I miss Birgit Nilsson so much! Not just her magnificent voice and unique artistry, but her delightful sense of humor. Her laugh and sly wit were like no other. Once I brought four posters of the Ring operas to her dressing room for her autograph and she dutifully signed all four while I told her how much I had enjoyed her performances. When she finished signing she said: "And what did you think of my Rheingold?"
I started listening to her maybe 7 years ago, moderately. Then a couple of weeks ago it really hit me, and I started listening, reading and watching a lot. And I feel in a way extra sad that she is gone, compared to other singers.
I've heard this a number of times, and noted that the recording and/or playback quality of the cylinder is worse than that of a great many 78rpm discs. Problems include wavering pitch. But what I didn't realize until now is that the playback is at the wrong speed: the pitch is almost a full tone flat, slowing down the singer's vibrato, emphasizing flaws, and making her sound old and wobbly. No wonder Nilsson was horrified.
While they weren't expecting it, you can hear Birgit Nilsson's mannerisms in the cylinder recording. It would be wonderful to bring all deceased opera singers pre electrical and recording era in general including castratos like Farinelli and record them with modern technology
There was only one pitch in the lower middle voice in the first recording where I could recognize Nilsson. But to then not be able to tell immediately that this was her upon hearing the second recording is just baffling to me.
The first name mentioned was Fremstad. But then he mentions Flagstad when hearing the stereo recording. Nilsson and Flagstad sounded nothing alike. Flagstad's voice was far warmer and never gave the feeling that she was going to go off pitch, as Nilsson always did, especially later on in her career.
Oh yes, I agree. She had a very unique timbre or better yet, a unique tessitura (texture) to her voice. I'm surprised that absolutely no one could guess it was her.
@@jasonhurd4379 Oh, you are right! I thought the mistake came from 2:34. I listen the quiz again... and can't believe the Flagstad&Nilsson mistake, and in those years!!!! With Nilsson in her prime and Flagstad retired only few years before.
They didn't say "Flagstad", they talk about Fremstad, Olive Fremstad. Obviuosly it's an acoustic recording, not an electric one. So he is very near saying so, because Fremstad was an extrairdinary wagnerian soprano, with a great career in the United States and recorded "Du bist der Lenz" at the beginnig of the XXth Century.
@@jasonhurd4379 Oh, you are right! I thought the mistake came from 2:34. I listen the quiz again... and can't believe the Flagstad&Nilsson mistake, and in those years!!!! With Nilsson in her prime and Flagstad retired only few years before.
Yes, she did record this. I would imagine that it's called "Nilsson Hoax" because she actively participated in the perpetration of the hoax along with the Metropolitan Opera.
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I miss Birgit Nilsson so much! Not just her magnificent voice and unique artistry, but her delightful sense of humor. Her laugh and sly wit were like no other. Once I brought four posters of the Ring operas to her dressing room for her autograph and she dutifully signed all four while I told her how much I had enjoyed her performances. When she finished signing she said: "And what did you think of my Rheingold?"
I started listening to her maybe 7 years ago, moderately. Then a couple of weeks ago it really hit me, and I started listening, reading and watching a lot. And I feel in a way extra sad that she is gone, compared to other singers.
I've heard this a number of times, and noted that the recording and/or playback quality of the cylinder is worse than that of a great many 78rpm discs. Problems include wavering pitch. But what I didn't realize until now is that the playback is at the wrong speed: the pitch is almost a full tone flat, slowing down the singer's vibrato, emphasizing flaws, and making her sound old and wobbly. No wonder Nilsson was horrified.
Omg, this is better than anything I could have wished for! ❤
While they weren't expecting it, you can hear Birgit Nilsson's mannerisms in the cylinder recording. It would be wonderful to bring all deceased opera singers pre electrical and recording era in general including castratos like Farinelli and record them with modern technology
So creative und funny!!
There was only one pitch in the lower middle voice in the first recording where I could recognize Nilsson. But to then not be able to tell immediately that this was her upon hearing the second recording is just baffling to me.
As I recall, none of the panelists ‘back in the day’ were very good at these identifications except for Terry McEwen.
Oh God... I've never had a different idea about most of critics... to confuse Nilsson's voice in the LP fragment with Flagstad's is too much!
The first name mentioned was Fremstad. But then he mentions Flagstad when hearing the stereo recording. Nilsson and Flagstad sounded nothing alike. Flagstad's voice was far warmer and never gave the feeling that she was going to go off pitch, as Nilsson always did, especially later on in her career.
The problem is that the LP is running a semitone flat. If you correct the pitch, it sounds like Nilsson.
Brilliant!!!
If you know the trick, her timbre is perfectly recognisable from the cylinder. I find Kolodin's guessing of the trick highly suspicious.
Oh yes, I agree. She had a very unique timbre or better yet, a unique tessitura (texture) to her voice. I'm surprised that absolutely no one could guess it was her.
Great fun...
Flagstad? How could you not tell the difference?
They talk about Fremstad, Olive Fremstad.
@@gonzalocuadra8657 At 4:02, Max de Schauensee clearly says 'Kirsten Flagstad', then Irving Kolodin agrees with him.
@@jasonhurd4379 Oh, you are right! I thought the mistake came from 2:34. I listen the quiz again... and can't believe the Flagstad&Nilsson mistake, and in those years!!!! With Nilsson in her prime and Flagstad retired only few years before.
Do you happen to know what year this was recorded?
1961.
@@michorg Thank you!
What kind of vocal expert can't tell the difference between Flagstad and Nilsson?
They didn't say "Flagstad", they talk about Fremstad, Olive Fremstad. Obviuosly it's an acoustic recording, not an electric one. So he is very near saying so, because Fremstad was an extrairdinary wagnerian soprano, with a great career in the United States and recorded "Du bist der Lenz" at the beginnig of the XXth Century.
@@gonzalocuadra8657 At 4:02, Max de Schauensee clearly says 'Kirsten Flagstad', then Irving Kolodin agrees with him.
@@jasonhurd4379 Oh, you are right! I thought the mistake came from 2:34. I listen the quiz again... and can't believe the Flagstad&Nilsson mistake, and in those years!!!! With Nilsson in her prime and Flagstad retired only few years before.
They are so different!
Why is the title Nilsson Hoax? Did she not record this?
Yes, she did record this. I would imagine that it's called "Nilsson Hoax" because she actively participated in the perpetration of the hoax along with the Metropolitan Opera.
@@scottbullitt723 Thank you!
@@scottbullitt723 it is a hoax because they used the old technology to fool the eminent guests!