Incredible soprano voices of the 20th century

-Kirsten Flagstad (heavenly timbre, clarity of diction, huge and heroic sound, consistency of tone)
-Rosa Ponselle (pure tone emission, chiaroscuro timbre, beautiful pianissimos, smooth register blending, gorgeous trills)
-Maria Callas (large range, versatility, beautiful coloring of the voice, sense of drama, strong low register, messa di voce, great stacatto-legato contrast)
-Birgit Nilsson (big penetrating wall of sound, pitch accuracy, perfectly controlled fili di voce, huge high notes, great squillo, long career)
-Joan Sutherland (huge envolving sound, homogeneus range, beautiful and heroic timbre, crystal clear coloratura, security in extremely high notes, perfect trills, legato line, long career)

[@jsky21]

All sopranos mentioned are those I listened to on the radio and recordings when young with great admiration. I realize that comparing style and type is like comparing apples and oranges. All hav eunique qualities which have to be respected --wishing I had been as talented as they.

[@Somniatica]

I come here to enjoy classical singing and all I get is debates over Callas everywhere

[@WGARVA]

Trifling people like to argue into the ether.

[@jessicaesther74]

Do don't read, listen.

[@ruthiehenshallfan99]

Why there are people who think that Maria Callas had an ugly voice is beyond me. She was amazing!

[@orthohawk1026]

it's because most commercial recordings of her were made in later years when her voice had taken a sharp turn for the worst. I have to admit, this clip is the first time I've heard her that I can stand to listen to.

[@karlakor]

It is a shame that only one film of Flagstad singing exists. Fortunately, her sound recordings cement her place among the immortals.

[@alexmark5780]

joan sutherland is just amazing! untouchable!

[@remyparaskovia5499]

great Sopranos. La divina and La estupenda are Untouchable

[@pingomatic11]

I don't know how Ingeborg Hallstein could be left out. She had amazing range and crisp pronunciation plus she could trill with the best

[@williammaddox3339]

And I don't know how she would even get mentioned here. A lovely but very light voice that had little live impact in big venues.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

La Stupenda!

[@johnbarnett6924]

A new found interest in woment cultural contributions,in the Arts ND Sciences Thanks for This Post❤ John

[@kaliopanikolajeviv]

La Divina, la unica è sempre e solo lei, Maria Callas. L'Opera non è solo voce, ma anche teatro, la recita, la forza dell'Arte ! Maria è sublime a vedere, a guardare per ore intere ! Unica, Maria è l'incarnazione dell'ideale dell'Opera. Per me non c'è che lei. Così docile davanti all'Arte, al personaggio che interpreta, un attrice senza uguali, una cantante lirica senza uguali, un'Artista che visse d'Arte e per l'Arte coll'abnegazione ed intelligenza. La sola che sulla scena cantando con la sua voce magica riesce a trasmettere e a vivere la tragedia dell'essere. Solo con lei, l'Opera non è un illusione, non è un artificio, ma una scienza che nasce dall'Arte come vita, per la vita.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Boy, some people on here are too mean in their comments......lighten up! This is supposed to be an enjoyable hobbie we all have- let's allow everyone tbeir opinion and respect eachother!!

[@MadonnaImperia]

First of all, Callas' first public appearance was in 1938, but her first recording is from 1949, so we can't really know how many "good years" she had. Second of all, yes, the literal translation of "bel canto" is beautiful singing, which is not to be confused with a beautiful voice. Bel canto/beautiful singing means being able to perform your music, including its various ornaments, for instance trills, well and beautifully.

[@LohengrinTh]

You cannot possibly photograph Callas' qualities in one clip.. you chose to show her leggero coloratura abilities in this clip but the spectrum of the Abilities that woman had is the stuff Legends are made of

[@peace-now]

Of course not. This is not one of her best clips. Some of Maria's work is really great. I love her singing with Alfredo Kraus. There are so many great sopranos...

[@ursuladietze2094]

Young Joan Southerland was certainly among the legends. In her later years however, her voice became a little bit to harsh and shrill in the high notes to remain beautiful. But that fate she shares with many of the greats and it is probably a natural thing in soprano voices. In that respect, the "lighter" coloratura voices like Popp, Gruberova and Hallstein are perhaps in a big advantage...

[@night9583]

With all my respect and admiration for all the other sopranos but oh my callas, her voice to me is the ultimate flame in opera, and if you really want to hear what a miraculous singer she is go back to her recordings from the late 40's & early 50's , she is the supreme, she is as good as it can get

[@stefycadena]

Maria Callas is the best.

