Milada Šubrtová (1961) so expressive and powerful love! Lucia Popp (1980) very magic and affectionately. Renée Fleming (1991) clean harmonic and a very tender experience, an excitement. Eva Urbanová (1998) life-affirming and wise. Dana Burešová (2010) thats harmonic of voice! Krassimira Stoyanova (2017) has original articulation. Olga Bezsmertna (2020) so tragic! I love the song at Patricia Janečková (2021). RIP 🙏💚Unfortunately, it's not in this compilation.
I loved them all, such an wonderful compilation!!!!!!! My favest : Milada Subtrová (Ms. Subtrová was born to sing Rusalka, listen to her recording of 1984, pure emotion!)!!! The sublime, unique Lucia Popp!!! Frederika von Stade!!! - wonderful and not present here (she is a mezzo) conducted by Seiji Osawa. Gabriela Benackova (listen her dubbing Rusalka - Magdalena Vasariová, in Peter Weigl movie of 1977 "Rusalka"). René Fleming OC too!!! Anna Netrebko sings beautifully (her voice for Rusalka, IMHO is beautiful and well suited for the role)! But all great ladies and singers here are wonderful , even considering how difficult is to appraise, let alone compare voices, or music as whole, recorded in different epochs and with different technology. Many thanks and Bravo @Radio Babylon for gifting us with this upoload!
She was the first one I heard singing this gem, and this was at a time when Rusalka wasn't that well known outside eastern Europe. My father had made a trip to Prague sometime in the late 1960s and brought with him home (to Sweden) an LP with highlights from Rusalka (issued on Supraphon, a later recording than the one here). That album opened my eyes to the colourful music of this opera (the overture with its sense of brooding nature mysticism!). It was many years before I would get to see it in full on stage, in a live transmission with Renée Fleming, who picked up on the song very early in her career and did the role very well too. :) One singer I'm missing here is Valentina Nafornità, from Moldova. During a beautiful concert gala from Palace Square in St.Petersburg, filmed live in May 2015, she did an outstanding version of this aria, with liquid mellow tone and great support from the orchestra. I wish that gala would be released on dvd, it was such a great show with many great singers and ballet groups - topped by the great Dmitry Hvorostovsky! :)
Aha ---& yes, Czech & authentic..-I have often thought that Artistes , no matter how great must find it a challenge to to express the subtleties of a lyric inherent in the language of the Composer- when their mother tongue is far removed. In this case ( the quality of the voice & other considerations aside for a moment ) A deep & thorough conviction of a song and it's ancient resonance to the heart & mind of a Czech audience by a Czech singer, could really only best be expressed by a Top Czech singer !...but there again, that is not to say there are those highly developed musicians of any race, colour or creed who could or might have an intuitive comprehension ( and have a good working knowledge of the lyric's language ) plus the various elements of Excellence required.
@@louise_rose It happens instantly so must be AI screen/filter of some sort, but, it does not have a heart, ! so therefore it is an insult to Liberty & Serendipity.
Elfride Trötschel sounds enchanting and I love her voice and approach to this piece. Wow! I expected to find Leontyne Price's unforgettable and sublime recording among these.
After I read your comment, I went to find Price's version. It was indeed sublime. I imagined that it would be brilliant because of the crystal like tones in her soaring upper register. Amongst these - and it's only because I would have had to forgo dinner if I didn't choose - my favorite was Gabriela Benackova. How does one choose a favorite from a bouquet of different flowers. The first person I hear singing this aria though was
Beautiful compilation skillfully presented! Thank you! I always love to gaze at the full moon while listening to this beautiful beautiful piece….over and over! Salutations!
What an extraordinary compilation. Thank you. I can't imagine the work it took to gather so many recordings and editing them together. For any who love this piece please do find the 2012 recording of Frederica von Stade as Rusalka under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. She is absolutely flawless.
As a native Czech, I "vote" as follows: gold medal - Libuše Domanínská, silber medal - Pavla Vykopalová and bronze medal - Milada Šubrtová. A bit of a joke, art can't be "measured" like that, of course!❤
Dobrý den, dnes jsem objevil tohle video, mně se nejvíce líbí hlas paní Domanínské a hned za ní je paní Vykopalová. Paní Šubrtová je samozřejmě také skvělá!
I wholeheartedly agree with you. The song in itself is a beauty to withhold. The interpretation leaves so much to the mood one is in at any particular time. All of them beautiful in their own way. For the love of music ... karin
Many grateful thanks to Radio Babylon' . Now I have listened over & over & backtracking..through each ,this posting has confirmed my comment to Joseph. ! It is very evident which Conductors allowed the Star Vocalist to lead the "Tempi" ( notably excellent pauses in the Michaela Kaune version ) & which ones were saying ;- Follow my baton. For me & my opinion, this vid is priceless.
