Elisabeth Schwarzkopf sings The Merry Widow (vaimusic.com)

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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf sings "Vilja" from The Merry Widow (Lehar) (excerpt)
From: VAI DVD 4390 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf: A Viennese Evening
For many vocal connoisseurs, Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (1915-2006) represents the pinnacle of imagination, intelligence, and musicianship. This rare 1963 Radio-Canada telecast of an all-Viennese concert she performed with her colleague and friend Willi Boskovsky (1909-1991) provides visible and audible proof of that claim. Booklet includes a reminiscence of Dame Elisabeth by Charles Scribner III.
Includes optional subtitles in English, French, German, and Italian.
B&W, 49 min.
TO PURCHASE THE COMPLETE DVD, PLEASE VISIT www.vaimusic.com OR CALL TOLL-FREE IN THE US 1 [phone] (OUTSIDE OF THE US, CALL 914-769-3691).

[@sTurandot13]

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND BEAUTIFULLY PERFORMED. I ONLY WISH THIS HAD STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU FOR THE POST!

[@RichardSmith-gp8zp]

So so beautiful. The breath control amazes me. I always return to Elisabeth - she is the gold standard

[@shicoff1398]

amazing singer!

[@Lindow]

Muffled vowels, lots of muscular tension, pulled up shoulders, she even has to take breaths in the middle of the word 'liebkrank' and the final b natural is mostly a straight tone. Please don't confuse young singers watching this by calling her the gold standard.

[@trudirosie4186]

She was my mother favourite opera singer

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

She OWNED this character!

[@edwardamosbrandwein3583]

@@Lindow Then show us yourself how much better you can sing it

[@timitzer]

She will always be the original voice of the Merry Widow, all others pale in comparison. What a wonderful talent she was.

[@ninianmacmillan-keith7435]

I remember , I remember , it was 1966 and I was walking through the public gardens in Bournmouth with my boyfriend and this was being sung. I knew that this moment would be frozen in time for me. We had 47 happy years together but he died last year,August,2012. I grieve but I have wonderful memories !

[@surena1374]

Bravo Elisabeth! Such a velvety voice! She has elegance, class, poise, grace, and unparalleled voice. Thanks for posting.

[@Dilhan777]

This is beautiful. Thank you for posting.

[@calvinfinn2116]

I listened to Schwarzkopf's rendition on an old 45 vinyl about 39 years ago. The vinyl was my sister's, one of several I had found gathering dust somewhere. It triggered in me a lifelong enjoyment of classical music and opera especially. Now whenever I hear her sing this piece, I am always transported back to that time, and I thank Elisabeth and my sister for starting that journey.

[@eduardobraivein8496]

She simply OWNS this role.

[@masteroftheeouse]

This is exquisitly beautiful! Brava Elisabeth!

[@cattleman6420012000]

Fabulous! She had such a superb voice and wonderful musicianship.

[@bonafide327]

I completely agree with the other user's post - nobody sings like this anymore. She was spectacular; her tone, her technique, her highs and lows, her trills, everything. Thanks for posting this

[@icareh]

Absolutely gorgeous, awesome! What a wonderful musicality, legato and breath control! Amazing smorzature and pianissimi, together with a vocal emission, as Schwarzkopf always liked to describe (in her Master Classes), as being focused at the level of the « moustache » (sic) and projected through the elephant's trunk (sic).

[@alerga]

She sings like an angel.Beautifull voice.

[@ingriddoppler]

Wonderful rendition of this aria~ Ms Schwarzkopf was a great and elegant performer, wonderful in Mozart and Strauss as well as in operettas. Thank you @Kievest for sharing.

[@rzurel1]

One of my all-time favorites - since I could hear!!!

[@Phantor48]

She gets the grace note on the final high note -- something not many singers are able to do!!!

[@efraingonzalez]

maravilloso!

[@Tenorbravo]

After I had the opportunity to listen Ms. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf singing the Vilja Song from The Merry ........the only sentence that came out of my mouth was:...I am SPECCHLESS. What a FANTASTIC interpreation...She is MAGNIFIQUE, ORIGINAL AND UNIQUE...Thank you so much for sharing this video clip.

[@fransergiceli]

Gracias por el video, magnífica voz y preciosa canción.