[@dnehs1054]

Flagstad with her goddess-like vocality and presence is second.

[@mka7741]

All they are PERFECTLY.

[@isabelleletourneau7432]

Joan Sutherland was technically perfect - She taught Pavarotti to control his breathing. Those two were such a great duo... RIP both of you.

[@jenniferrodgers57]

I noticed that Ponselle had the same "jug" sound in her lower register as Callas also did.

[@poolrebel1]

maria callas

[@carlomusica8617]

i love rosa ponselle

[@wilsonwatt9283]

The problem with most of the comments for this are that they confuse the ideas of "great sound", "great singing", and "great opera performance". Sutherland and Flagstad had great pure sound; all of them could provide great technical singing with their very different voices; Ponselle and Callas were the two great operatic performers who knew that they were not just giving a concert in costume. Anyone who sings any of the roles that these singers performed is, by simply doing that, a fine artist. What these singers bring is something beyond that and each of us who listens responds differently to those special aspects. I heard both Callas and Sutherland live. I heard Callas only in her farewell concert tour live; however that experience still remains perhaps the single greatest operatic "performance" I have experienced in over 50 years of opera going. Sutherland I heard in several of her greatest roles and hers are certainly some of the finest vocal performances. I prefer in the end the operatic experience alla Callas over the vocal experience alla Sutherland but would not want to have missed either.

[@georgependill3541]

I think many peoples forget that this is HOW INCREDIBLE Sutherland was when she had those FIRST YEARS.

[@neuberg7315]

HAIL TO LA DIVINA , out performs everyone : she was the one who really understood what she was there to do and changed the face of Opera (away from all the senseless trilling of the 'canaries').

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Birgit was pure nuclear POWER

[@janejones11]

Great, great ladies all of them. My personal faves are Callas followed by Ponselle and Nilsson but they are all amazing. Enjoy each singer for the special gifts she possessed.

[@MrSlaughterHands]

I'm watching this on my cell phone and maria callas was making my whole arm shake with that voice.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Joan was the Flagstad of coloraturas,

[@FranciscoArvizuH]

¡Acertadísimo! Son ellas y solamente ellas.

[@PianowithPano]

Wow I have never seen a singer that really expresses every single word she sings, and this is Callas! I am not an opera fun but what she does is just incredible! I understand every single word of her, her eyes are so expressive! This woman is opera, is theater, is drama, comedy, music. This is art! I feel very familiar with her temperament. All the other sopranos are boring, just singing notes, great voices but they look so fake...

[@vettegaddia6234]

I'm the biggest fan of Dame Joan.

[@Jolene8]

For Kirstin Flagstad to do that live and sound as amazing as she did is astounding. One could see the power needed to deliver such a performance.... Listening to it as a recording is riveting, but to see it live and done by her is truly great. Thank you for this. Really nice vid. I enjoyed all of the performances.

[@kmcummings]

Divine all! Joan's headgear is out of control!!

[@sgonz9475]

Maria Callas the best soprano ❤️😍😍 assoluta soprano

[@akzagianza9280]

Callas & Nilsson ❤️❤️

[@helgedonath1524]

callas. Callas. CALLAS!!! per sempre l'unico!!!

[@paulettezonneveld7730]

Greatly gifted

[@pablopinto1873]

Caballe is perfect to put on this list.

[@trudykretschmer9694]

So glad that you began with Kirsten Flagstad. Has the ever been the peer of that woman? For colortura I'll take Rosa Ponselle. Joan Sutherland said that Flagstad's voice was the most beautiful she had ever heard. I would have to agree. Also, little discussed Frances Alda, does an awesome job with O Mio Babbino Caro. I have Callas' version of that back to back with Alda on my iPod. It is so interesting to compare. I favor Alda's much more. She was very gifted and little discussed.

[@williammaddox3339]

Thank you for mentioning Alda. This board is fixated on the great sopranos of the 60's and 70's. There were many great sopranos in the last century. Curiously to me it is odd that Jessye Norman doesn't get mentioned here; I really think she was the greatest of the 80's and 90's but not one of the top 5 of the century.

[@azyuwish99]

William maddox I have a friend, an avid opera-goer and knowledgeable fan who truly believes that Ponselle was no soprano but a contralto with a high top. What do you think?

