100 Greatest Singers: EILEEN FARRELL

THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! What do you think about Eileen Farrell in this collection? Please comment!

Eileen Farrell, Soprano (1920-2002)

Giacomo Puccini Turandot
In questa reggia
(Recorded 1957)

My personal opinion: Sometimes you have to made unpopular decisions, and that is never easy. In case of Eileen Farrell I asked myself: Is it passable to choose her as one of the leading dramatic sopranos ever? Comparing with Nilssons reputation, Farrell nearly was unknow. And so I brought myself through the jungle of great dramatic soprano arias, over and over again, comparing many many recordings. To my surprise, mostly the best was Farrell. For example: Nilsson is certainly great, but most of the times I don´t understand a word she sang. Her voice was a soundstorm, bigger than life! Farrell is overwhelming. Her tone is enormous but ever smooth. Her In questa reggia probably is the best we have (Amy Shuard too was better in this scene as Nilsson). Please don´t blame me too hard for these words, or am I right?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eileen
• Farrell
• Turandot
• Puccini
• Soprano
• Wagner
• Tristan
• Isolde
• Birgit
• Nilsson
• dramatic

[MrCafiero]

I know someone who sang with her as well. She was not a dramatic, she was a spinto. That means that she could have dramatic power to her voice, but also could sing lyrically. That is the point.

[SenorAlfredoKraus]

(2) As an italian, I can contest your comment about diction. I own the Nilsson's Turandot (with Corelli, under the baton of Molinari Pradelli) and believe me, her diction is better than Farrell (which anyway is extremely good).

Examples:

A) "ava dolce e serena", Farrell sings it with a double RR (wrong) "serrena", while Nilsson is perfect (only one R).

B) On "Fresca voce", Farrell sings it like a heavy "Votce" or "Vocce" (wrong).

Anyway, Farrell can stay among the top 100!

[robertdamico1]

She was wonderful.

[lill641]

My late mother introduced me to Eileen Farrell's music in the early 1960's, and I have loved it ever since. I realize she may not have been the greatest soprano, but her Puccini Arias album made me love opera, and her blues album made me love the blues. She was amazing.

[fastdrive55]

"...RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST" - and this woman for sure deserves space here!

[4gregorysf]

I adore Eileen Farrell! She had a great voice but didn't have an attitude. She was married to a fireman and she was more interested in him and her children than her singing career. In my opinion, she remains the greatest "cross-over" singer of American popular songs. But she wasn't crossing over, she was there. She could sing anything she needed or wanted to.

[georgiannanyman]

Eileen Farrell had one of the greatest natural voices and musical talent ever heard !!.However ,this easy facility did not serve her well because ,somehow, she herself did not seem to value it as much as the world of music did and sometimes compromised her standards .But ,even so, her sound is of heavenly quality and she sang French songs-Debussy and Poulenc beautifully and artfully. Her recordings with THE BACH ARIA GROUP are unmatched.Wish they were available here !!

[hazelssister]

Eileen did not like performing in operas. She was with the Met from only  1960 to 1965 .

[ellandelachapelle]

I´m kind of shocked here. I´m gaping. How come I never heard this amazing soprano before? She beats Nilsson in this! (and I am a compatriot of Nilsson. I ought to be biased.) And then she sings "I´ve got a right to sing the blues"!??! (I tell you Nilsson would NEVER have managed that. And perhaps no other opera singer either.)

[MusicCharl]

I was 12 years old in 1963 when I received the recording of Eileen Farrell - Puccini Arias. What a revelation! I listened to her fantastic big voice over and over again and tried to emulate her. Alas, I didn't possess her talent. Listening to her voice again today is so extraordinary. Thank you for seeting up your project and yes, Eileen Farrell does belong with the greatest!

[osinging]

@tenor220 Many haven't. Not my favorite either. I find her singing stressful.