[@rometube]

Woww! During the last 36 hours her voice's spinning around my brain like a hunting refrain. It's marvellous. Thanks for this video.

[@jmj4879]

C'était une sublime voix et une grande Dame!

[@jonvadillodomingo]

¡What a great artist! What a great singer! She was a very beautiful woman and a very beautiful voice! She was and she will be one of the greatest singers of al time! I love her!!!!

[@4kirsten]

Very interesting to have the image. I am surprised how much she works with her lips and mouth. Of course, glorious voice. Her recording of Richard Strauss' 4 last songs is sublime.

[@mikeyr224]

Just beautiful!!!!!

[@deontyk]

i have just seen this opera today live and i was really touched.

[@keepthemusicplaying0]

Heavenly :-)

[@tiquelover]

Absolutely wonderful! First saw her in 1964 at the Met (the old one) in the Merry Widow and have been a fan eversince.

[@vanmusician]

She never sang a staged Merry Widow anywhere. In 1964 at the Met she sang The Marschallin in Rosenkavalier and one disastrous Elvira in Don Giovanni when she must have been ill.

[@Gordrees]

It's on her album "The Best of" She sings this beautiful aria better than anyone would you agree?

[@ionutserban916]

Superba interpretare, frumoasa piesa de fapt e o capodopera in toata regula, pacat ca azi nimeni nu mai promoveaza astfel de muzica!

[@olivealbers2478]

She was the best soprano that was very born. With her singing to the Merry Widow, indeed the most wonderful rendition, ever.

[@Pacabelle]

Yes, wholeheartedly. There is only one Schwarzkopf! Her voice just grows on me every time I hear it!

[@paulostroff99]

A pleasant operetta performer. TY for posting.

[@jcmunich1]

Oh look, trying to be subtl yinsulting. Pathetic.

[@johnwells7001]

The ultimate Merry Widow.,... sensational in every way.

[@LohengrinO]

She could add Philosphical Depth and Genius into Jingle Bells by singing them... Singing of a totally Upper level

[@RichardSmith-gp8zp]

She could indeed

[@vrouwejusticia]

It never ceases to amaze me how even Diva's of this stature get taken down by, let's say " some experts in the field?

[@jacobsimon]

Great voice but she carries a lot of baggage, Nazi stuff, and is not everyone's favorite--very mannered. but not here, I like her in operetta.

[@bedorelake]

I love the end where we see the great Willi Boskovsky watching her. They both knew Viennese music like few others!

[@gillfox911]

In my humble opinion Ms Schwarzkopf is the best soprano EVER. I was brought up on her in the early sixties and never forgot this fantastic voice. As a young child I would sing along with her in German, - well I thought it was German anyway. Just brilliant.

[@thefreedomlass]

Great voice!!!

[@isonne2]

Sung in the original language by the beautiful Elisabeth is the only way to appreciate the feeling and sound of this aria. My favourite arrangement. Sends tingles down my spine.

[@TheUgreenagreen]

i love the 'gasp; kranker...that's is a good thing that makes her unique!

[@DeeMonkey999]

holy heck what a voice.

[@MrSkylark1]

She is an example for all singers to keep the tone focused exactly as that of the violin. Her last concert of Hugo Wolf Songs at Carnegie Hall drew Leontyne Price in that small audience. The Silver Rose was presented at the conclusion. What a gracious lady to just an admirer of her artistry.

[@SuperHartline]

She sang at the Met rather late in her career, and the audience moaned to think that they had missed her for so long and now heard her for the very first time.

[@barbaraclark249]

a late reminder she was away singing quite happily for hitler and his entourage

[@dadodydo]

So what? It's so easy to judge others, particularly the famous.

[@richardduployen6429]

It's not just singing as I learnt when I attended two of her recitals.Thank you God! How can we have been so fortunate to see such people live ? It's interpretation. They don't make them like that anymore. She had no choice over Nazism to further her young career. In fact her father was brave and refused to house a Nazi meeting.

[@dchiapello]

I'm finding this video addictive. I was never her biggest fan on recordings (except that I agree with the listener who praised her Donna Elvira.) But this is something else. Gorgeous mesa di voce at the end.

[@constancelevy6785]

Rendered speechless!

[@MrFelixberlin]

Zauberhaft!

