I spent a good part of last weekend helping an operatic colleague evaluate auditions for a small opera company in NYC. I love doing this. But since this company stated the intention to produce Mr. Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos next season, one heard many renditions of Ariadne's arias. Only one or two of Zerbinetta, and no Harlequin at all. (Don't get me started on what happens when you announce any mention of Mr. Floyd's Susannah!) Since I can't get Ariadne out of my head, I'm inflicting sharing this with you.
Jessye Norman, 1988 or so, Metropolitan Opera telecast under James Levine:
My beloved Debs, in an undated video from YouTube:
Leonie Rysanek, Wiener Philharmoniker, Erich Leinsdorf, cond., 1958:
Hilde Zadek, Edinburgh International Festival, Thomas Beecham, cond., 1950:
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, cond. Herbert von Karajan, 1955:
Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, cond. Kurt Masur, 1974:
2 comments:
There used to be a wonderful film of Schwarzkopf doing Es gibt ein Reich.
So which is your favorite? And you are comparing all your auditioners to Jessye?
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