Birgit Nilsson as Isolde sing "Isolde's Narration and Curse"

From 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
• Ruth
• Hesse

[tarstan]

The sound may not be great but she sounds pretty damn good to me. Those top notes still ring out like nobody else's.

[callastimeless]

I love Nilsson a lot but the sound quality of this "Tristan und Isolde" is really awful. What a shame. Viva la Nilsson Forever

[robertdonkers]

Nilsson has really set the standard for Isolde, which singers high notes ring like that, power full, straight through any orachestra and the ease in which she produces those difficult notes. No wobble, nothing, they are just there. For me unquestionably the best Wagner soprano ever.

[DivaDeb1234]

That's a killer outfit !

[Klinxor]

Nilsson is so cool! What a lady!

[CONTESTAR]

Well thank god the CD recording from this performance has a gorgeous sound; not at all like this one! I really wonder how can it be that there is so much difference.

I suspect that here they tried to muffle external sounds (it was another of those windy evenings in Orange) and they made a bit of a strange sound for the video.

[tobobba]

njaa...kanske en dålig dag på jobbet..eller så var det för snygga scenkläder (läder) att det inte gick att släppa fram magstödet..Jag har hört bättre uppsättningar av Isolde med Birgit. Men visst är hon bra. Men denna är inte den bästa hon gjort

[Greatfan]

Here she is undoubtedly in better voice than in myh country ( Argentina ) with Vickers in 1971. However I find slight unsteadiness and whiter notes. Decline is not mathematic.Bergonzi in 1988 had a night like in her yout, other he sounded worn and tired. Probably Orange less wet weather favoured her timbre.And also there are physiological processes, ups and downs. I find many brilliant moments here ( in Buenos Aires there were too) but the geral quality has a slight decay.

[Fac06]

I dont think her decline is displayed here... About having stopped I assume she meant round 75/76. For me this performance is one of her best.

[vitroz]

I wishe it were Irene Dalis as Brangäne....