[@waynebrasler]

She certainly was gorgeous and had the most interesting eyes and mouth in opera! She's like a whole movie by herself!

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

A beautiful rendition of this lovely aria. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. 0:00

[@Lillars]

Madame ! On ne vous oubliera jamais.

[@kgarmaker123]

WOW.. impressive, especially that last B.. with the crescendo and decrescendo... VERY impressive.

[@tigerhernia]

Awesome awesome awesome! Why can I only vote once?!:(

[@waynebrasler]

She has everything. What a storyteller, too!

[@musicloveBH]

the note at the end blew me away!

[@violetta47]

So so Wonderful

[@icareh]

No one else but Schwarkopf is able to sing as wonderful as she does the solo voice + Chorus "Requiem aeterna" (in the "Libera me, domine", from Verdi's Requiem). Thus, no one else but Schwarkopf is also able to sing as wonderful as she does this beautiful aria Vilja from "Die lustige Witze". And who ever, but Schwarzkopf, ever sand better "Panis Angelicus" (Cesar Frank) and, above all, "Vier Letzte Lieder" by Richard Strauss?

[@hipocampelofantocame]

Growing up she was the gold standard benchmark singer for me. Those were older times, and we had less music, but appreciated it more. Good coffee and delicious cake mit viel Slag in einer Konditorei hat das Wochenende gemacht. It's so different now; nothing seems to make a notable difference. Life was more real then, and we worshiped the good musicians, and appreciated what was there.

[@hgg2577]

Divine

[@joetursi9573]

The diminuendo t the end is breathtaking

[@madonnaujmajuridze6466]

Magical!

[@waltermontani1621]

danke sehr,meine Dame

[@joelake364]

Yes, Taylor there are people who can sing!

[@gallantentry]

perfect!

[@johniovine1512]

I dont understand why i never heard of this woman or her beautiful singing???? wow

[@Pacabelle]

I love it when she started to hum the song. It's an awful pity that this song is NOT on her Operetta Arias album!!

[@lamiacuffietta]

i love her singing.... I never could fall inlove with her as I have heard many things of her politically that I do not agree with. lovely singing

[@phoenix4165]

Mother's name Frohlich {Jewish} May well explain decisions made.

[@rubisrosa]

quelle merveille!

[@qklq42]

A had no special attention for this soprano, until....I haerd her performance of La Damnation de Faust from august 26, 1950 in Luzern, Switserland, under Wilhelm Furtwängler. Yes, in German, but it was a very great surprise. Her great aria *D'amour fardente flamme" (in German "Mein Herz kennt keine Ruh) raised that evening up as a diamond , in that concerthall. She is defenitely a great performer. Moreover, she has a beautiful and clear voice.

[@michaellopez5673]

Cette femme est superbe🌺🌷💕💖💗💗💗💕💕💕🥀

[@surena1374]

@rogharm: thanks for your kind words.

[@LJUVINGO]

I love her!

[@jancedricmicheler6122]

Braaavoo

[@55werther]

Que artista esquisita, que Maestra del fraseo. Realmente uno viendola, com- prende, el porque de sugran fama.

[@randomizerca]

OMG, I just saw a comment from Keith-something. I wanted to express my support with a reply, or at least a thumbs-up. Instead, somehow, I think I reported him as spam or abusive. I'm so sorry.

[@FranzBlumVan1890]

to me the one of a kind!

[@DavesXXXXXXXX]

One has to understand the composer and the context of composers' works to fully appreciate and understand ES. Since studying Elisabeth's, Fischer-Dieskau's, and Walter Legge's careers, I feel like an entire new musical world has opened up for me. When I listen to Callas or Sutherland, I hear Callas or Sutherland sing. When I listen to Elisabeth, I hear the composer, the music, and beautiful, prescise singing. In my view, Elisabeth is THE BEST!

[@martiamatvila5348]

,ANNA.MARTÍ.🐾🐾 PRESÍOS PRESÍOS MARAVALLOS MACNÍFIC VALS DE LÁ OPERETTA LÁ VIUDA ALEGRA DÉ.. FRANZ LEHART🐾🐾👏👏👏👏👏🌹🦋

[@karinkarin9454]

Die Stimme, schöner als ein Engelschor.......

