Birgit Nilsson - Ozean du Ungeheuer

A performance from 1964 with the Swedish Radio Symphony. Some of the other pieces from this performance are on YouTube. It appears to be a very formal concert - perhaps a Royal Command Performance. I welcome details if you know them.

The performance is incredible. Check out the relaxed easy posture while Nilsson puts out an ocean of sound!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Birgit
• Nilsson
• Ozean
• opera
• ocean
• mighty
• monster

[Nilssonite]

Wow Birgit was sure feeling it on this night. Feeling it and giving it her supreme ALL. Her concentration, her emotional involvement and her Voice. Plus she looks so beautiful with her hair up like that. Never before or since has there been an artist like her. A true Goddess. I heard her over 200 times in NYC. She has defined my opera going world. I miss her so much. God bless you for posting this devine video. Brava Birgit

[marchesano]

You are truly lucky to have experienced her live and so many times. In fact, you have received the divine gift. :)

[reallyharried]

She's got the power, beauty, clarity and agility for this aria. Weber is so difficult to fine the right combinations for, especially Oberon. I guess there are a number of reasons one hears this mostly in concert and can count on one hand recordings and/or productions of Oberon.

[marchesano]

Yes! There were in fact so few people who sang this aria. Eileen Farrell recorded it (but it is early digital transfer-not remastered in good sound), Sutherland did it in English. I can't think of others offhand. Earlier I think Flagstad might have as well, but I've never heard a recording. It is more amazing that this is live in concert!

[Gigglingatagas]

In a world of swooping, scooping, caterwauling sopranos, the lightning-bolt accuracy of Nilsson's singing is refreshing beyond description. Surely one of the greatest artists in musical history.

[Beauprix]

Every time I hear Birgit Nilsson, I can only surrender to the following emotional thought: there is no doubt about, and frankly no other explaination for, this woman's voice... a divine gift from above to all mankind, for the ages...stunning and glorious!!!

[culturevulture2011]

@Gigglingatagas I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of today's singers. Swooping, scooping, caterwauling... perfect description! Why is that? Does anybody have any idea?  Who trains these people? Why did the 60s produce such a splendid group of "Meistersingers" and now not?

[vqro]

@Beauprix Yes. In our lifetimes we will not know another voice like hers. It's once every 500 years. She was a goddess and on this night especially here voice was heavenly.

[vqro]

@Nilssonite

Truer words have not been said. She was a Goddess!

[gyorgy11]

@Nilssonite I only got to see her live once but she changed my life in wondrous ways. She performed at Yale when I was there, around 68 or 69, in Woolsey Hall. Her voice was IMMENSE. I had never heard a voice so large and yet so perfect. Of course she sang "Ozean, du Ungeheuer"; in fact, it is all I specifically remember her singing. The high C that caps this aria rang in the ears of me and my friend Joe Cone for hours afterward. She started me on discovering the works of Wagner, Strauss. Divina

[anubier]

Birgit Nilsson ein Jahrhundertwunder,wahr lich in Ehrfurcht hören wir dieser Stimme zu und schwiegen

[RamirRMA]

Surely this lady was a Goddess.

No doubt about it.

[marchesano]

@jozanesz I've checked the pitch. It is correct.

[birgitnilsson]

@marchesani Flagstad did not have, by any means the easyness of those outpouring highest, notes. SHe was an excellent singer , though.

[senilangakali]

She simply was the greatest. And there are very, very few...

[55werther]

Que linda se la ve, y elegante; esto aparte, de su magnifica, una gran interpreta-

cion de esta inmensa, y nada facil, aria. Birgit demuestra, con esta aria, y me con-

firma que era de las Grandes Sopranos, no Heroica, pero si, una Spinto, Neta,

que podia hacer, perfectamente, el repertorio heroico. ¡¡¡Esta Fabulosa!!!