Excellent work! Today is Christmas eve and I thank you for the marvellous Christmas present. My selection is always Lucia Popp. By the way, Armando Mamede is right - you should add Frederica von Stade, who is second in my private list of best Měsíčku na nebi aria interpreters. And I miss also Asmik Grigorian and Kristine Opolais.
I was surprised by Subtratova as well! Quite impressed by Maria Croonen. Wonderful expression! Lucias Popp... simply transcendent. Again surprised by the sweetness of Michaela Kaine's rendition. Anna Nebtroka...powerful, so much so...begs for the sweetness and lightness this aria requires. Pavla Vykoplzva stysarted the way I wanted but faded. Olga Bexsmertna...wow! Nicely done! Finally....Olga Katerina Knareezlokova. Really , really great ! I can't choose!
It's not a righteous questions. It depends on the time. First performances are sang in German , what is too "stone" language for singing of tearsmaking pieces like Moon Song or My Mother Taught Me. In modern era are all operas performed always in original language, Wagner in German, Verdi in Italian, Dvorak and Smetana in Czech, what gives them ideal harmony of voice with music, It's always destroyed by translating. Yes... Patricia is one of current stars of Czech opera scene, but it's always easy for Czech to sing Czech. Also I miss here plenty of next very good performers of last 5 years, like Willinghagen, Choi, Opolais, Grigorian, Tokar, quite "deeper" performance of Valentina Nafornita and next and next... By my opinion, My vote would belong to Megan Kahts. But it's always subjective.
Impossible to compare recordings from the early 1900’s to today’s technology. That being said they all have beauty voices. Opera is my go-to music followed by classical music--orchestral, string Quartet, solos in any instrument, etc. the entire genre. I wish I had the talent, but unfortunately my range is less than an octave. Thanks for the compilation
To be fair -and although we grew up with Popp: Urbanova (a bit overwhelming but well planned), Kaune (perfect balance), Bezsmertna (excellent feeling of contour but a bit harsh in the high registers), Knezikova (very natural and powerful at the same time)....and ofcourse all the rest for one million reasons!
Was captured by the very first interpretation, without realizing that this was a "competition". What an interesting endeavor, which must have taken long to prepare. I find it impossible (and am perhaps unwilling) to judge quickly, to do them all justice resp. not wanting to do anyone injustice. So I'll bring this compilation to my "watch later" list, to gradually, at a later time (if I get around to it) give it my vote ;o)) Meanwhile I just continue indulging in this haunting melody, which is reaching me deeply ~ thank you!
Yes, Renée Fleming learned Rusalka phonetically-at the time the singers did not learn Czech. You can hear where the switch is, the Czech is much clearer. What I love about Renée is how her interpretation is so vocally flexible. Her voice spins both soft and loud; she always sounds like herself, and her quieter notes still ring. Some of the singers seemed to swallow their quieter notes. My only criticism here is that the final high note is held perhaps a little too long, but I like how she steps down so the ending does not seem too abrupt. I’m not sure which performance this is; she sang Rusalka at the Met in the early 2010s, and that performance is undoubtedly more nuanced than something so early in her career. I can’t believe I listened to all 20! Much to recommend among them all.
Paul, I beg to differ, Renée has produced some awful renditions of Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém. (Moon, my friend, in the Heavens deep). I don't think that, to this very day, she understands the words or understands Rusalka's state of mind at this point in the opera. I have heard a number of her recordings of this. It is worth watching the recording on TH-cam of her appearance at the London Proms singing this. She makes some attempt at showing emotion but what she shows is all wrong. Rusalka, a water spirit, is touched by "love", an emotion that she should not be feeling. She is bewildered. She is appealing to the Moon, her familiar, her friend, to look into the homes of humans, to find him, to look after him and then, finally, that if it is possible for humans to dream that "maybe, he may dream of me". At this point the Moon, her friend begins to disappear behind clouds, the crescendo is Rusalka pleading "Don't go ! Don't GO !! DON'T GO !!! She then feels something else that is new, something unpleasant, For the first time, she experiences, ""Ta voda studí !" (The water chills). She knows that her love, the prince knows nothing of her. Shortly before this, she has talked and pleaded with her father, the Vodník He comes here often, He throws his clothes on the bank He swims in my embrace, But to him ..... I am just a ripple Too many sopranos show off their voices, Renée is one of those. Great delicacy is required for this aria. There are a number of the renditions on this video that come close, Maria Croonen, Pavla Vykopalová and Olga Bezsmertna, but my favourite all-time Rusalka is Eva Dřízgová - Jirušová, a powerful soprano in appropriate parts but here, she is Rusalka, that lovely, pensive, delicate water spirit. th-cam.com/video/UamoftVPvtA/w-d-xo.html On the 18th December, I shall attend a performance of Rusalka put on by Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. A new Rusalka that I have never heard before. It will be interesting. See this from the film made by Czechoslovak Television in 1975, th-cam.com/video/nxYptmFWliw/w-d-xo.html in my view, the best recording ever of the opera with Eduard Haken, the finest bass baritone that the World has never heard of. Eduard, the Vodník has discovered that things are going wrong for Rusalka in her attempt to be human. He laments, "Alas, Poor Rusalka pale" and "You may be human a hundred times but you are forever bound to the water". He is interrupted by the wedding march, "Flowers white along the way" Almost at the altar, Rusalka is jilted for the foreign princess. Eduard plays and sings the Vodník. Rusalka is played by an actress, although not singing in THIS excerpt the voice of Rusalka is Milada Šubrtová. In 1975, Milada was already a touch too broad on the beam to play a credible Rusalka on film, and also, in my view, a voice a touch too powerful. Here she is voicing over the actress in "Měsíčku". th-cam.com/video/rvzB_teIpnE/w-d-xo.html Best wishes.
