There is a sense of exaltation in Melchior's singing which stands him apart from all others. When I was a youngster, you couldn't get this on LP, only on 78s. And it was darned expensive! I still bought it, and now, with CD, you can get the whole performance., which, with inflation, costs no more than my old 78. Unmatched, and irreplaceable. There will never be another Melchior.
Bravo, he was great !!! a real example and model for all heldentenors to come!!! His trumet ring sound as well as his heroic athletic emision, where perfect for Wagner repertoire,Bravooo!!!
Wagners Text: TANNHÄUSER (zu einem plötzlichen Entschluß ermannt, ergrifft seine Harfe und stellt sich feierlich vor Venus hin) Dir töne Lob! Die Wunder sei'n gepriesen, die deine Macht mir Glücklichem erschuf! Die Wonnen süß, die deiner Huld entspriesen, erheb mein Lied in lautem Jubelruf! Nach Freude, ach! nach herrlichem Genießen verlangt' mein Herz, es dürstete mein Sinn: da, was nur Göttern einstens du erwiesen, gab deine Gunst mir Sterblichem dahin. Doch sterblich, ach! bin ich geblieben, und übergroß ist mir dein Lieben. Wenn stets ein Gott genießen kann, bin ich dem Wechsel untertan; nicht Lust allein liegt mir am Herzen, aus Freuden sehn'ich mich nach Schmerzen. Aus deinem Reiche muß ich fliehn - O Königin, Göttin! Laß mich ziehn! [Sic] TANNHÄUSER (Auf das Äußerste hingerissen greift mit trunkener gebärde in die Harfe) Stets soll nur dir, nur dir mein Lied ertönen! Gesungen laut sei nur dein Preis von mir! Dein süßer Reiz ist Quelle alles Schönen, und jedes holde Wunder stammt von dir. Die Glut, die du mir in das Herz gegossen, als Flamme lodre hell sie dir allein! Ja, gegen alle Welt will unverdrossen fortan ich nun dein kühner Streiter sein. Doch hin muß ich zur Welt der Erden, bei dir kann ich nur Sklave werden; nach Freiheit doch verlangt es mich, nach Freiheit, Freiheit dürste ich; zu Kampf und Streite will ich stehn, sei's auch auf Tod und Untergehn: Drum muß aus deinem Reich ich fliehn O Königin, Göttin! Laß mich ziehn!
@EdmundStAustell Thank you don Edmund, it is a great honor to receive your materials...they really inspire me a lot!!!. In behalf of my videos they where posted with theintention of sharing some of my early materials (I found them while doing a "deep house cleaning",ha,ha,ha). Thank you again...Viva EdmundStAustell channel!!!!
@tenorschofield Thank you very much, my friend. You are exactly right! And you chose the perfect words, "trumpet ring, " or, as some would have it, "stentorian sound." Which of course is the same thing:-) Thanks again, and please permit me to congratulate you on the videos of your singing that you have recently posted. I listen to them all, and remain impressed!
He is really without equal, and certainly far better than anything we are likely to hear today. I think only Max Lorenz's 1930 recording of this aria comes anywhere near this...
Thee was more to him than just the ringing magnificence of tone. He had unbearable tenderness at times, a soft side. Just listennto his plangent "Nun weiss du fragende Frau, warum ich Friedmund nicht heisse" at the end of his long aria in the first act of Walkyrie, There is such wist6ful tenderness in it you wouldn't associate with the golden trumpet that you usually think of when his name is mentioned, a complete artist slthough at times disainful of the fussy details in the score, a giant...
I will just add briefly that I do not take credit for discovering this poignant moment of Melchior's. I work in the field, and I first heard about it from Leontyne Price back in the 50s, since then have discovered that all the greats worship and are moved to tears by that phrase. Kiri, Placido, Beverly, Federica, to name just a few. Dr. Popper, who ran the opera workshopo at UCLA during my time there could usually be heard singing "Nun weiss du fragende Frau..." while scurrying down the halls
There is a sense of exaltation in Melchior's singing which stands him apart from all others. When I was a youngster, you couldn't get this on LP, only on 78s. And it was darned expensive! I still bought it, and now, with CD, you can get the whole performance., which, with inflation, costs no more than my old 78. Unmatched, and irreplaceable. There will never be another Melchior.
