Reri Grist twirls and trills over Strauss's chromatic filigree

THE SONGBIRD: Charismatic coloratura soprano Reri Grist was born in 1932 in New York. Her career was launched in the original Broadway production of "West Side Story" (singing the iconic "Somewhere") and she appeared at the Santa Fe Opera (as Adele and Blonde) in 1959. Grist then ventured to Europe and toured the continent in a VW van. She became the first Black singer to land a permanent gig in a European opera house when she signed with the Zurich Opera in 1960. Her star rose quickly, including singing the role of the Nightingale in Stravinsky's short opera/ballet fable at his invitation in 1962, which was recorded and released commercially. Grist became a beloved regular at the Vienna State Opera and Salzburg, while basing her US engagements at the San Francisco Opera and The Met. Her most successful roles were Norina, Zerbinetta, Gilda, Oscar, Sophie, Rosina, and all the Mozart's soubrettes.
THE MUSIC: Richard Strauss's Brentano Lieder (Op. 68) was written mid-career in 1918 after a 12-year lapse in songwriting during which he had composed many of his major operatic works (Salome, Elektra, Der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Die Frau Ohne Schatten). The six songs for piano and voice to poems by Clemens Brentano were dedicated to the German soprano Elisabeth Schumann, and then orchestrated by Strauss in 1940/41 and rededicated variously to Adele Kern and Viorica Ursuleac. The song collection sits high and demands a wide vocal compass, a variety of colors, and extreme dynamics from floating suspensions to bold declamations. "Amor" is a short song that is written in Strauss's signature shimmering, modulating coloratura textures to accentuate the poem's story of Cupid beguiling a shepherdess who helps him when his wings catch fire. Strauss asks the singer to dance delicate vocal pirouettes and perform other acrobatics such as many intricate trills (including on High C).

[@user-mx1tz1kl6w]

Beautiful soprano voice ❤Brava

[@baritoneblazzin1965]

She sings this superbly with her bird-like timbre. This reminds me of Kathleen Battle's version of Amor.

[@pedroribeiro7675]

Such a marvel.

[@lutzlupe2966]

most spectacular - even more so than Arkandy's version...