[@williammaddox3339]

azyuwish99 That been discussed for a long time (same with Callas and Jessye Norman). On stage Ponselle sang high D flats; there is a sound check for a 1939 radio broadcast where sings a high E flat (above high C) and sings a descending scale down 3 octaves to the E flat below middle C. I believe since she was so young at her debut, she was actually a soprano in 1918 but by the time she left opera in 1937, she was becoming a mezzo. I think she could have continued singing low soprano roles (Salome, Isolde, Santuzza, Kundry); Les Troyens wasn't being stage then but what a Didion and Cassandre she would have been.

[@williammaddox3339]

+Trudy Kretschmer Another point - Unless you heard all of these women live in their primes (obviously pretty much impossible), it's really hard to compare. From all contemporary reports both Flagstad and Ponselle were incredible. I have only heard one incredible voice live and that was Sutherland. Your mentioning Alda is a good point - there were dozens of great sopranos in the 20Th century.

[@andresfRC]

Beloved Birgit Nilsson, you rule!!!

[@mariarosaesergiomarycib2492]

Bellissimo documento storico !voci immortali!

[@spacedogband]

Haha, Maria Callas just a great actress? Have you heard her Trovatore, her Sonnambula, her Anna Bolena, her Norma, her Aida, her Lucia? The fact that she manages the technical aspects of these widely variant operas and the dramatic purposes of the music itself is a miracle. Her trills, portamenti, chromatic scales, and staccati are crisp, superbly executed, and show true musicianship. You may not like the dark or ugly qualities of her voice, but she is a supreme musician and singer

[@awokwok1029]

Medea, Armida, Nabucco, Lady Macbeth?

[@arslanferatovic135]

I think u should have written huge voice, or strong big voice, not just only strong low notes, when you described Callas...i dont know why people dont praise her high notes, all other big voices, sound somehow like screaming and somehow too high while singing high notes, but when Callas sings high notes, one can feel the singing, it is a tone and not a scream, it has vibrato and stamina (e.g.high C from Norma 1949, first recital, high E from Traviata 1951)..i am sad that others dont feel that as well...i like Nilsson, but i dont understand why people always describe her as a huge voice and Callas not...Callas herself sung Wagner...and this recording is after her prime!!!! but thanks for the amazing video! greetings to all classical music lovers!!!

[@danj6289]

Maria Callas, " The Greatest Soprano Of All Time ", The BBC, 2007. I think this puts this question to rest.

[@williammaddox3339]

Yeah like the listeners of BBC are the bible on great voices - not. Callas was a great opera singer but very far from the greatest voice.

[@edejan]

While there are numerous wonderful sopranos, Dame Joan always sends chills down my spine. She will always be La Stupenda.

[@jackhamm1745]

Sutherland is simply astounding in this "Bel raggio." Flagstad, Sutherland and Nilsson are the kind of sopranos for me.

[@infrantasi]

Callas began singing onstage at age 17, in Cavalleria Act II. In Greece, from age 17-22, she sang about 16 roles, including Tosca, Leonora in Fidelio, and other operas in Greek. Then she was in the US for a year and a half, and was scheduled to sing in Chicago, but it was cancelled. Then in 1947 she left for Italy to make her début in La Gioconda; so truly Callas' career did span from 1938-1965, which is 27 years. Just wanted to get that down for the record.

[@williammaddox3339]

In December of 1938 Callas turned 15, She was not performing professionally at that time.

[@infrantasi]

Then it was 1939, but she began to perform while she was still studying at the Athens Conservatory.

[@williammaddox3339]

infrantasi Anyone who becomes a professional singer and goes to a minor conservatory, wiil be performing while a .student

[@LohengrinTh]

William maddox Anyone in a minor conservatoir will be performing as a student in the Ancient Theatre of Herodous Atticous before thousands of people in the central leading role of Leonora or Tosca in a major production of the National Theatre ?:DDD LOLEX dude, use your mind before writing stupidities :D And even if that was the case, we all know that Callas was singing in full Voice even in rehearsals.. can u imagine how she sang this Leonora at the age of 18? :DDD Sutherland kept her voice till she was 60 because she began singing leading roles at the age of 35 :D - ultra-late starter... by the time she was 35 Callas had finished her career which started at the age of 15 in the most difficult and heaviest dramatic leading roles (Which Joan wouldnt dream of singing)

[@infrantasi]

You tell 'em, LohengrinTh. And for that matter, when she was still in New York, she sang "Un bel di" for Jack Benny on the Major Bowes Radio Program under the name "Nina Foresti". That was at the ripe old age of 11. And while gathered around the radio listening to the Saturday Met Opera broadcast one day, with Lily Pons butchering "Lucia's Mad Scene" Callas turned to her mother and said "She's completely off pitch!" The kid was going places, let's face it.

