Erna Sack sings Glühwürmchen-Idyll from the operetta "Lysistrata"

Erna Sack sings Glühwürmchen-Idyll (Firefly idyll) from the operetta "Lysistrata" by Paul Lincke. (1937)
Erna Sack (1898, Spandau - 1972, Mainz) was a German coloratura soprano, famous for her extreme vocal range, especially the extreme, ethereal high notes up to C4, above the "regular" soprano high C. Due to her ethereal (Have I used this phrase?) coloratura, she was referred to as "Die deutsche Nachtigall", or "The German Nightingale" in English. She was born as Erna Weber, but she took her husband's (Hermann Sack) surname, whom she married in 1921. She joined Berlin State Opera in 1928, but her real career started after 1930, when Erna started to sing in other opera houses throughout Germany. Her international career started in 1935, including performaces in London (Covent Garden), Austria, the Netherlands and in Italy, where she sang The Magic Flute with Tito Schipa. In 1937 she sang at Carnegie Hall with Joseph Schmidt and Tauber. Erna's two most famous movies are Blumen aus Nizza (1936) and Nanon (1938). She retired from stage in 1957.
Because this is my iddy-biddy channel, let me add a very pesonal note: I think Erna Sack had not only a lovely voice, but her appearance and face were very lovely and womanly. She was forty in Nanon and how gorgeous she looked! Her husband must have been a very lucky man. :)
I have previously uploaded two beautiful songs, but none of them contained the aforementioned extra high notes, so I decided to add this arietta where Erna could show off her abilities. :) (The more widely known pieces -such as "Voices of Spring", "The Blue Danube", etc. - have already been uploaded by others.)
Lyrics:
Wenn die Nacht sich niedersenkt
auf Flur und Halde,
Manch ein Liebespärchen lenkt
den Schritt zum Walde.
Doch man kann im Wald zu zwein
sich leicht verirren.
Deshalb, wie Laternen klein,
Glühwürmchen schwirren.
Und es weiset Steg und Busch
uns leuchtend ihr Gefunkel,
Da tauchts auf, und dort, husch, husch,
sobald der Abend dunkel.
Glühwürmchen, Glühwürmchen flimmre, flimmre,
Glühwürmchen, Glühwürmchen, schimmre, schimmre,
Führe uns auf rechten Wegen,
führe uns dem Glück entgegen.
Gib uns schützend dein Geleit
zur Liebesseligkeit.

[@gmmix]

On my second reading of Sack's bio, I was struck by the fact that In 1937 she sang at Carnegie Hall with Joseph Schmidt and Tauber. What a night that must have been! Unfortunately, as much as I would have given anything to attend, on that date I was but 7 weeks old and not yet attending the theatre! My loss!

[@terriannherlihy1325]

I love the flute-like trill at the end of the song... I love this version of the song... thank you for posting this... She is an exceptional vocalist.

[@ponismermaidcastle]

For me, Erna Sack is one of the greatest sopranos that ever existed. I mean, the notes she can reach! Her voice ir really rare and she sigs perfectly, unlike many sopranos currently that lack an exquisite technique (especially with regard to the vibrato, at least to my taste), or a large vocal extension or a crystal clear voice.

[@jimcrawford5039]

What a voice! Sheer magic!

[@65attila]

The extreme notes get most of the attention but she has a beautiful silvery tone- sharp attacks and knows how to put the music across.

[@sachseco]

THE STACCATO NOTES NEAR THE END, "UNGLAUBLICH", UNBELIEVABLE!

[@bradman8281]

Klasse Stimme. und ein schönes Foto von Erna Sack. Einfach toll wie eine Nachtigall.

[@Vogler9]

Great composition! Voice to match!

[@johnmanno2052]

This is my new most favorite piece, ever!!!

[@Fersomling]

Ja, ihre Stimme ist schön.

[@gnativerson]

FIVE STARS all the way !

[@LacrimaLunaMortua]

Higher =/= Better, but when a high note is done magistrally and with as much beauty as there is in this interpretation, then, wow, that's wondrous Hail Erna!

[@ipetersson]

Danke f+r's Herunterladen. Wer, wenn nicht sie, hat es verdient, daß wir von ihrer Stimme imaginiert werden.

[@lauderfrost]

Cannot believe the monstrous pop music ad that preceded this. KZbin must have lost the plot.

[@jonjamg]

Some composers of the 18th and 19th centuries were pressured by the sopranos of the day to write music that could show off their repetoire of notes - so some arias etc may not be as the composer wished them to sound but they which side their was bread was buttered on so could be persuaded to add trills and high notes that were not expecially needed.

[@65attila]

Your knowledge and common sense are a joy to me who feels much like you. Regards-John

[@gmmix]

When you listen to an Erna Sack recording, you know what you are going to get--and you're seldom disappointed. If one wishes to hear Glow Worm without "the Sack treatment, fine a version on KZbin played by some village band. For me, I'll take the delightful Erna.

[@almudenacarnero7934]

Gracias

[@lauderfrost]

I do!

[@65attila]

@Porkolty The notes are enjoyable IMO and need no other justification. Love this singing.

[@Fersomling]

Your comment made me laugh heartily. Thank you.

[@stardream7585]

total herzig! Dazu habe ich klassisches Ballett getanzt

[@Fersomling]

Boomers will remember this pretty melody from Dr. Pepper commercials from the early 1960s: "It's Dr Pepper Time!"

[@olgaguzman7779]

Kavatina Rozin

[@MaartenPieterBakker]

It is quite unique that a human voice can reach such extremely high notes. But do these notes really do something for this music? - I do not think so.

[@unclelouie3828]

I agree.

[@billholt716]

@@unclelouie3828 I don't

[@DickDiamond74]

I'm here because i needed to know where Allan Sherman got Mrs Goldfarb...

[@willyegli3616]

how about a movie about erna sack? after they have done 2-3 about florence foster-jenkins...of course there is nobody, who could do the fruehlingstimmenwalzer, but there is the original...

[@lisszart9609]

Also Cole aus Ninjago hat es auch gut gesungen xD

[@lauderfrost]

This is a poor transfer of a good recording. It sound like it is coming from a drainpipe. It has been remastered no and a much finer recording is available. And yes, the high notes so a lot for this song. Why not. Don't be such a purist! What sopranos today can match her versatility? None.

[@presbyterosBassI]

In this case, the high notes are gloriously silly. As is the song, so it is appropriate.

[@rosegerringer]

THIS BEAUTIFULL VOICE TYPE WAS DESTROYED BY CALLAS!

[@ninakovnerova5356]

Это не голос , это голосище . Колоратура несравненная .

[@heidrunjacobitz9472]

TOLLE STIMME