Terry, i can't let thi one pass. Renee flemming sings the story better than any of them. I find astonishing that subjectivity can produce such polar opposite views, amazing !!!@@terryhoath1983
Beautiful compilation. I love how delicate Elfride Trotschel is. edited to add: I came across this again, and got as far as Anna Netrebko, for whom I do not care. I really enjoyed Subrtova, Croonen, Urbanova, and Kaune's versions. This is kind of like ice cream tasting. They all are good...but which is best for right now? 🙃🎶
Milada Šubrtová es la Rusalka por excelencia: por voz, dicción, musicalidad y expresión. Luego vienen las demás, según gusten voces más líricas o con más cuerpo...
Perfektný dokument!!!!!! Kde bolo toto keď sme si v B.Bystrici v átriu vedeckej knižnice usporiadali umelecký večer a počúvali sme túto neskutočnú áriu asi od 10 svetových sólistiek?
Lucia Popp had the natural inner and gracious sensuality and intensity .the following season when she died to finally sing it whole together with Jenufa, Fidelio and Sieglinde
@@monikaslovakova2507 Tak hovorime o velikanovh hudby. Tam este Patricia musi len prist aj ked talent jej absolutne nechyba. A momentalne verim, ze sa da coskoro zdravotne do poriadku. :)
For me the only one who really captures the essence of the meaning of the words and the feelings behind it, with coloring and playing with the voice, is Renee Fleming! I liked Olga's version as well and Krassimira's technique too.
Emmy Destinn 4 ever the best‼️ (Difficult to hear here but…) All the czech singers sound of course very idiomatic. Some even got Milada and Libuše as names. Jarmila Novotna has a nice chiaroscuro. Beautiful singing from Maria Croonen. Gabriela Benackova is good of course. Eva Urbanova was more of a Foreign Princess, Kostelnicka & Ortrud. Anna Netrebko is of course the worst. (Renee Fleming is also off) The photo of Evelin Novak 😂 The three last have typical modern unsteady voices with some issues.
Excellent video, Radio Babylon! May favorite rendition is Cervinkova´s. Despite the old recording, she really moved me, and that's what it counts, isn't it? Popp´s is almost there. Fleming´s naaah....
Krassimira Stoyanova is simply the greatest soprano i ever had the honour to listen to .Lucia Popp is very flat in this.All the czech singers are wonderful ,but those from the fifties are against common clichée more expressive than the contemporary ones.
Najlepsze z najlepszych to Czeszki i Słowaczki- Lucia Popp, Milada Šubrtová, Gabriela Beňačková. Można Wam zazdrościć Eva Dřízgová - Jirušová , Patricia JANEČKOVÁ. Mieliście Editę Gruberovą . Szczęśliwcy.
This would Be An very interesting Question If All these Magnificent Vocalists Had today's Quality Recording Ability ! Yet For Me Personally I Adore The Goddess of Song Patricia Janeckova Her command of the stage & Music let Alone the Pitch & Tones with each note separated perfectly !!! has my vote In My Humble opinion ! 😄
Patricia Janečková fits best to the role of Rusalka. She radiates all that a proper Rusalka should be - girlhood, neivety, first love... But she has not reached yet the superior skill of singers like Lucia Popp or Federica von Stade.
@@petrblahnik8305 Thank you for your comment !!! That is Why Music is so versatile & I would Never take Credit Away form these other Amazing Vocalists who I Have Listened to As well Yet For Me Personally Patricia' s Tones & Pitch make the Hair stand up like she is touching My Soul with that incredible Voice , Her Playful mannerisms on stage has A way of setting one at ease not only as A Singer but A seasoned Actress as well. She Makes it look completely effortless.& having to stand so far away from the Microphone as to not overpower the instruments makes me laugh ! for these reasons In My Humble opinion will & has remained my No 1 CHOICE. Have A Great week A head !!!