[@numetutelare]

Callas for ever and ever...

[@epocketlsaml]

my gosh Callas....

[@Homoclassicus]

I always get nervous when I try to make lists or rankings given the (fortunately) large ammount of tremendously talented sopranos in the 20th century, but for sheer ability to drive people crazy with the sheer power and quality of the voice I think your suggestion is spot on. Those 5 sopranos amazed everybody from the first vocal line they sang. For artistry and pure vocal beauty, I think it'd be necessary to add a few more singers, especially Victoria de los Angeles.

[@robertsfelix1583]

Todas bien...pero la que mas sobre sale es LA CALLAS. Y hoy todavía se le venera y se le atribuye mucho en el mundo dela ópera. La mujer que revolucionó la ópera. Viva CALLAS 😍😍😍

[@sgonz9475]

Sigue siendo el talon alquiles de las sopranos. Callas la mejor de toda la historia y dudo mucho que la superen porque hoy en dia hay mucha mediocridad no solo en la opera, sino en el canto general.

[@timsuffolk]

I agree totally with these choices, all magnificent!

[@callastoujours]

You are so right!!!

[@skankingjoe]

Kathleen Battle has the sweetest and most heavily voice ever

[@draganvidic2039]

😂😂😂

[@TarotAstrologerTHOMAS]

Battle 🤮

[@dubbelhenke854]

6:18 that is a lovely and fantastic note.

[@jmiller05]

I would've included Price, Caballe.

[@williammaddox3339]

Neither one (they were both very good) were not top 10.

[@jmiller05]

William maddox Who in your opinion would be befitting of inclusion then?

[@williammaddox3339]

jmiller05 I mentioned before -Elisabeth Rethberg - more ravishing than either one of them and could do anything they could do. Frida Lieder due to the beauty and warmth of her voice IMO next to Flagstad the second best Wagnerian of the century. Zinka Milanov and Martina Arroyo - Their equal in beauty but larger than Price and Caballe and more agile than Price. Emmy Destinn next to Ponselle the greatest Verdian soprano of the century and good in Wagner as well. Rosa Raisa the first Turandot and nearly the equal of Ponselle.

[@theartfulme1898]

Price and Caballe are surely missing, but I can't help but include Astrid Varnay and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf here.

[@jmiller05]

Yes, IMO the greatest Wagnerian singer and lyric soprano ever respectively.

[@VladaSunlight]

They are all goddesses.

[@dianaventura7999]

Sutherland, Callas, Nilsson, in that order. Caballe, Flagstad, Ponselle, Price, de Los Angeles, Tebaldi, Sills, Moser, Tetrazzini, Galli-Curci, Milanov,

[@williammaddox3339]

Caballe, Price, de Los Angeles, Sills, and Moser were among the best singers of the 1960's'but not of the century, It was a great generation of sopranos; one could easily make an argument for it being the best - but there were many great sopranos in the 20th century and they are not at the very top ( but they are near it).

[@dianaventura7999]

What's your top 10? Everyone have their own choices. And everyone's opinion counts.

[@williammaddox3339]

diana ventura I mentioned some on this thread before - Rethberg, Lieder, Raisa, Tettrazini, Melba, Destinn etc. but even from the generation of 1970's Margaret Price

[@dianaventura7999]

Why are you getting attacking me personally? I can assure you I am not a drag queen lol. Having said that, gays and drag queens are equal to everyone in God's creations. I am RARELY confrontational, but you can be very rude, I can't let you get away with your delirious mindset. I Admit...Callas(whom I love) was the greatest operatic singing actress of all time. BUT, Sutherland is superior to her in vocal opulence and technique and had THREE times the longevity at the top as Prima Donna Assoluta. Therefore, if we add 1+1, we get 2, Sutherland is better than Callas. But that does not mean Callas is not GREAT. I just prefer Sutherland. Can you accept that the opera lovers have different opinions? I ADORE Callas, she's is my SECOND favorite singer...your hatred of Sutherland does not make a valid case to convince average opera lovers to hate Sutherland and love Callas. Your opinion is as valid as anyone's, just don't go so over the top which makes you look like a fool. Sutherland is NOT La Stupidita. She is La Stupenda. Your remarks will make a lot of opera lovers angry, even if they are not a fan of Sutherland's. I don't know you, but you seem to be too biased. And from your posts, you seem to have a lot of hatred. I'm about to put you on ignore. But I guess the new YT only allows ignores to be done one at a time. So do I have listen to your hateful remarks every time I log on? Perhaps not. I was told in my preferences, I can delete you for good. I really don't like to block anyone. I believe in free speech. But do you really hate Sutherland so much? And why? If you lighten your tone, your message may be better absorbed by the opera fans on youtube. Best regards.

