Gundula Janowitz - "Porgi Amor" (1980)

From a wonderful "Le Nozze di Figaro" conducted by Georg Solti at Paris Opera Garnier in 1980.
The very famous stage production by Giorgio Strelher.
Fabulous cast : Jose Van Dam (Figaro), Lucia Popp (Susanna), Gundula Janowitz (Contessa Almaviva), Gabriel Bacquier (Almaviva), Federica Von Stade (Cherubino), Jane Berbié (Marcellina).

[@HungryEars]

Such sweetness! Such beauty! Such depth of emotion! Such control! Such sublimity! Such an excellent performance! The only two people I really enjoy hearing in this role is dear Gundula, and dear Kiri. Gundula's performance of "Ach ich fuhl's" is amazingly beautiful as well.

[@ursus1302]

diese arie kann man nicht mehr besser singen-technische perfektion gepaart mit unglaublicher stimmschönheit

[@cyrus1566]

Such a control, unbelieveable, the most beautiful voice I ve ever heard in my life.

[@jonbaum]

One of the most amazing voices ever!!!!

[@Nungirl238]

This is one of the most perfect things I've ever heard.

[@leejookwan9746]

Unbelievable voice Tone, Particularly for Mozart! Amaging Grace.

[@emme43]

I have no words to express what it feels like listening to this rendition of porgi amor.Bravissima.Pianissima!

[@viverito]

If you love Gundula Janowitz here then you should also listen to her recordings of The Four Last Songs nobody else does it better

[@patrickm62nov]

My all time favourite rendition of this song!

[@ElisaN92]

wow, she has such control over her voice and you can see she's really concentrating. sublime ..

[@Camila_and_Daniel_Gaming]

Jaowitz does a great job, especially with the tempo Solti picked, deadly. Her 'Porgi Amor,' along with Schwartzkopf's, is the best I've heard.

[@heron520]

SENZA FIATO E SENZA PAROLE!!!!! SEMPLICEMENTE PERFETTA!

[@swanningaround]

To me Gundula is number 1 for Mozart. Period.

[@ShawDAMAN]

I actually like the tempo and I think her interpretation is quite touching.

[@PolaOloixarac1]

gundula is a true godess of sheer awesomeness, what a contessa

[@fgraue]

que tempo!!! Solti que inmenso dircetor, ella es sencillamente increible...

[@NorthShoreCanary]

While objectively the tempo may be a bit slow and a syllable was ignored for the sake of purity of sound (a singer knows when s/he has to compromise for the greater good), the overall effect, for me, is ethereal. The aria floats and I love what she's done with it.

[@bernardkulche]

Breathtaking pure voice..

[@clatnt]

Semplicemente celestiale! Wonderful!

[@tantcx]

Splendid!

[@ThomasMurphy55]

I've never heard anything as lovely as Janowitz's voice! Check out her Carmina Burana: it is conducted by Eugen Joachum, and you'll drop dead with joy. The "Dulcissime" is magical.

[@sbreathnach100]

If only we had more of her?

[@operalovely]

Superrrrrrrrrr!

[@TheDali2574]

superbe !!!!!

[@ThPaw]

Phantastic.*****

[@sfkcbf]

For better, clear, rich sound, listen to the recently released, 5-CD set "Gundula Janowitz, The Golden Voice." For the most passionate singing I've heard, try the Berlin recording of Richard Strauss' "Four Last Songs" and especially the finale of his "Cappricio," both on DG.

[@swanningaround]

I love this. I think this version is better than Elisabeth's and Kiri's. They are also great Mozart sopranos.

[@swanningaround]

Janowitz is the absolute master of Mozart along with Schwarzkopf. Te Kanawa has a slighty different and also captivating sound. These three ladies are amongst the best.

[@flicfan416]

Turn up the volume then. I hear it fine. She's singing piano, and perfectly at that

[@itiacat]

I wish I could hear the consonants. Beautiful sound...but the crisp consonants are missing.

[@TheSmoshmy]

Incredible that Janowiz is able to support the voice at this incredibly slow tempo.Not only is it ludicrously slow but it actually seems to get even slower.I have never been a great fan of Solti and i really think that he was over-rated

[@christineannemarsden]

Agree

[@sfkcbf]

As I suggested earlier, to hear her full capabilities, listen to the newly released 5-CD set "Gundula Janowitz, The Golden Voice" (DG), and especially along with my other suggested recordings of Richard Strauss.