Still has no emission in her voice. I would never go to a concert of hers ever again. I’d recommend it only if you like purely instrumental voice (meaning you’d not hear her of the orchestra plays anywhere above mp)
Patricia Janečková without any doubt whatsoever.
Definitely
Milada Šubrtová (1961) so expressive and powerful love!
Lucia Popp (1980) very magic and affectionately.
Renée Fleming (1991) clean harmonic and a very tender experience, an excitement.
Eva Urbanová (1998) life-affirming and wise.
Dana Burešová (2010) thats harmonic of voice!
Krassimira Stoyanova (2017) has original articulation.
Olga Bezsmertna (2020) so tragic!
I love the song at Patricia Janečková (2021). RIP 🙏💚Unfortunately, it's not in this compilation.
Lucia Popp did such a magnificent work God bless her soul
RIP Lucia Popp.
she was wonderful taken too early.
Lucia is my all-time favourite! ❤💔
@@nellwackwitz same 🤩
Popp had such a pathos in her voice. Captivating!
I loved them all, such an wonderful compilation!!!!!!! My favest : Milada Subtrová (Ms. Subtrová was born to sing Rusalka, listen to her recording of 1984, pure emotion!)!!! The sublime, unique Lucia Popp!!! Frederika von Stade!!! - wonderful and not present here (she is a mezzo) conducted by Seiji Osawa. Gabriela Benackova (listen her dubbing Rusalka - Magdalena Vasariová, in Peter Weigl movie of 1977 "Rusalka"). René Fleming OC too!!! Anna Netrebko sings beautifully (her voice for Rusalka, IMHO is beautiful and well suited for the role)! But all great ladies and singers here are wonderful , even considering how difficult is to appraise, let alone compare voices, or music as whole, recorded in different epochs and with different technology. Many thanks and Bravo @Radio Babylon for gifting us with this upoload!
Lucia Popp. (& Reneé Flemming)
Milada Šubrtová ❤ The best Rusalka ever, Czech and authentical ❤
She was the first one I heard singing this gem, and this was at a time when Rusalka wasn't that well known outside eastern Europe. My father had made a trip to Prague sometime in the late 1960s and brought with him home (to Sweden) an LP with highlights from Rusalka (issued on Supraphon, a later recording than the one here). That album opened my eyes to the colourful music of this opera (the overture with its sense of brooding nature mysticism!). It was many years before I would get to see it in full on stage, in a live transmission with Renée Fleming, who picked up on the song very early in her career and did the role very well too. :)
One singer I'm missing here is Valentina Nafornità, from Moldova. During a beautiful concert gala from Palace Square in St.Petersburg, filmed live in May 2015, she did an outstanding version of this aria, with liquid mellow tone and great support from the orchestra. I wish that gala would be released on dvd, it was such a great show with many great singers and ballet groups - topped by the great Dmitry Hvorostovsky! :)
Aha ---& yes, Czech & authentic..-I have often thought that Artistes , no matter how great must find it a challenge to to express the subtleties of a lyric inherent in the language of the Composer- when their mother tongue is far removed. In this case ( the quality of the voice & other considerations aside for a moment ) A deep & thorough conviction of a song and it's ancient resonance to the heart & mind of a Czech audience by a Czech singer, could really only best be expressed by a Top Czech singer !...but there again, that is not to say there are those highly developed musicians of any race, colour or creed who could or might have an intuitive comprehension ( and have a good working knowledge of the lyric's language ) plus the various elements of Excellence required.
Now then - Just Who was overseeing my post & striking through the most important consideration ???
@@ericashmusic8889 Very strange, but I've noticed before that on-site moderation can sometimes lead to odd results.
@@louise_rose It happens instantly so must be AI screen/filter of some sort, but, it does not have a heart, ! so therefore it is an insult to Liberty & Serendipity.
I think that Frederica von Stade should be included, she was a great Rusalka!
Согласна.
MEZZO.
PORÉM CONCORDO
Frederica Von Stade's, is for me the most wonderful version. Such forlorn singing.
every lady sings this beautiful song. wonderful. god bless them all.
a loverly post love and peace. j Vincent Edwards
Wel said!
What a beautiful song, over and over and over.
Geweldig mooi al deze dames. Maar Particia Janeckova blijft toch echt mijn favoriet. Zo mooi zong er niet een.
Juiste stem, juiste leeftijd. We zullen haar voor altijd missen. Voor mij is zij voor altijd verbonden met dit lied.