[@LohengrinTh]

diana ventura 1. Sutherland had to completely sacrifice her Diction and she left her middle voice atrophic and went wobbly as early in 1972 plus she never developed a low voice in order to support her big sound in the top 5 notes that you admire so much and call technique... leaving half of the notes unsung or even transposing them upwards in order to sing them is not called vocal technique it is called Vocal Trick... the truth is that Sutherland had one of the worst vocal techniques :D, It is your lack of Musical Knowledge that does not allow you to understand how those roles were supposed to be sung because like all Sutherland fans all you cared about was the final Eb6, There is something called Score you know :D Sutherland was rarely fidel to the score ! :) 2. Sutherland never sang the Assoluta repertoire.. I know you think that Assoluta means the Only One but if you read a bit Assoluta is the soprano who sings the Assoluta Repertoire from which Sutherland sang only two roles Norma (where she was never a true success) and Bolena where she was a total disaster, 3. Sutherland's Voice considering the roles she sang (all the same vocal type) and the age she began singing serious roles (33 Lucia) was rather short in duration compared to Callas' that lasted 20 years of singing the heaviest dramatic repertoire :D It is like saying that Bach was better than Mozart because Mozart died aged 33 :DD Sutherland began singing serious roles in 1959 and 13 years later in 1972 she developed an unbelievable middle Voice wobble :DD and that by singing around 2 roles every year :DDD Plus, and that's the ultimate proof of her Lack of Technique, the woman never managed to sing the Epitome of Coloratura Soprano Costanze from Mozart's Serail.. she was studying it with Bonynge for 3 whole years and decided she couldnt do it :DDDD Callas by the way had sung the complete Costanze in La Scala in 1952 :DD Finally, when you call someone's weakness is hatred? No it is simply the truth and I speak with facts.. You speak with generalized stupidities that you read in the net... just because in those ridiculous forums you keep saying again and again the same lies about Sutherland (that she is Assoluta, the woman never even attempted the Assoluta repertoire or that she had a low voice lol) that doesnt mean anyone else actually believes what you say :DDD The worst part about you people is that you keep saying the same shit all over again, having persuaded yourselves it is the truth :DD Just because you happen to like Joan Sutherland that doesnt mean she was the best... she was far down from it :D

[@LaDivinaLover]

This is all perfection.

[@jordanmicahcook]

Of all these I was most impressed with Maria Callas. Her control and agility are unbelievable. In terms of timbre I really loved Nilsson, but that's just preference as all of these are world-class in Bel Canto.

[@SirDiogoferreira]

Could you enjoy this video and the beautiful voices there? Please, stop these kind of stupid wars and appreciate opera! All of these sopranos have huge skills but also some defects. No one is perfect, but only these 5 sopranos could touch there.

[@hectorhugomoyano9518]

BELLEZAS !!!!!!

[@sirtom23]

Dame Joan. My Queen

[@massimo289]

CALLAS FOREVER!

[@MadonnaImperia]

I don't think it's fair to form an opinion on Callas based solely on this recording. Vocally she was already past her prime here, but in the early recordings, for instance three 78 rpm's recorded in 1949, I personally find her voice warm and full of feelings.

