Martti Talvela - Boris Godunov - Boris' Death Scene

[@cbhbklyn]

I saw him sing Boris at the Met in the 70s. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will never forget it. I also remember how delightful he was in interviews during Met broadcasts. A great, great singer and a great man.

[@sandragoodman2059]

Yes, there was absolute silence at his death, then, at the curtain call, the greatest ovation I have ever heard.

[@CharlotteinWeimar]

The most beautiful bass voice I ever heard and a marvellous actor too. I had the great privilege to sing 2nd Squire in Parsifal and stand beside him for ages as he sang Gurnemanz. He was very tall and when seated he was still taller than the squires who were standing up.

[@mk5244]

...unbelievable intensity and vocal artistry. MT will be remembered in many reference recordings. I first listened to him when I was a child and I still do. A vocal, velvet monument. RIP

[@juhanipalola9046]

Beautiful memories, I played in the orchestra also in this performance. R.I.P. Martti.

[@AnnaEva-ox2gw]

A negyven éve látott operaházi élményt tökéletesen visszakaptam ! Millió köszönet e gyönyörű videó feltolteseert.

[@3parsifal]

I have seen him as Fasolt in Das Rheingold in 1965 and 1967 in Wieland Wagners second Ring in Bayreuth. And also as Marke in (Wielands) Tristan und Isolde in 1968. He was always great through his dramatic voice and his posture. I shall never forget him.

[@barbarahoerner8068]

I too saw Talvela in the 70s in Boris. What an exceptional never to be forgotten experience. Since there wasn’t any translating in those days, you just relied on program notes, I wasn’t ready for the nose-dive Talvela took as he died. A favorite bass. Think of him from time to time.

[@BorisGodunov]

Magnificent. My favorite basso in my favorite opera. I wish I could find this on DVD in the US!

[@albrechtschultze3770]

Genau diese Szene war eine Art Initialzündung für mein inzwischen großes Interesse an klassischer Musik und Oper. Die habe ich nämlich (allerdings an der Hamburgischen Staatsoper) mit 17 Jahren in der zweiten Reihe Parkett sitzend (völlig ahnungslos bezüglich klassischer Musik, Mussorgsky, Boris Godunov, Oper im allgemeinen) mit Martti Talvela gesehen, gehört und bis ins Mark erschüttert, gespürt. Seither der Oper und klassischen Musik verfallen. Die intensivste Rollengestaltung, die ich je gesehen habe. Der beste Bass bisher in meiner Lebenszeit.

[@pekkak.2724]

I wishnyou all can understand finnis lamguage... Martti was phenomenom in any language, but in finnish: Greatest!!! You can sense it while you are listening his singing, living every word, just magnifficent!

[@robertharvey6720]

He fell down the steps of the throne like a gigantic tree than been felled. The audience gasped.

[@thelex001]

Beautiful. The Finnish sounds extremely natural (to English-speaking ears).

[@DonPaolissimo]

My GOD! Is there a complete video of his Boris? Shakes me up!

[@talvela100]

Magnifico Martti!

[@P1B1U1H1]

@coryisawake It sends chills up the spine. It's that great. I have heard this fragment about twenty times.

[@giuseppedimarco8358]

Great!

[@eppurs1muove]

As a Finn, I feel I have to inform that Finnish is totally different phonetically from Russian - and not even distantly related to Russian (while even English is) - so "to my Finnish ears", it also sounds surprisingly close to the more familiar Russian version - the translator has been doing a great job!

[@chaim1954]

It is one of my favourite singers from all times. Could anybody tell me, why he died so early? I know the circumstances (while dancing at his daughter's wedding), I know, that he lost about 50kg, but why? Cancer?

[@chaim1954]

@Kaludrichkeit Brutzelfutzel Thank you for the answer after 10 years ;-)

[@chaim1954]

@Mäkirannantörmä Thanks. I learned from him a lot of things. He came to Graz twice or more, and every concert was a great event. He gave me the idea to sing the "Pesnya o blokhe" from Musorgsky, and some other songs. I think, he had also a very good heart and liked to live.

[@dedal141]

OMG!!! This fall must be painful

[@abracadabranque]

Certainement,avec constance et fidélité! Mais attends-toi peut-être à quelques désaccords de ma part qui ne devraient pas,je l'espère,entamer cette amitié nouvelle.J'ai des convictions nées de l'expérience.Je ne suis pas buté,mais difficile à satisfaire en matière de chant,car j'en connais les difficultés.Ceux qui les évitent en donnant le change n'ont pas mon estime.Ceux qui n'ont pas la fibre m'importent peu.Le don me touche:Celui que l'on possède et que l'on veut partager. A bientôt! Mitia.

[@abracadabranque]

Ne t'excuse pas pour tes mots durs,j'en ai eu d'aussi féroces envers toi. Je vois que ta gentillesse est incapable de rancune.Belle âme que la tienne! Je te souhaite pareillement un bon week-end,ainsi que pour ceux à venir..! Amicalement. Mitia.

[@abracadabranque]

Très bonne soirée!

[@giuseppestefano6278]

大哥好像一辈子身体不好，最后几年明显看出来心脏不行

[@robertocarlosmachucacoello4637]

Tenía el alma para cantar esto último vale más incluso que la técnica me van a perdonar ustedes pero Renata Tebaldi nunca me gustó me parecía muy técnica pero al mismo tiempo muy fría . No es ese el caso de Marti Talvela

[@blichilde]

Fantastic,incredible voice,but here he doesn't touch me as Ghiaurov,Chaliapin and Raimondi.

[@BorisGodunov]

Sometimes people just gotta go. Talvela had always been fairly overweight, so it's not surprising he had heart issues. I'm sad for all the potential great performances lost...

[@abracadabranque]

Particulièrement mauvais,mais en très bonne santé pour un agonisant..!

[@abracadabranque]

J'ai appris le chant sur un seul critère:Est-ce que je crois à ce que j'entends? Et là,je n'y crois guère... Certains chanteurs peuvent me rendre envieux:Il n'en fait pas partie. Mes oreilles savent ce qu'elles entendent;ta langue ne sait pas de quoi elle parle.