[@constancelevy6785]

Who is the conductor? His full name? He seems to be in euphoria. (I’m right there next to him!)

[@operaloverhro3407]

Es greift viel zu kurz, in dieser Interpretation ein einzigartiges Pralinè aus dem Bouquet einer einzigartigen Künstlerin, ich widerspreche gar nicht, zu sehen. Ähnlich der überwälltigenden Fähigkeit einer Maria Callas aus/ in einer Arie die Vorstellung einer eigenen, einer einzigartigen Persönlichkeit zu erwecken, hatte auch die Schwarzkopf diese Fähigkeit, affektiert?, vielleicht, aber diese unglaubliche Meisterschaft...

[@martiamatvila5348]

ANNA.MARTÍ. 🐾🐾. MARAVALLOSA SOPRANO CANTAN. EL VALS DE LA OPERETA LA VIUDA ALEGRA DE .. FRANZ LEHART PRESÍOSA MÚSICA🐾🎶🎶🎶❤❤💖💖👏👏👏👏🌲🌲🌹🌺

[@SuperHartline]

How anyone could name a long waisted bra after this opera is outrageous. What a Phillistine!

[@melissamann1000]

Much as I adore Jeanette, I have to disagree with Cbdesade. Elizabeth Schwarzkoph was one of the greatest opera singers of her era. Listen to her voice, the control is impeccable!!!

[@jancedricmicheler6122]

Braaaavaaa

[@Lindow]

It's so funny to see her sing after one has seen all the clips of her later master classes. Many of the things she does here she would have never let those students do! Talk about vowels and mannerisms, let alone breathing in the middle of a word! 'Lieb*gasp*kranker'! She would have scratched a student's eyes out for that! Unbelievable. And I simply cannot believe that her voice was audible in the theatre.

[@jcmunich1]

Talking crap, aren’t you?

[@jonnythewhitefoot]

Wonderful. What a beautiful woman and beautiful voice. I wish she could have been in love with me. What does time matter?

[@Bazzito52]

@TheSmokeymtnman Sorry, but that's wrong. Norman Schwartzkpof's mother was named Ruth, and lived in Trenton, N.J. His father, also a U.S. Army general, was the lead investigator for the Lindbergh kidnapping when he headed the state police of New Jersey.

[@Deliverfromevil]

@TheSmokeymtnman Fascinating notion but not correct according to wikipedia, used to buy her records years ago, now can see her too!

[@youngjakwak3455]

9

[@pianopera]

Were you in one of her masterclasses?

[@wolf175]

If I am not mistaken, you completely misunderstood me. But, what does it matter ... ;-)

[@jaguen123]

NEC PLUS ULTRA..........................................

[@zerblis]

Not too shabby, huh!!!

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Was this from an early Bell telephone hour special? What year?

[@Richiesutherland]

It's interesting, there are ways of getting around being short of breath which she ignores. My choice would have been to sing, "Bang fleht (breath) ein Liebkraker Mann", which could be used to dramaatic purposes. If a singer in English actually sang "love" breath "sick" man, people would laugh. She may be unforgivable here, but she is also unforgettable. Nobody today dares to make so much of "trautliebster sein". Once you hear her, you'll often find other sopranos bland.

[@liuchi1992]

Boskovsky???

[@comment6864]

i don’t know, somehow this leaves me confused. i really like her in other recordings i’ve heard, but here i just don’t like what she does with the sound. The timbre seems a bit inconsistent and erratic. it’s almost like she keeps changing position to cover for something. maybe it’s just that I don’t understand the words or what she’s singing or the the subject matter.

[@rudolfludwigrichter3155]

E I N Z IG !

[@davidfenn4444]

Rather sexy looking lady with a beautiful voice.

[@wolf175]

She is a good example for the non-existence of a just and loving God: She had EVERYTHING: A divine voice, musicality, looks etc. etc. while others are born as ugly cripples, maybe blind since childhood, so disadvantaged, that idiocy is a blessing ...

[@Arkelk2010]

Or... God gave her the gifts knowing that she would take then and burnish them with hard work for the enjoyment and uplift of her fellow people.

[@DanteValente]

Many sopranos declining with age try this aria.Inversely the legato and the pianissimo necessary reveals their limits... Only Edda Moser was comparable to Elisabeth...