This is treasury for ever, please keep them safe,if you loose them,they are gone for ever!❤
You've missed Fredirka Von stade, pretty much the best of them IMHO. Lucia Popp was also pretty wonderful, BUt they are all beautiful recordings.
Milada Šubrtová. The best Rusalka ever. Absolutely perfect
Lucia Popp Divina💖💖💖💖💖
Elfride Trötschel sounds enchanting and I love her voice and approach to this piece. Wow! I expected to find Leontyne Price's unforgettable and sublime recording among these.
check out patricia janeckova's brilliant version of this
After I read your comment, I went to find Price's version. It was indeed sublime. I imagined that it would be brilliant because of the crystal like tones in her soaring upper register. Amongst these - and it's only because I would have had to forgo dinner if I didn't choose - my favorite was Gabriela Benackova. How does one choose a favorite from a bouquet of different flowers. The first person I hear singing this aria though was
@@iancaldeian CHECK OUT PATRICIA JANECKOVA'S RECENT VERSION OF THIS SONG!!!
Milada Šubrtová a Lucia Popp❤️
Beautiful compilation skillfully presented! Thank you! I always love to gaze at the full moon while listening to this beautiful beautiful piece….over and over! Salutations!
Absolutní projev p. Libuše Dominínské čistota slova a hlasu Díky za Rádio Babylon
What an extraordinary compilation. Thank you. I can't imagine the work it took to gather so many recordings and editing them together. For any who love this piece please do find the 2012 recording of Frederica von Stade as Rusalka under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. She is absolutely flawless.
Coudn't agree more.
I found it to be the best version I've heard.
Yep! and how 'bout the young Asmik Grigorian!
Much agreed. Flicka's performance is flawless and beautiful.
Von Stade was a (short) soprano trained as ”lyric” mezzo.
Milada šubrtová the best!!
Me apasiona la Rusalka de Lucía.POR SIEMPRE LUCIA POPPOVA.
Brilliant!
As a native Czech, I "vote" as follows: gold medal - Libuše Domanínská, silber medal - Pavla Vykopalová and bronze medal - Milada Šubrtová. A bit of a joke, art can't be "measured" like that, of course!❤
Nejlepší Rusalka , krásný témbr hlasu, byla Milada Šubrtová. Skvělá byla Lucia Popp , Gabriela Beňčková. Mě kdysi nadchla Finka Karita Mattila - nádherný hlas, projev a dokonalá čeština.
Dobrý den, dnes jsem objevil tohle video, mně se nejvíce líbí hlas paní Domanínské a hned za ní je paní Vykopalová. Paní Šubrtová je samozřejmě také skvělá!
thank you so much for this piece of
Aria.
Lucia Popp la mejor con diferencia
I would agree with Von Stade. I could listen to her forever.
It's a very good question. Thanks for the upload.
I would definitely add Flicka to the mix. That said, it is a beautiful compilation that I like to play over and over. I like the faster tempos.
Do we really have to make a competition out of everything? Can't we just enjoy the wonderful music sung by great women, each in her own way?
I wholeheartedly agree with you. The song in itself is a beauty to withhold.
The interpretation leaves so much to the mood one is in at any particular
time. All of them beautiful in their own way. For the love of music ... karin
@@mmbmbmbmb 💚
@@sigridsimml7440I think that’s the main intention of this video! To present and not to vote
I did not take it as a competition. It was a chance to listen to great artists and decide which one was my favorite.
WELL SAID.....
Elfride was awesome!
the great Luvia Popp, RIP
Many grateful thanks to Radio Babylon' . Now I have listened over & over & backtracking..through each ,this posting has confirmed my comment to Joseph. ! It is very evident which Conductors allowed the Star Vocalist to lead the "Tempi" ( notably excellent pauses in the Michaela Kaune version ) & which ones were saying ;- Follow my baton. For me & my opinion, this vid is priceless.
Excellent work! Today is Christmas eve and I thank you for the marvellous Christmas present. My selection is always Lucia Popp. By the way, Armando Mamede is right - you should add Frederica von Stade, who is second in my private list of best Měsíčku na nebi aria interpreters. And I miss also Asmik Grigorian and Kristine Opolais.
Could not agree more with
Frederica von Stade!
Couldn't agree more about von Stade, Grigorian, and Opolais! And also agreed about Popp's treasurable performance.
Von Stade is absolutely wonderful in this aria, too.
Almost all are good, but the first time I've heard this opera it was with Benackova, and since that time for me she remains the one.
I agree!
Benackova is wonderful. I watched her in Mefistofele in 1989!
