I don't think that any soprano ever had the ability to float those pianissimos that Milanov had. Her voice overall had a very distinctive Slavic quality to it (which some people couldn't get used to), and she could be erratic, but on those evenings when her voice was "on" and "spinning", she was incomparable. I'm too young to have heard her "live" but her RCA recordings and many of her Met broadcasts (which I have preserved) reveal the splendid truth. She was Met's leading Aida, Gioconda, Amelia, Leonora (in Trovatore and Forza del Destino), Santuzza, Madelena in "Chenier" for more than twenty years. And rightfully so. Still love her.
Montsy, of course, but don't forget that Callas, in Sonnambula for example, was able to sing a diminuendo>pianissimo on a Eb ! And through the long history of great singers, many others controlled marvelously the pianissimi: Emma calvé, Rosa Ponselle... Tebaldi (in her good days), Leontyne Price, Margaret Price, Régine Crespin, Felicity Lott, Lucia Popp, Edita Gruberova, Natalie Dessay... and nowadays Sabine Devieilhe and many others.
After CALLAS my Dad loved Zinka Milanov. He had all her recordings. Now I'm beginning to understand why he refered to Tebaldi as TERRIBLE TEBALDI. My Dad passed away 8 years ago his name is Daniel. I miss you terribly Daddy 💛🌹 TY SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT POST. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
I had two friends, who both heard the greatest singers of that era, who heard Milanov live on several occasions. One, a soprano and noted voice teacher, said that when she was "on" she was "thrilling"! The other, and avid opera buff for whom Milanov was the queen, said the voice was so beautiful it was like an angel from heaven.
The epitome of Bel Canto. See me now researching Verdi's: "Forces of Destiny" in French. So there was a Montserrat Caballé before Montserrat Caballé, eh?
Je suis sans doute peu objectif car sa voix est admirable en tous points .C'est absolument merveilleux à entendre ,et d'un tel confort acoustique .Mais elle était tellement méchante avec ses rivales et méprisante ,en particulier avec Callas ,que cela influence négativement mon jugement sur elle 😊
I think Caballe's high pianissimi left Milanov's in the dust. I don't think anyone, including Milanov, could produce the gossamer threads that Caballe could do at her best. To Milanov's credit, her high pianissimi never became a gimmick, the way they did with Caballe, especially later in her career.
Une voix admirable ,sans doute avec Caballé ,la plus belle du vingtième siècle .Mais une piètre interpréte car le don vocal ne suffit pas ,le travail compte davantage ,et le plus important est la musicalité ,les sens de la dramaturgie. Donc malgré toutes les qualités indéniables de madame Milanov ,elle n'est pas une légende ..
I don't think that any soprano ever had the ability to float those pianissimos that Milanov had. Her voice overall had a very distinctive Slavic quality to it (which some people couldn't get used to), and she could be erratic, but on those evenings when her voice was "on" and "spinning", she was incomparable. I'm too young to have heard her "live" but her RCA recordings and many of her Met broadcasts (which I have preserved) reveal the splendid truth. She was Met's leading Aida, Gioconda, Amelia, Leonora (in Trovatore and Forza del Destino), Santuzza, Madelena in "Chenier" for more than twenty years. And rightfully so. Still love her.
@Larry Mitchell Please do not forget Montserrat Caballé's legendary panissimi.
Aetion Absolutely!!!
Montsy, of course, but don't forget that Callas, in Sonnambula for example, was able to sing a diminuendo>pianissimo on a Eb ! And through the long history of great singers, many others controlled marvelously the pianissimi: Emma calvé, Rosa Ponselle... Tebaldi (in her good days), Leontyne Price, Margaret Price, Régine Crespin, Felicity Lott, Lucia Popp, Edita Gruberova, Natalie Dessay... and nowadays Sabine Devieilhe and many others.
Very well said, you read my mind! I agree 100%
Wish we had her today, when she was at her best it was sensational IMO.
Amazing. Her chest voice and pianissimo are impeccable. Her and Callas were my top favorites.
Every note is perfectly placed...always!
beautiful pianissimo. thank you
Yes, her panissimi, among others, are unforgettable.
Thank you for the post.
LOST ART of VOCAL PIANISSIMI
She was sensational!!!
After CALLAS my Dad loved Zinka Milanov. He had all her recordings. Now I'm beginning to understand why he refered to Tebaldi as TERRIBLE TEBALDI. My Dad passed away 8 years ago his name is Daniel. I miss you terribly Daddy 💛🌹 TY SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT POST. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
Terribaldi.... !!!!
Lohengrin Theo Indeed my friend. Arnold Bourbon Amaral
Your dad has good taste
Great Milanov. The best !
Heard her in the early 50's. No one could "then" or "now" would ever touch her. That sound was fanfukintastic.
I had two friends, who both heard the greatest singers of that era, who heard Milanov live on several occasions. One, a soprano and noted voice teacher, said that when she was "on" she was "thrilling"! The other, and avid opera buff for whom Milanov was the queen, said the voice was so beautiful it was like an angel from heaven.
That's simply bulshit.
Now I have one more fav singer! Sorry, I've never thoght you'd be that great, Mme. Milanov.
La ‘ competència ‘ de Caballè. Particularment, prefereixo la Caballé. Gràcies per compartir.
Hermosos!!!!! Pero más hermosos y sublimes son los de Caballé.
The epitome of Bel Canto. See me now researching Verdi's: "Forces of Destiny" in French. So there was a Montserrat Caballé before Montserrat Caballé, eh?
Je suis sans doute peu objectif car sa voix est admirable en tous points .C'est absolument merveilleux à entendre ,et d'un tel confort acoustique .Mais elle était tellement méchante avec ses rivales et méprisante ,en particulier avec Callas ,que cela influence négativement mon jugement sur elle 😊
I have never cared for Milanov but compared to the 'sopranos' of today.....pretty damn good!! Thank you 😚
Adding info from which arias are those fragments would be of huge help 🎀
Good pianissimo, but they didn't have the spiritual quality of Caballe's who will ever remain the queen of pianissimo.
jmiller05 totally agree.
Caballe my Diva
jmiller05 That goes with out saying my friend. LA Superba our Monse 😢
As much as I share love for Caballe's pianissimo, I wonder if it's technically correct singing. It sounds like a separate register.
ksionc100 I love Caballé but Zinka’s pppp’s were technically superior, probably harder to accomplish and just better.
I think Caballe's high pianissimi left Milanov's in the dust. I don't think anyone, including Milanov, could produce the gossamer threads that Caballe could do at her best. To Milanov's credit, her high pianissimi never became a gimmick, the way they did with Caballe, especially later in her career.
Une voix admirable ,sans doute avec Caballé ,la plus belle du vingtième siècle .Mais une piètre interpréte car le don vocal ne suffit pas ,le travail compte davantage ,et le plus important est la musicalité ,les sens de la dramaturgie.
Donc malgré toutes les qualités indéniables de madame Milanov ,elle n'est pas une légende ..