[@anandy9292]

its clearly hard to choose a top 5, but i believe after all is said and done it comes down to 5 ladies: Maria Callas: most agreed upon exponent of opera, acting , expressive voice, world famous, queen of norma Renata Tibaldi: probably the most beautiful opera voice ever, queen of italian bel canto singing, queen of madam butterfly, beautiful upper register monsterrat caballe: queen of pianissimo, supreme breath control, wide range of repertoire from wagner to bel canto, powerful high C, only opera singer to connect pop with opera, freddie mercury leontyne price: best american soprano of all time, beautiful raspy instrument with beautiful middle and upper register, queen of aida, longest lasting opera voice probably ever, she can hit high C's well into her 80's joan sutherland: vocal ninja, most controlled voice, queen of coloratura singing, most agile high E's ever

[@MadonnaImperia]

To be frank, I find all these comparisons and the competition between fans ridiculous. Enjoy what you like and let others enjoy their personal favourites. If you don't like a particular singer, critisize them for what they do as opposed to what they DON'T do (= sing like Mme X or Mlle Y). And I must also be honest and say that the over-familiar way in which some people insist on calling Callas "Maria" seems very inappropriate, considering how much Callas valued her privacy.

[@annettefallon1652]

Lol, that Lohengrin's character is something, right? I've never read anyone so obsessed with Callas before. And I think Callas was one of the greatest. But she was not greater than Sutherland. When you get to the best of the best, they're all the greatest.

[@LaDivinaLover]

@@annettefallon1652 finally someone with sense. I adore La Callas, but even she liked other singers. She had her faults just like any other singer. She also never spoke badly of any of her “colleagues”! She did praise quite few though. All of the singers in this video were paragons of the art form and have nothing to feel ashamed of. Lohengrin is the worst, rudest, derisive, divisive, bigoted, racist, pseudo-intellectual that has ever walked the earth. Callas would try to stay as far from him as she could if she were alive. He’s a nut. And if you disagree with him then “your stupid and should be Burned alive”. He is also the king of circular reasoning. Calls Sutherland a retard one minute and when someone calls him out on it acts like he was giving a compliment and that You are the one that had the problem as “there’s nothing wrong with being retard”. He has denigrated god knows how many singers and artists all the while he’s tone deaf and can’t read music. Literally. 🙄😒

[@aljart]

De este video colocaría estas voces en este orden: 1o. Joan Sutherland 2o. Kirsten Flagstad 3o. Birgit Nilsson 4o. Rosa Ponselle y 5o. Maria Callas

[@eberlinpascal2837]

No ! I my opinion : 1 : Callas ,2 : Ponselle , 3 Sutherland ,4 : Flagstaff . 5 : Nilsson.

[@1990Soprano]

MARIA CALLAS

[@morganchan2465]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant video, learn so much ~ Only one thing i am wondering is why turn Maria's last high note down~ I have this video, it is perfect, you should show that to your audience ~ ;-) P.S. Brigit Nilsson ~ is new for me, great discovery :-D

[@vale86301]

Joan,la Stupenda !!!

[@MadonnaImperia]

I personally like all of the ladies in this video, and I don't agree that Callas never had the voice to back up her acting talent. Her early recordings prove you wrong, for instance her 1950 "Parsifal".

[@awokwok1029]

Sadly even great Birgit Nillson said "Callas in her best day was better than all of us put together". Ponselle said " Callas's voice doesn't have limit"

[@gr__msk]

​@@awokwok1029where does ponselle say this

[@BaroneVitellioScarpia1]

Where’s Renata Tebaldi? She is amazing too!

[@tomnewbery8433]

Viva Tibaldi....and, I seldom hear anything about

[@hangchau3216]

Callas is my fav because her play roles is very wide. Plus her technique and emotion are unlimitation

[@reginabellestar]

Sopranos/Mezzos/Contraltos all have extremely unique character about them. At least those until the 1980s. The 1990s onwards are rarely good. It has always been unfair to just placeo ne as singularly the greatest. For me Sutherland, Callas, Caballe, Nillson, Ponselle, Price, Scwarzkopf are among the greatest. I will also include the specialists, those who considered their vocal realities, like Pons, hallstein, Streich, Mesple, Robin who honored their small voices to roles that allow them to soar to the stratosphere. Now interpretation is another issue, so in that respect, Callas is a master/mistress. But these greats have techniques that allowed them to shape career defining moments.

[@oscarsouza5977]

Callas lo más grande que la ópera puede llegar a ser.

[@DanielAlexis17]

maria callas, joan sutherland, nilsson

[@russellbuhay8583]

THUMBS UP

[@sgonz9475]

I love this part 4:23

[@sergior6621]

la callas simplemente la mejor

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Flagstad was rich, molten GOLD

[@liedersanger1]

I notice this says soprano voices, not singers or singing-actresses. Still, if one takes the category to mean "operatic voices," i.e. voices singing music for the stage, not recital or concert, I'd say Leontyne Price is the only singer not on this list who is in this category of excellence (exotic, warm timbre, legato line, seamless registers, unique gleaming top, dynamic flexibility (mezza voce and ppp), joyous and exciting musicality, spiritual quality, long career).

