Glass Shatterers! Adele Kern trills High D and holds High F#

~The "Glass Shatterers!" series focuses on sopranos who sustain High F, or sing higher.
THE SONGBIRD: Born in Munich, Adele Kern (1901 - 1980) studied with coloratura soprano Hermine Bosetti. Kern's debut was as Olympia in Munich in 1923. Her popularity rose swiftly as she appeared in Frankfurt, Vienna, Berlin, Salzburg, London, Milan, Venice, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Rome. Her repertoire consisted of mostly German coloratura roles and soubrettes: Despina, Susanna, Zerlina, Papagena, Adele, Zerbinetta, Fiakermilli, Marzelline, and Sophie, with an occasional foray into French opera as Olympia, Urbain, and Philine. Kern appeared in German operetta and musical films and made over a dozen well-regarded recordings before retiring at the age of 46.
THE MUSIC: Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera" received its premiere in Rome in 1859. The plot concerns the assassination in 1792 of King Gustav III of Sweden who was shot, as the result of a political conspiracy, while attending a masked ball. He died of his wounds 13 days later. One of the supporting roles is Oscar, the King's sly page, which is set for a light soprano -- despite Verdi disliking women singing men's parts. Oscar has two short arias -- the last being "Saper vorreste," which occurs at the masked ball, when the assassin tries to learn from Oscar what costume the King is wearing so he can kill him. At first Oscar refuses to tell, but after the aria he does answer that the King's costume is a black cloak and a red ribbon -- which seals the King's fate.
NOTE: I'm breaking my rule to post only material that is not already on KZbin because none of the versions of Kern’s Oscar on YT make mention of the fact that she adds a daring cadenza to the second verse of the aria, trilling twice on High D and vaulting to a sustained High F-sharp. I wouldn't want any fellow songbirdwatchers to miss Kern's considerable virtuosity in this otherwise mundane aria.

[@georgemeiser3231]

This is one terrific singer, who glows in the upper register. She deserves to be heard more frequently. She sings with joy in her voice, not unlike Tetrazzini in her golden days.Many thanks to the poster for providing this glorious treasure!

[@jimbuxton2187]

Beautiful full voice! Full of character and musicality! Great control and technique! Amazing!

[@operaanimelover369]

Adele Kern is one of my favorite Koloratursoubrette sopranos or soprani leggeri of all time. Her limpidly clear tone and sweetly silvery emission make her ideal for all these delicious ingenues and cheeky pageboys. I especially love her as Zerbinetta, Fiakermilli, Oscar, Papagena, Urbain, Adele, Susanna, Despina, Blondchen, and Gilda. Interestingly enough, she also sang Angelina from Rossini's La Cenerentola.

[@chocolatesouljah]

2:30 - Big wow! Thanks for posting. I hadn't heard of this singer before. What a find!

[@tamerlano]

Love her! Gorgeous voice and such style❤

[@quequitoAR]

A shining example of golden past days, when vocal technique was superior.

[@Feisenbach]

Wow, that was tacky! For a moment I thought she was singing Olympia's Doll aria.

[@georgemeiser3231]

Your doll song reference is right on target!