Antonina Nezhdanova Sings "Der Hölle Rache," From Mozart's Magic Flute

Антонина Васильевна Нежданова (1873-1950) Russia's greatest soprano, in a famous aria that requires her to sing considerably higher than she usually sings. She recorded folk songs, and operatic arias of all kinds. She also sang some religious music. She lived before the days of specialization, and she could do it all!
Лирический голос Неждановой является вполне подходящии этой арии, который требует ее петь намного выше, чем обычно.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Antonina
• Nezhdanova
• soprano
• opera

[sirdicaudore]

Nezhdanova - One of the very Greatest of all time! As a singer, complete musician and artist!

[EdmundStAustell]

@sirdicaudore I certainly agree!

[sirdicaudore]

@EdmundStAustell Have you noticed this extremely rare and invaluable visual document -I discovered it yesterday on YouTube- of Nezhdanova in an advanced age singing 'live' Gretchaninov's Lullaby? So beautiful, so pure, so simple, so great... 

[EdmundStAustell]

@sirdicaudore I have not, but I will--right away. Thanks for the heads-up!

[CurzonRoad]

Technically very, very clean... wonderful touches, flourishes throughout. She really is exceptional, and as you say, up there with the best. Thank you, Edmund!

[EdmundStAustell]

Thank you, Doug. Yes, it's clean, and somewhat surprising. As I mentioned, I was somewhat taken aback to hear her sing so high! Those old time singers used to do it all, from delicate bel canto gems to Wagnerian declamation. Which actually makes me smile....I have always felt that we live in a time of over-specialization as far as opera singing goes. Wagner, for example, when sung--as opposed to shouted--can actually be very lyrical and lovely. (Conductors are the villains there!)

[sirdicaudore]

@EdmundStAustell Wish a great Happy New Year full of Beauty and Art!

[EdmundStAustell]

@meltzerboy Thank you very much, Nate, for an interesting comment. I had to smile about the Sumac recording you mentioned. Yes, it is bad to the point of being silly, and to a certain extent puts the lie to the idea that Sumac could have been a great coloratura if she had opted to study seriously, and not gone for exotica. Something else would have to have happened....the whole matter of education, taste, and seriousness of purpose. It takes more than just a voice.

[meltzerboy]

This performance by Nezhdanova may not be the best I've ever heard but it does nicely combine technical mastery and character, no easy feat. Regarding technique, Erna Berger's early recording is one of the best, but she doesn't really sound like the Queen of the Night. The worst rendition of the aria is without doubt Yma Sumac's mambo-style one, while the most insane are the versions by Maria Galvany. Lily Pons made a commercial recording of it as well as a live performance, both quite good. TY.