Kirsten Flagstad Brahms Op. 91 nr. 1, Gestillte Sehnsucht

[@VivaRenata]

My second piano teacher and coach in Chicago, William Browning, said the same thing: the experience of hearing Flagstad was as if you were enclosed in a big resounding bell of velvet that wrapped itself all around you and resounded. We who were born too late can only imagine and appreciate. Thanks for your comments!

[@mariacasemyr]

Her voice is deeply touching ❤️

[@rozgnatt1]

You know, as to her 'fach', she began by singing the "-ina's and -etta's," which says a lot about the short cuts singers have taken in their development over the last 40 or so years. Noteworthy is that even the recordings of her final years still had that unparalleled beautiful purity. The late Walter Taussig said her voice came from everywhere when one heard her (the old Met), and wrapped itself around you. The closest I ever came to that experience was Christa Ludwig's farewell concert.

[@AntW11]

@VivaRenata Thank you. You have made me smile today.

[@violinthief]

Wonderful performance! I remember a comment from you on one of my videos that you have a large vinyl collection of Flagstad and intended to transfer it to digital format. I hope that we will have many more uploads of this nature from you in the future!

[@VivaRenata]

@AntW11 Absolutely! Am such a technical idiot that friends (and children) are helping me upload the rarities that I own. Geistliches Wiegenlied is already digitalized, but I need som help in uploading it. Just be patient, and it will be out there pretty soon. Plus a wonderful Schubert/Schumann recital with KF and Edwin McArthur. I'm really glad you enjoyed this - it is amazing!

[@VivaRenata]

Now the Kirsten Flagstad Museum in Hamar and Richard Wagner Film are all displaying events about Flagstad in this anniversary year of both Wagner and Flagstad. Very happy to see your comment about her "Fach" since she has actually written something about that.

[@rozgnatt1]

Flagstad remains, to my mind and heart, the greatest female voice of, well, all time as we know it (technology being so new). Thanks for the upload.

[@VivaRenata]

Thank you for your comment. I am well aware of your observations. My second piano teacher ( and coach) in Chicago was William Browning and he was the one who told me that I should listen to Flagstad. He remembered hearing her live and it was as if " a great velvet bell of sound" that enveloped the listener. I too heard Christa Ludwig once in Chicago, and Schwarzopf as well, but never came close to this experience.

[@sylviaperezlillo1658]

José Cura es una maravilla y la música de Brahms es una de mis favoritas.

[@tanskiclaudius]

Das ist wunderschön ! Danke von Herzen !

[@VivaRenata]

@rozgnatt1 This is my feeling as well. You can always argue about taste and tradition, but for my part Flagstad has a unique place and I remain grateful. Since I am already 58 I rely on children and friends to help me upload more videos, but hope to post some more of her rarities that I have collected over the years very soon.

[@VivaRenata]

Having read the major biographies I know that she began by singing the "ina's and etta's" as you say. She was developing into a major operatic artist in an era when the opportunities in Scandinavia were restricted. Be that as it may, this was an interpreter of the Wagnerian repertoire that willl probably not be surpassed.

[@VivaRenata]

@violinthief Dear violinthief, there will indeed be more uploads. I am such a technical idiot, believe me, that I am just now learning how to do this. In the meantime, I am "getting by with a little help from my friends" and right now some of them are digitalizing a wonderful Lieder recital with KF, Schubert and Schumann. Thanks for your comment, you have a great channel!

[@robbydyer4500]

Upload № 2 please 😊

[@VivaRenata]

@tanskiclaudius Es freut mich, daß Sie dieses Video gefunden haben.

[@AntW11]

Thank you so much for uploading this. I had this on a cassette tape and lost it. She sings this beautifully. Could you please upload Geistliches Wiegenlied?

[@SieglindeMoos]

Dear VivaRenata, Thank you for uploading this. I am so happy to hear it. Did you upload "Geistliches Wiegenlied" by any chance? Who today, listening to her as a modern singer, would doubt she was a contralto? And yet she wasn't, she just had that "Jahrhundertstimme", like mentioned.

[@meretewinger2764]

As much for Flagstad, but what about the team?Moore as good as always, but listen closely to Downes also, what a performer!

[@VivaRenata]

Dear Merete Winger! Thank you for listening and thank you for the comment. The viola is too seldom recognized as a solo instrument or even in the orchestra, and this is one reason that I appreciate this composition of Brahms. But Gerald Moore! The most overrated accompanist of the past century and a very good publicist of himself. Listen to some youtube recordings of Flagstad with her American accompanist McArthur and hear the difference.

[@turiddudegaetano8725]

Yes. Herbert Downes a legendary violist. So nice to hear you mention.

[@turiddudegaetano8725]

This is one of my favorite recordings of op 91. Could there be a better trio? I doubt it. Flagstad had a great low register....relaxed and resonant.