Frida LEIDER ~ Isolde's "LIEBESTOD" (1931)

(Isolde's Love-Death) / (Wagner) / with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli / Recorded: 1931 / Speed: 78 rpm

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wagner
• Isolde
• Liebestod
• Love-Death
• Frida
• Leider
• Phonograph
• CurzonRoad

[MrAxel3232]

The most musically perfect Isolde I've heard. She really understands Isolde's feelings.

After this You just wanna lie back and light a cigarett...

[CurzonRoad]

@MrAxel3232

Thanks... very much!

[jacquesurlus]

Je n'ai jamais entendu pareil Liebestod, ni Flagstad ni Nilsson ne m'ont autant ému.

C'est comme une synthèse entre Mozart et Wagner...

Merci Doug!!

Denis.

[CurzonRoad]

.... and thank YOU, Denis!

[CurzonRoad]

Merci Genia: While some prefer Flagstad (or any number of other recordings), for me Leider's is the definitive version. THANKS! Douglasio --

[foropera]

What a voice she had, I love this feminine, tender sound. With Meta Seinemeyer, my top Isolde.

A bit strange that her high notes are often low, is it the recording of that time that did not allow to capture all the spectrum of her rich voice?

It 's also interesting to hear when these great singers were doing portamenti or not, the tradition chnaged little by little.

[CurzonRoad]

Thank you for your comment. Can only speculate on the recording capabilities of 80+ years go. Leider remains a favorite, as is Meta Seinemeyer (trust you're familiar with the website devoted to her?). Thanks again, and all best.

[myxklptk]

She might have done it a little quicker than usual in order to get it to fit on one side (!!!) of the record. Most performances of this aria on 78's were recorded on two sides. Five minutes is unusually long for a 78, so they were pushing the limit.

[genia106]

My Dear Douglosio,

MAGNIFICENT!

I recently was priveleged to see Tristan and Isolde at the Met. I am so thrilled to have found this treasure. Merci Mon Cher.

[Tenortalker]

I am both moved and impressed by Leider. She makes huge efforts to weld the phrases into a continuous beautiful line. I knew her name but had never heard her voice. Thank you so much for this.

[ComtessaDi]

... Bis in den Tod!

[gwirgalon]

@myxklptk Ya, but also I don't think that is was written to be sung deathly [sic!] slow..There is movement in the words, in the lines...

It was often the habit then indeed, but, even if done as you wisely suggest, for the 78, it doesn't shock in the least..I find it is juste...

[gwirgalon]

@jacquesurlus Pour moi, c'est ainsi justement qu'il faut chanter Wagner, comme Mozart, avec la ligne etendue un peu plus, comme une arc en ciel..

Merci mille fois Curzon Road pour ceci d'étudier..

[alternatehistories]

Oops...please disregard my previous post...it seems that I was spelling her name wrong...its Frida Leider....NOT Frieda Lieder...Duh!!!

[millriv]

May I suggest to all of you to listen to the live recording of Flagstand's Isolde from Buenos Aires from1947. That Liebestod is the benchmark to all others, herself included. After the war, her singing took on a new dramatic scope due to the death of her beloved (and maligned) husband - her anguish and wailing make this performance completely unique.

[mozart200657]

Grande, stupenda, meravigliosa! E un plauso anche a Barbirolli!