I was surprised by Subtratova as well! Quite impressed by Maria Croonen. Wonderful expression! Lucias Popp... simply transcendent. Again surprised by the sweetness of Michaela Kaine's rendition. Anna Nebtroka...powerful, so much so...begs for the sweetness and lightness this aria requires. Pavla Vykoplzva stysarted the way I wanted but faded. Olga Bexsmertna...wow! Nicely done! Finally....Olga Katerina Knareezlokova. Really , really great ! I can't choose!
I Miss Frederica Von Stade ' s version. For me the best.
My favourite is Elfride trötchel, and Maria croonen, just love them, sounds better in Deutsch. ❤️❤️
Very beautifully singing both of them
Bella lista con fantásticas versiones del aria, yo diría que en esa lista faltan Isabel Bayrakdarian, Asmik Grigorian y sobre todo Frederica von Stade
For me the best Rusalka is Milada Subrtova .
I love Lesley Garrett’s version! She makes it so accessible for everyone, certainly English speaking people.
With the exception of Michaela Kaunes interpretation my top 5 would be among the singers that came before Lucia Popp.
It's not a righteous questions. It depends on the time. First performances are sang in German , what is too "stone" language for singing of tearsmaking pieces like Moon Song or My Mother Taught Me.
In modern era are all operas performed always in original language, Wagner in German, Verdi in Italian, Dvorak and Smetana in Czech, what gives them ideal harmony of voice with music, It's always destroyed by translating.
Yes... Patricia is one of current stars of Czech opera scene, but it's always easy for Czech to sing Czech.
Also I miss here plenty of next very good performers of last 5 years, like Willinghagen, Choi, Opolais, Grigorian, Tokar, quite "deeper" performance of Valentina Nafornita and next and next...
By my opinion, My vote would belong to Megan Kahts. But it's always subjective.
For me best is Zinka Milanov. But I like Emmy Destin too
Two of the best dramatics ever
Impossible to compare recordings from the early 1900’s to today’s technology. That being said they all have beauty voices. Opera is my go-to music followed by classical music--orchestral, string Quartet, solos in any instrument, etc. the entire genre. I wish I had the talent, but unfortunately my range is less than an octave. Thanks for the compilation
To be fair -and although we grew up with Popp: Urbanova (a bit overwhelming but well planned), Kaune (perfect balance), Bezsmertna (excellent feeling of contour but a bit harsh in the high registers), Knezikova (very natural and powerful at the same time)....and ofcourse all the rest for one million reasons!
Everyone is the best
Was captured by the very first interpretation, without realizing that this was a "competition". What an interesting
endeavor, which must have taken long to prepare. I find it impossible (and am perhaps unwilling) to judge quickly,
to do them all justice resp. not wanting to do anyone injustice. So I'll bring this compilation to my "watch later" list,
to gradually, at a later time (if I get around to it) give it my vote ;o))
Meanwhile I just continue indulging in this haunting melody, which is reaching me deeply ~ thank you!
Renee Fleming for me,sublime, incomparable, simply beautiful.
The best authentical can be just Czech or Slovak interpret. But I respect your opinion.
@@vratislavbenes2815 And I yours Vratislav.
Yes, Renée Fleming learned Rusalka phonetically-at the time the singers did not learn Czech. You can hear where the switch is, the Czech is much clearer. What I love about Renée is how her interpretation is so vocally flexible. Her voice spins both soft and loud; she always sounds like herself, and her quieter notes still ring. Some of the singers seemed to swallow their quieter notes. My only criticism here is that the final high note is held perhaps a little too long, but I like how she steps down so the ending does not seem too abrupt. I’m not sure which performance this is; she sang Rusalka at the Met in the early 2010s, and that performance is undoubtedly more nuanced than something so early in her career.
I can’t believe I listened to all 20! Much to recommend among them all.
Paul, I beg to differ, Renée has produced some awful renditions of Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém.
(Moon, my friend, in the Heavens deep). I don't think that, to this very day, she understands the words or understands Rusalka's state of mind at this point in the opera. I have heard a number of her recordings of this. It is worth watching the recording on TH-cam of her appearance at the London Proms singing this. She makes some attempt at showing emotion but what she shows is all wrong. Rusalka, a water spirit, is touched by "love", an emotion that she should not be feeling. She is bewildered. She is appealing to the Moon, her familiar, her friend, to look into the homes of humans, to find him, to look after him and then, finally, that if it is possible for humans to dream that "maybe, he may dream of me". At this point the Moon, her friend begins to disappear behind clouds, the crescendo is Rusalka pleading "Don't go ! Don't GO !! DON'T GO !!! She then feels something else that is new, something unpleasant, For the first time, she experiences, ""Ta voda studí !" (The water chills). She knows that her love, the prince knows nothing of her. Shortly before this, she has talked and pleaded with her father, the Vodník
He comes here often,
He throws his clothes on the bank
He swims in my embrace,
But to him ..... I am just a ripple
Too many sopranos show off their voices, Renée is one of those. Great delicacy is required for this aria. There are a number of the renditions on this video that come close, Maria Croonen, Pavla Vykopalová and Olga Bezsmertna, but my favourite all-time Rusalka is Eva Dřízgová - Jirušová, a powerful soprano in appropriate parts but here, she is Rusalka, that lovely, pensive, delicate water spirit.
th-cam.com/video/UamoftVPvtA/w-d-xo.html
On the 18th December, I shall attend a performance of Rusalka put on by Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. A new Rusalka that I have never heard before. It will be interesting.
