Alexander Kipnis sings "O Isis und Osiris" - 2 versions

Mozart - The Magic Flute - "O Isis und Osiris" - Die Zauberflöte, K 620

audio only, two different recordings presented, with a few pictures (first picture is of Kipnis as Sarastro).

first recording here was done in April 1930. HMV DA 1218 (matrix number BLR 6302-1)
with Berlin State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, directed by Clemens Schmalstich
included in slide show is a pic of the LP I got this version from. Sorry, haven't updated the LP to CD yet..

second is a live recording from the 1937 Salzburg Festival with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Arturo Toscanini.
recorded July 30, 1937 by Ravag on Selenophon 8mm film.

Kipnis, like most of the great singers who worked with Toscanini, very much admired his conducting in general--but Kipnis did not like
Toscanini's way with 'The Magic Flute'. Kipnis felt that Toscanini's tempi were wrong some of the time.

This famous 1930 commercial recording of "O Isis und Osiris" by Alexander Kipnis is often used as an example of the sort of superb singing one
can find in old vocal recordings--an almost ideal combination of interpretive insight with nearly flawless technique and beautiful sound. Though
one may quibble at Kipnis' German pronounciation and overall impression of some sort of foreign accent.

See Kurt Moll singing "O Isis und Osiris" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_IaJDqz2Zo

O Isis und Osiris - Sarastro's aria with chorus from Die Zauberflöte

SARASTRO:
O Isis und Osiris, schenket
Der Weisheit Geist dem neuen Paar!
Die ihr der Wand'rer Schritte lenket,
Stärkt mit Geduld sie in Gefahr.

CHOR:
Stärkt mit Geduld sie in Gefahr!

SARASTRO:
Lasst sie der Prüfung Früchte sehen;
Doch sollten sie zu Grabe gehen,
So lohnt der Tugend kühnen Lauf,
Nehmt sie in euren Wohnsitz auf.

CHOR:
Nehmt sie in euren Wohnsitz auf.


----English translation:


O Isis and Osiris, give
The spirit of wisdom to the new pair.
She who links to her the wanderer's steps,
Strengthens them with patience in danger.

Chorus: Strengthens them with patience in danger.

Let them see the fruits of the test;
But, if they should go to the grave,
Then, the valient course of virtue rewarded,
Receive them in your abode.

Chorus: Receive them in your abode.


literal translation by Lea F. Frey

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• Mozart
• opera
• Sarastro
• Zauberflöte
• Alexander-Kipnis
• bass
• Basso
• hallen
• Alexander
• Kipnis

[jafsc]

So magnificent!!! Wonderful version. Thank you for sharing

[Ufelan]

Thank you for this! Kipnis is superb!

[yu078855]

good bass!

[1Victorinus]

Fantastic voice. Never heard a better bass voice.

[Heldenbariton1]

The first version is better...but also the 2nd is brilliant. Bravo.

[151023034]

I discovered Kipnis in the 60's, studying music. Der Erlenkonig was on the menu - tried to find the DFD version, without success, and found Kipnis's version. had to buy the album. Still prefer DFD's Erlenkonig but fell in love immediately with Kipnis's voice - this song is my favorite, make the tears run down every time. His voice is SO rich. Thank you

[montguy95]

Love the slow version. Can't help but think that music in the past was performed in a less frenetic tempo. Think Bach and the Brandenburg Concertos. or Mozart Symphonies performed so quickly now so they can't be savored.

[Thephyguy]

@MrAudioProducer

know what ya mean friend, but consider too again the fact that the reason they are singing like this at this particular time period is that it's episteme and zietgiest were perfect for it.  technology changes culture and music, as is shown today.

i wish there was a way to go back in time and secretly record :)

[igorvragovic]

Compare with Aria: " O Gudar ! Styrken mig " from opera Aeneas i Cartago by JOSEPH MARTIN KRAUS (1756-1792).

[MrAudioProducer]

I so regret that such singers like Kipnis, Shalyapin, Tittta Ruffo, Caruso, Battistini etc lived before the age of high quality audio recording and HiFi equipment. :-((

[singerswithpresence]

@MrAudioProducer I think you are absolutely right, Kipnis was no one trick pony and so much more than a profundo - majestic, lyrical, tender whatever was required and he could take that chest sound right up to the heights - made the difficult sound natural and easy - superb

[MrAudioProducer]

The best bass voice! Better than Shalyapin!