Bravo, he was great !!! a real example and model for all heldentenors to come!!! His trumet ring sound as well as his heroic athletic emision, where perfect for Wagner repertoire,Bravooo!!!
Wagners Text:
TANNHÄUSER
(zu einem plötzlichen Entschluß
ermannt, ergrifft seine Harfe und
stellt sich feierlich vor Venus hin)
Dir töne Lob!
Die Wunder sei'n gepriesen,
die deine Macht
mir Glücklichem erschuf!
Die Wonnen süß,
die deiner Huld entspriesen,
erheb mein Lied in lautem Jubelruf!
Nach Freude, ach!
nach herrlichem Genießen
verlangt' mein Herz,
es dürstete mein Sinn:
da, was nur Göttern einstens
du erwiesen,
gab deine Gunst mir Sterblichem dahin.
Doch sterblich, ach! bin ich geblieben,
und übergroß ist mir dein Lieben.
Wenn stets ein Gott genießen kann,
bin ich dem Wechsel untertan;
nicht Lust allein liegt mir am Herzen,
aus Freuden sehn'ich
mich nach Schmerzen.
Aus deinem Reiche muß ich fliehn -
O Königin, Göttin! Laß mich ziehn!
[Sic]
TANNHÄUSER
(Auf das Äußerste hingerissen greift
mit trunkener gebärde in die Harfe)
Stets soll nur dir,
nur dir mein Lied ertönen!
Gesungen laut sei nur
dein Preis von mir!
Dein süßer Reiz ist Quelle alles Schönen,
und jedes holde Wunder stammt von dir.
Die Glut,
die du mir in das Herz gegossen,
als Flamme lodre hell sie dir allein!
Ja, gegen alle Welt will unverdrossen
fortan ich nun dein kühner Streiter sein.
Doch hin muß ich zur Welt der Erden,
bei dir kann ich nur Sklave werden;
nach Freiheit doch verlangt es mich,
nach Freiheit, Freiheit dürste ich;
zu Kampf und Streite will ich stehn,
sei's auch auf Tod und Untergehn:
Drum muß aus deinem Reich ich fliehn
O Königin, Göttin! Laß mich ziehn!
Thank you very much for the additional comment: much appreciated!
Magnificent
Very well spoken! I absolutely agree with you!
Bravo bravo bravo fantastic grandiose genial music and vocal
Honestly, what more can be said !? Thanks to Edmund for another wonderful performance, and to Nate for sending my way. Best. Doug -
Fascinating comment; thank you!
@UncleNathan Good comment. Thank you very much.
@EdmundStAustell Thank you don Edmund, it is a great honor to receive your materials...they really inspire me a lot!!!. In behalf of my videos they where posted with theintention of sharing some of my early materials (I found them while doing a "deep house cleaning",ha,ha,ha). Thank you again...Viva EdmundStAustell channel!!!!
@tenorschofield Thank you very much, my friend. You are exactly right! And you chose the perfect words, "trumpet ring, " or, as some would have it, "stentorian sound." Which of course is the same thing:-) Thanks again, and please permit me to congratulate you on the videos of your singing that you have recently posted. I listen to them all, and remain impressed!
He is really without equal, and certainly far better than anything we are likely to hear today. I think only Max Lorenz's 1930 recording of this aria comes anywhere near this...
Thee was more to him than just the ringing magnificence of tone. He had unbearable tenderness at times, a soft side. Just listennto his plangent "Nun weiss du fragende Frau, warum ich Friedmund nicht heisse" at the end of his long aria in the first act of Walkyrie, There is such wist6ful tenderness in it you wouldn't associate with the golden trumpet that you usually think of when his name is mentioned, a complete artist slthough at times disainful of the fussy details in the score, a giant...
Mancava il 51mo mi piace. :)
I will just add briefly that I do not take credit for discovering this poignant moment of Melchior's. I work in the field, and I first heard about it from Leontyne Price back in the 50s, since then have discovered that all the greats worship and are moved to tears by that phrase. Kiri, Placido, Beverly, Federica, to name just a few. Dr. Popper, who ran the opera workshopo at UCLA during my time there could usually be heard singing "Nun weiss du fragende Frau..." while scurrying down the halls