[@swanningaround]

Interesting. I find that the same old names come up when mentioning the famous Mozart arias. Gundula is always there. Leontyne and Kiri are usually mentioned also. I also love anything by Maria Stader. I find her even more precise than Gundula - if that is possible.

[@lindyms]

To hear the absolute best Porgi Amor, listen to Gundula's 1967 recording of this part with Karl Bohm. Just divine!! However, I would love to see any version by Margaret Price if anyone can post one here?

[@Merlin1940]

Still another wonderful upload from MUEZZAB. Thanks so much! Tue 13 Nov 2007 22:16 GMT

[@Merlin1940]

I do hate portamentos usually, but I love Janowitz' ones, that are thought and done differently, more measured and more appropriately IMO (not to mention with a powerful yet delicat iron-velvet voice none else has) Tue 13 Nov 2007 22:03 GMT

[@macenroc]

The introspection of this performance is quite illuminating and makes it riveting and devine .. I do prefer the more ebullient Dorothea Roschmann though.

[@agcalem]

I fully agree with you but neverthless I still prefer that phantastic version of the 60's with Karl Böhm, Fischer-Dieskau, Prey, Edith Mathis, etc.

[@1psoas9]

I agree with Tirstiano about her boyish tone -- it iscapable of great ambiguity. She has a very similar quality in singing Pamina's lament, "aCH, ICH FUHL'S" -- A SADNESS THAT'S COLLECTED, MEDITATIVE, ALMOST DISTILLED....

[@mocheee]

can anyboy give me the lyrics of this song.. its really beautiful i love this very much

[@clashguy]

6/5

[@walshamite]

I advise, listen to her Four Last songs with Karajan, on DG. This evaluation is just plain wrong, friend edgabo. I think we all share your sensitive ears, but the 1980s recording here, heard compressed via online bandwidth, shouldn't be seen as representative, enjoyable as these clips are. She sang with great soul, accuracy and depth. A classic voice.

[@wambui37]

Yes, I agree with you, although I think this version is a little too slow. Also from me there is a version from "Porgi Amor" with Gundula Janowitz at You Tube, which I find even more beautiful.

[@EatAnApplexD]

lol she has my last name

[@Lindow]

As bautifully as she sings this I have to agree with the criticism: this piece marks the beginning of the second act, not the end of the opera nor the end of the Countess's life although she does contemplate dying in the piece. It's not a meditational piece either. So really, a slow tempo for this is great but to put people to sleep with it is going overboard.

[@MrFpam]

What exactly does she dominate! Anyway this is not about her ! These kind of subjective comments are out of place and especially annoying when they are stated as fact!

[@assindiastignani]

Between "Schwarzkopf" and "Period!" I would like to insert two words: Margaret Price.

[@CzarDodon]

I find this terribly slow! it is Larghetto but a 2/4 Larghetto, not 4/4. I'm surprised Solti let her slow it down so much, the opening tempo was already slow but she just drags and drags...and where are the words? she sounds like an instrument but there are words here too... very beautiful words by Lorenzo da Ponte!

[@pianoandpipes]

Obviously a beautiful voice. And I know that back in the 80s it was the style to kind of forsake words toward the top, whatev. But I don't believe they were into the clavicular breathing back then. Lol... Still beautiful..

[@pinkbeachloverable]

Renée Fleming dominates.

[@111sparkle111]

wow how she's draggin the tempo down. very instrumental. gorgeous, but I'll take more human like callas, etc..

[@puffsplus72]

Too slow, but pretty.

[@Sochilinda]

She keeps trying to do it slower. She has a boring instinct for this aria. 3/5

[@fanipenguin]

i cant even hear her voice...

[@beckylink]

There is beauty here undeniably, but I agree that her voice has a very covered sound which leaves me longing for more of an open throat. Let that voice OUT!!!! Not at all similar to Schwarzkopf to me. Is she older here?

[@eddieman2004]

similar voice (I think better) plus better tempo ..see......Porgi Amor sung by Mirusia Louwerse in Vienna and she is very young.......

[@marcocito]

Potrobsas : "Too covered" Se ve que no conoces nada en el canto!

[@ambrosius]

That is a LOT of rubato

[@violetavalery]

unbearingly slow!!!!!!!!

[@LaraBisserier]

too slow, too dramatic, she closes her eyes a lot of time seperating herself from her audience and her Italian is not clear. She does have a nice tone though she makes it a little too special.