See this from the film made by Czechoslovak Television in 1975, th-cam.com/video/nxYptmFWliw/w-d-xo.html in my view, the best recording ever of the opera with Eduard Haken, the finest bass baritone that the World has never heard of. Eduard, the Vodník has discovered that things are going wrong for Rusalka in her attempt to be human. He laments, "Alas, Poor Rusalka pale" and "You may be human a hundred times but you are forever bound to the water". He is interrupted by the wedding march, "Flowers white along the way" Almost at the altar, Rusalka is jilted for the foreign princess. Eduard plays and sings the Vodník. Rusalka is played by an actress, although not singing in THIS excerpt the voice of Rusalka is Milada Šubrtová. In 1975, Milada was already a touch too broad on the beam to play a credible Rusalka on film, and also, in my view, a voice a touch too powerful. Here she is voicing over the actress in "Měsíčku". th-cam.com/video/rvzB_teIpnE/w-d-xo.html Best wishes.
Terry, i can't let thi one pass. Renee flemming sings the story better than any of them. I find astonishing that subjectivity can produce such polar opposite views, amazing !!!@@terryhoath1983
I accidently landed back on Michaele Kaune which is really beautifull. The slower tempo is very nice.
Beautiful compilation. I love how delicate Elfride Trotschel is. edited to add: I came across this again, and got as far as Anna Netrebko, for whom I do not care. I really enjoyed Subrtova, Croonen, Urbanova, and Kaune's versions. This is kind of like ice cream tasting. They all are good...but which is best for right now? 🙃🎶
2005 Netrebko was quite something. Then a monster swallowed her and... well, everybody know what happened next.
Milada Šubrtová es la Rusalka por excelencia: por voz, dicción, musicalidad y expresión. Luego vienen las demás, según gusten voces más líricas o con más cuerpo...
I can absolutely agree ❤
Amazing 😢 lovelovelovelove…❤❤❤❤❤…
Ludmila Cerminkova. Those floating notes reach the 🌙 and a beautiful round evenness. 🌹💖
Lucia always moves me. Michaela Kaune also a favourite.. all very good
Lucia Popp, Gabriella Benackova
Lucy is definitely the best of this bunch.
Popp,Fleming,Benacková,Knêžíková
Perfektný dokument!!!!!! Kde bolo toto keď sme si v B.Bystrici v átriu vedeckej knižnice usporiadali umelecký večer a počúvali sme túto neskutočnú áriu asi od 10 svetových sólistiek?
Good comment!
Excellent video
Thanks a lot ! 😍
Lucia Popp had the natural inner and gracious sensuality and intensity .the following season when she died to finally sing it whole together with Jenufa, Fidelio and Sieglinde
Lucia Popp the loveliest ever!
Lucia Popp ❤
For me it is Benackova.. i saw her in this role, she was wonderful. for me the best Rusalka ( an Jenufa troo)
Complimenti una scelta davvero gradita
Delightful video of a beautiful melody.
Lucia Popp, Eva Dřízgová-Jirušová, Patricia Janečková
I See Here Most Agree of the ladies who sing it Best ! 😄
Janeckova? A kde je Benackova, ci Karita?
@@adeeo Zjavne ste ju tú Rusalku ani spievať nepočul. Vypočujte si nahrávku s Jihočeskou filharmóniou, možno zmeníte názor. A Beňačková tam bola 🤗
@@monikaslovakova2507 Tak hovorime o velikanovh hudby. Tam este Patricia musi len prist aj ked talent jej absolutne nechyba. A momentalne verim, ze sa da coskoro zdravotne do poriadku. :)
Je to len môj názor, či skôr dojem. Nie som vôbec kompetentný niekoho hodnotiť, a už vôbec nie takéto speváčky.
Phenomenal...
I expected Leontyne Price and Frederica von Stade's renditions on the list.
❤❤❤Libuše Domanínská
Pretty Yende and Pumeza Matshikiza, both from South Africa, have performed this beautiful aria. Both are extraordinary.
@G Saturn Yes, well remembered!
Nobulelo Yende sings it as well so beautifully I prefer it from these two you mentioned
Both Yende sisters are truly wonderful performers!
