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1:47 arguably Flagstad's best high C ever

Callas is the only one who sings all the notes.

La admiro... La voz de una diosa

Just as I heard her in the theater, Goerke has some very eccentric ideas about pitch.

As to me, the greatests are Birgit Nilsson, Gwyneth Jones & Linda Watson... not necessarily in that order !!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

1:59 is a high A not B-flat

This is what it’s all about after all,!!!

It’s nice to see some of the lesser celebrated singers Elena Souliotis and Gertrude Grob-Prandl. Also, I had no idea that Grace Bumbry (pictured as Amneris) sang Turandot. Astonishing! This clip is clearly a scholarly effort in my opinion and de feast for the years!

Interesting to see the great Rosa Ponselle in “ Carmen” this was near the end of her career and she chose the role because it didn’t have as many demanding high notes as she was struggling to hit them at this point in her career. I think she started singing when she was 21? And she’s in late 30s here. At any rate, her appearances in Carmen were financials successes, but the critics were not kind to her. And with her top register no longer secure, and the met not willing to help her along with an appropriate repertory she inadvertently retired from the opera stage couple of years later. Also, she just got married. I think that helped.

That’s a little confusing, in May 1951 we only have the performance conducted by Clemens Krauss, so I believe this recording is under the Krauss’ baton.

I don't think I've ever heard such awful recorded sound quality.

Why doesn't anyone ever say anything about her masterful handling of the texts and the subtlety of her interpretations? She was not just a great voice, but a great artist! Singing these things for a "hometown" audience certainly brings a shine to the voice, more than usual.

Such a pity EMI did not record Walkure or Gotterdammerung with Flagstad and Furtwangler in 1953!

please do a norma high d comparison video!

Erna schlüter is pretty intense. 😊

Flagstad… OMG

Can you post compilations of Dramatic Sopranos who aren't Wagnerian Sopranos? Thank youu

From all this examples, the only one who is in control of the written music is Callas.

Callas has the best top notes of these. Ponselle and Flagstad are really good as well. But Sutherland is the worst of them she is the very definition of the modern school.

1) Only scandinavian soprans should be allowed to be a Valkyrie. 2) It’s not alone about strength; some voices are plain ugly.

Frida was nice. Unfortunately the earlier records were recorded during era with technology that only picked up 60-70% of total sound. Even modern opera singers who've recorded with old bell phone technology sound like old singers, i.e. phonic, register changes, etc are very noticeable with old recordings, no matter how well blended. I liked Lillian Nordica, sounded like it was recorded around 1900-1915?

Tebaldi in Traviata or Trovatore... Really???

The wall of sound especially from 1:20 is onwards is just glorious. Where is the A5 from? What a thrilling sound with the orchestra going full blast underneath her.

Some great singing here, thank you! Ingrid Bjoner also did a very respectable job with this treacherous aria. I recommend that recording of the complete Oberon. And Varnay. She was unique. So musical.

Absolutely beautiful!! However, let's not forget Callas was in fact a coloratura soprano, strictly speaking, not a dramatic one, as her tessitura demonstrates. No dramatic soprano can reach a real E like that. And likewise, Callas did not have the same intensity and clarity on the notes below low C, in contrast to the actual dramatic sopranos.

No one thought about it before ? This is the way how to disperse a troubling crowd, more efficient than the police siren 😄 !

Every dramatic soprano has the syrupy "thick" quality in their chest voice. It's amazing. The real bloom on the voice doesn't happen until around E, but my goodness, she had a titanic voice. Gorgeous.

You forgot Rosa Ponselle!

Connell already have cancer at that time.

This was the role Callas walked out on because her short career of about 6 years without the wabble

The voices of course are stunning. What I find marvelous is Stiedry's conducting. The tempo he is using is quite a bit faster than most other conductors to my ears and this enhances the very powerful dramatic emotions of the duet interaction. Perhaps it was the fact that the singers could handle tempo.

Who is the Klingsor?

Wer auch immer das hier hoch geladen hat, für mich, is des Was Danke Schuberrt und Schuh Psychos u Syphilis Kranker, daran verreckt; Schuh Bert!

Everyone stating that Callas had the best is because her conductor knew how to set her up for success in the leading run. Go back and listen. None of the other conductors knew how to set their soprano up for success and perhaps they did not care. Viva Callas!

0:06 this is the most unique about Rosa Ponselle

Note perfect! It's done a bit slower than before. But its glorious❤

I don't think Maria Callas belongs in quite the same vocal category as the other singers presented here. Certainly she did sing some of the heaviest soprano roles including some Wagner ones and i.e. Turandot, Medea, Gioconda, but they pushed her voice to its limits, taxed it. She was a very particular voice, a large voice of great range and flexibility and of course a very dramatic singing personality, but not a natural dramatic soprano like the others here. A few other historically famous mid-20th century singers -- real natural dramatic sopranos -- such as Ponselle, Gina Cigna, and Milanov were well-included in your Part 2 of this series. A few others I would mention -- Helen Traubel, Inge Borkh, Marta Moedl, Germaine Lubin.

L'estensione della Tebaldi...bella e piena...

La CALLAS es la OPERA señores míos dúelale a quién le duela!!!!!!!!!!!! NADIE jamás siquiera se puede medianamente comparar en este o cualquier otra OPERA ya que CALLAS es la "Egea sentada en su trono" viendo si alguna otra mortal por lo menos aprenden un poquito de élla. CALLAS l'UNICA SOPRANO ASSOLUTA NESSUNA NESSUNA NESSUNA NESSUNA COME LEI. Hé DICHO!!!!!!!!

Nilsson!

Lord Have Mercy !!! Superhuman 😊

3:30 vissi darte?

ASTRID VARNAY ....... SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASTRID VARNAY....... SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

National voice of norway what a beautiful voice thank you for sharing it ❤

But didn't Kaji say she was a full-lyric or perhaps spinto soprano?

who sings like that at 59!? this is so solid, incredible

Why isn't Margaret Harshaw included in this list?

I think Flagstad does the middle part, the "verse", the best out of all the sopranos I've heard. She is exacting on the short notes. My favourite, Nilsson, had a hard time finding the pitch on those short notes but when she could open up it was magnificent.

I have a feeling the correct date is October 7th 1950 as she sounds fresher in voice than the 1953 recording and dare I say the La Scala Ring. I have to say I do not really hear pitch issues. It is her classic style of portamento.