In a lifetime of attending Metropolitan Opera performances I have only stood and screamed like a crazy person because I was so lifechangeingly moved by a performance from two Divas. First it was Rysanek as Salome...and it happened three times...I couldn't control myself...it was so outrageously brilliant. Second was Stratas as Suor Angelica...enough said. Sad to say I was out of town for Olivero's shamefully delayed debut at age 65 as Tosca.
This was the first live opera I ever saw way back in 1977 in DC at the Kennedy Center Opera House when the Wiener Staatsoper was on tour. It was TRULY an unforgettable experience that has remained with me to this very day. Check out this cast!! Leonie Rysanek in the titelrolle, Herod was an aging Hans Hopf and guess who the Narraboth was? It was an older Waldemar Kmennt sounding just as youthful and fresh as the Solti recording it was INCREDIBLE (also a huge voice for someone so lyric) Ruth Hesse was Herodias and Bernd Weikl was Jochanaan all led by none other than Karl Böhm. It was the first time that I ever heard a voice of this gargantuan size live and in person. Once we got to the Schlussszene, the moment that I'll NEVER forget was on the word küssen which is a G#. She started it piano and built this extreme and TERRIFYING crescendo that was SO LOUD it completely engulfed and eclipsed the mammoth orchestral force supporting her. It sent chills through me that have stuck with me to this day. Ironically enough as luck would have it , this is the opera I have prepared and coached the most as a coach/accompanist.
Considering that it's a live performance and not a studio recording, this is almost a miracle, the greatest of all Salomes at the height of her power, sweeping, transparent orchestral playing led by one of the greatest Strauss conductors of all, and a cast worthy of the event. The complete performance is available on CD, originally on Golden Melodram. If you love this opera, it's the recording to own.
Saw her do Sieglinde but never Salome. I'm taking your advice on the recording. I own a copy of the film "Elektra" with her singing the title role. Who'd have thought such a nice lady could do the things she did on stage?
elle chante souvent trop haut (très souvent.....!!!!!) mais quelle représentation!!! sa voix convenait parfaiement à l'acoustique du lieu, à l'immensité du théatre antique elle pouvait s'y déployer à son aise et elle en jouait.........extrait ô combien émouvant d'une représentation de légende!!!! et Vickers était extraordinaire aussi!!
In a lifetime of attending Metropolitan Opera performances I have only stood and screamed like a crazy person because I was so lifechangeingly moved by a performance from two Divas. First it was Rysanek as Salome...and it happened three times...I couldn't control myself...it was so outrageously brilliant. Second was Stratas as Suor Angelica...enough said. Sad to say I was out of town for Olivero's shamefully delayed debut at age 65 as Tosca.
while youre at it don't forget to mention her amazing performance as Kostelnicka!! EQUALLY life changing!!!
This was the first live opera I ever saw way back in 1977 in DC at the Kennedy Center Opera House when the Wiener Staatsoper was on tour. It was TRULY an unforgettable experience that has remained with me to this very day. Check out this cast!! Leonie Rysanek in the titelrolle, Herod was an aging Hans Hopf and guess who the Narraboth was? It was an older Waldemar Kmennt sounding just as youthful and fresh as the Solti recording it was INCREDIBLE (also a huge voice for someone so lyric) Ruth Hesse was Herodias and Bernd Weikl was Jochanaan all led by none other than Karl Böhm.
It was the first time that I ever heard a voice of this gargantuan size live and in person. Once we got to the Schlussszene, the moment that I'll NEVER forget was on the word küssen which is a G#. She started it piano and built this extreme and TERRIFYING crescendo that was SO LOUD it completely engulfed and eclipsed the mammoth orchestral force supporting her. It sent chills through me that have stuck with me to this day. Ironically enough as luck would have it , this is the opera I have prepared and coached the most as a coach/accompanist.
Considering that it's a live performance and not a studio recording, this is almost a miracle, the greatest of all Salomes at the height of her power, sweeping, transparent orchestral playing led by one of the greatest Strauss conductors of all, and a cast worthy of the event. The complete performance is available on CD, originally on Golden Melodram. If you love this opera, it's the recording to own.
Saw her do Sieglinde but never Salome. I'm taking your advice on the recording. I own a copy of the film "Elektra" with her singing the title role. Who'd have thought such a nice lady could do the things she did on stage?
Merveilleux. La voix est habitée. L'atmosphère créee par le maestro Kempe est subjugante de profondeur et d'émotion. Une immense soirée.
Ça n'est pas demain la veille qu'on entendra une représentation pareille.
On of the greatest sopranos in history, and certainly the greatest Salome
Rysanek is in glorious voice here :-)
The greatest Strauss soprano of the 20th century.
elle chante souvent trop haut (très souvent.....!!!!!) mais quelle représentation!!! sa voix convenait parfaiement à l'acoustique du lieu, à l'immensité du théatre antique elle pouvait s'y déployer à son aise et elle en jouait.........extrait ô combien émouvant d'une représentation de légende!!!! et Vickers était extraordinaire aussi!!