She does sing it beautifully.
Her "Casta Diva" performance brings tears!
For me the only one who really captures the essence of the meaning of the words and the feelings behind it, with coloring and playing with the voice, is Renee Fleming! I liked Olga's version as well and Krassimira's technique too.
Lucia Popp is the best ❤
Beňačková! But they were all great (almost).
Emmy Destinn 4 ever the best‼️
(Difficult to hear here but…)
All the czech singers sound of course very idiomatic.
Some even got Milada and Libuše as names.
Jarmila Novotna has a nice chiaroscuro.
Beautiful singing from Maria Croonen.
Gabriela Benackova is good of course.
Eva Urbanova was more of a Foreign Princess, Kostelnicka & Ortrud.
Anna Netrebko is of course the worst.
(Renee Fleming is also off)
The photo of Evelin Novak 😂
The three last have typical modern unsteady voices with some issues.
Milanov & Streich.....👍
Lucia Popp! 🖤🎶
Excellent video, Radio Babylon! May favorite rendition is Cervinkova´s. Despite the old recording, she really moved me, and that's what it counts, isn't it? Popp´s is almost there. Fleming´s naaah....
Krassimira Stoyanova is simply the greatest soprano i ever had the honour to listen to .Lucia Popp is very flat in this.All the czech singers are wonderful ,but those from the fifties are against common clichée more expressive than the contemporary ones.
I agree with your last sentence
Lucia popp is my best pick
Elfride Trötschel, best in German; Jarmila Novotná, best in Czech.
Milada Šubrtová
Parabéns pela pesquisa. Trabalho incrível!
L'interprétation de Lucia Popp est d'une merveilleuse douceur ; quel regret son départ; on peut rechercher une acceptation chez J S BACH .
je ne peux pas dire qui est ici la meilleure, mais j'adore Lucia Popp et Benacková.
Milada Šubrtová is number one for me. As for a non-Czech singer, Elfride Trötschel.
Vozes Divinas! Vozes Abençoadas!Elevado nível de Beleza!
Thank you, Thank you!! It's real treasure chest! Pity Dame Kiri didn't record it.
Renée Fleming’s grand parents were Czech and she spoke Czech with them. Did this come across?
Trötschel, Šubertová, Popp 😍😍😍
Gabriela Benackova
You don't know the recent version of Patricia Janeckova?
I even think it's the best one; same level as Gabriela Banackova.
Najlepsze z najlepszych to Czeszki i Słowaczki- Lucia Popp, Milada Šubrtová, Gabriela Beňačková. Można Wam zazdrościć Eva Dřízgová - Jirušová , Patricia JANEČKOVÁ. Mieliście Editę Gruberovą . Szczęśliwcy.
Anna Netrebko
For me ZINKA MILANOV is the best!
This would Be An very interesting Question If All these Magnificent Vocalists Had today's Quality Recording Ability ! Yet For Me Personally I Adore The Goddess of Song Patricia Janeckova Her command of the stage & Music let Alone the Pitch & Tones with each note separated perfectly !!! has my vote In My Humble opinion ! 😄
Patricia Janečková fits best to the role of Rusalka. She radiates all that a proper Rusalka should be - girlhood, neivety, first love...
But she has not reached yet the superior skill of singers like Lucia Popp or Federica von Stade.
@@petrblahnik8305 Thank you for your comment !!! That is Why Music is so versatile & I would Never take Credit Away form these other Amazing Vocalists who I Have Listened to As well
Yet For Me Personally Patricia' s Tones & Pitch make the Hair stand up like she is touching My Soul with that incredible Voice , Her Playful mannerisms on stage has A way of setting one at ease not only as A Singer but A seasoned Actress as well. She Makes it look completely effortless.& having to stand so far away from the Microphone as to not overpower the instruments makes me laugh ! for these reasons In My Humble opinion will & has remained my No 1 CHOICE. Have A Great week A head !!!
@Norman Smithers Thank you for your comment & I completely Agree 😄
@@petrblahnik8305
Janeckova? 🤦🏻♂️
@@draganvidic2039 th-cam.com/video/8WrXtnCX_9g/w-d-xo.html
Where is Lorengar’s?
The aria became a lot more famous after her London Records LP debut.
Stoyanava had such a dramatic and solid voice on this! Fleming wins for the best high b flat and Popp just makes my heart sing!
Still has no emission in her voice. I would never go to a concert of hers ever again. I’d recommend it only if you like purely instrumental voice (meaning you’d not hear her of the orchestra plays anywhere above mp)
@@kgjhskgskgskgskdgfsk Which singer?
Yes! I think Stoyanova is one of my most favorite! Glad you mentioned Fleming…she deserves to be in this group!
Eva Urbanova and Lucia Popp