appeal to you.

However, taste is taste and you will (not?) be surprised to hear that the very same qualities others hear as pure gold indeed. The manly sound of a real human being and the velvety depths of a chest resonance unusually dominant for tenors are some of them...

When I first heard him it turned my tenor universe(...) upside down... Thank god.

PS. My Vickers' CDs are at the very top!

[mujerado]

If you like acting, this is the one for you. Vickers was the greatest acting tenor of the century. If you like the music and beautiful voices, there are other recordings you'll like more than this one. Vickers took liberties with the vocal line when it suited his performance. Musically, the best Tristan is the live Bayreuth with Nilsson, Windgassen and Bohm.

[paulostroff99]

The definitive performance for the ages. TY Onegin for posting.

[quizjazz1]

Can't hear a thing. What is going on with the sound. Can you fix it?

[Tusson07]

Je ne suis pas sûr de la très grande amitié/complicité entre Nilsson & Vickers. En parlant de lui, elle disait "il croit tout savoir". On reprochait à Vickers la mauvaise qualité de son allemand et les libertés qu'il prenait avec l'interprétation.

[AbsGuy]

@sp0590 yes, eros triumphant

[AbsGuy]

They were THE Tristan and Isolde of the 20th century.

[muatlas]

In 1965, I saw Birgit Nilsson sing, act, and dance the role of Salome at the old Met (just before it was closed). It was my first trip to New York (I had grown up in a small town out West and was going to college in Massachusetts). I was the guest of a flamboyant, gay Cuban, who I met by accident and who had a box at the Met and whose escort at-the-last-minute could not attend. It was my first opera performance. I was 18. I was hooked.

[waustad]

I only regret that when I saw Nilsson do Isolde in Wien is that she was near 60 (her birthday was about a week later) and she was paired with Hans Beirer whose peak was many years earlier. After lying still for a while in the third act she took a while to get warmed up for the Liebestod, but she pulled it off. She also sang the Dyer's wife that season in the only parts I saw her do live.

[waustad]

I only regret that when I saw Nilsson do Isolde in Wien is that she was near 60 (her birthday was about a week later) and she was paired with Hans Beirer whose peak was many years earlier. After lying still for a while in the third act she took a while to get warmed up for the Liebestod, but she pulled it off. She also sang the Dyer's wife that season in the only parts I saw her to live.

[Operanut9]

@sgnmath1234

If you need to look at the title, you have not "experienced" Nilsson and the unique voice that was hers. Even TAXI drivers in New York City recognized her by her voice when she hailed them. LOL!