[@williammaddox3339]

+David Perkins Actually you summarize Leontyne as a singer very well. I really don't think she had seamless registers but the rest of your description is spot on. What I think keeps her out of the top 5 is her relative lack of agility and her voice really wasn't huge. She was a unique singer.

[@flowersings]

How do you know that I am making a judgement based solely on this recording? I have listened to other recordings and earlier recordings. I still maintain my above stated opinion and feel and accept yours. Cheers:)

[@hermajesty52]

I definitely agree Callas, Ponselle and Flagstad but I would add Claudia Muzio and Lotte Lehmann as the other two. I am a big fan of the other two though.

[@williammaddox3339]

+hermajesty52 I can see Muzio as a possibility for this list but Lotte Lehmann. Lehmann was a great artist, probably close to being in Callas' league; she was an incredible Sieglinde.

[@williammaddox3339]

+William maddox I meant "but not Lotte Lehmann" - she had some weaknesses and limitations

[@HarrilMullany]

Wow! All performances are extraordinary but wait ...how does Birgit Nilsson make the Tosca aria sound powerful but easy? I doubt any of the divas featured here could do justice to this great piece if music.

[@draganvidic2039]

😂😂😂 Aria is from Turandot...

[@gr__msk]

This is her forte. She had the freest, easiest, big high notes

[@federricoilgrande]

Callas, Ponselle, poi le altre....

[@vettegaddia6234]

Dame Joan is the greatest of all the sopranos in this video. She is the greatest of all the sopranos ever recorded.

[@oliviaperez4614]

Does anyone have advice for someone starting to sing opera? I've had some classical training but have become very interesting in opera specifically lately.

[@massimo35897]

Scusate ma la Tebaldi??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????

[@numetutelare]

Tutte bravissime, le migliori, ma la Callas era al di fuori ed al di sopra ... inoltre cantava un repertorio talmente vasto che le altre non solo non cantavano ma in caso erano fughe dai loro ruoli. La Callas era sempre "in parte"... in modo magistrale

[@dnehs1054]

Based on what presented here, Ponselle is by far the best: lovely voice, consistent intonation, vocal sexiness as required by her role.

[@bilit26]

Luv all of the ladies 4 different reasons and usually dependent upon the role and composer! Neilson wagner and others Callas pucinni bellini and others but not mozart strauss Sutherland handle bellini etc Kiri mozart straus verdi I could go on but can say fekt so privelleged to bear witness to such grt singers luv them all

[@Dadacomero]

you saved the best for last ;)

[@draganvidic2039]

😂😂😂

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

Callas was.....well....CALLAS! :-)

[@jenniferrodgers57]

However, to me, there was no singer with a more supreme descending chromatic scale or trill control, than Callas.

[@arieybanez]

where did u get this video?

[@numetutelare]

Questa lista ha solo alcuni dei grandi soprani del secolo XX (lascerei a parte la Callas che ha creato uno spartiacque colossale nella vocalità). Ne mancano ben altri, inoltre pur avendo molta considerazione della Sutherland non va dimenticato che quasi sempre cantava imponendo il marito come direttore e concertatore... ovviamente per aggiustare gli spartiti alle sue esigenze vocali...

[@janejones11]

I agree. Those downward scales of her's were inhuman.

[@stevensmall6043]

Joan reigns supreme. The others are all outstanding in their own way but Joan takes the prize.

[@LohengrinTh]

Thank God Meryl Streep totally disagrees with you She thinks Callas is the Greatest Artist of the 20th century She even declares this live here: Meryl Streep deeply moved by Maria Callas (2014)

[@ninelcond3275]

Steven Small not really she was on this year's season of RuPaul's Drag Race calling her self Tempest Dujour and was kicked off the show first.

[@jondavwal13]

Yes, and Meryl Streep is the final authority on opera. Do you people even think about what you're writing? This is the most ridiculous post in youtube history.

[@lifelongbachelor3651]

@@LohengrinTh meryl streep also loved harvey weinstein...

[@LohengrinTh]

@@lifelongbachelor3651 using and loving are two different things... she knew Weinstein was a criminal and she was using him to get her oscars