She was treated with such cruelty after WW2. One of the greatest artistes ever - she deserved much better, but her memory has far outlasted those who accused her. Kirsten Flagstad triumphed over her foes.
Flagstad's voice was a vocal wonder of the world. How fortunate that so many of her recordings have been digitally remastered and given a "new sonic life". Her only real successor was Birgit Nilsson. Together, the two of them constitute the greatest Wagnerian singing of the Twentieth Century.
@@meltzerboy That’s something very different. Impossible to know whether she had a predecessor. Easy to ascertain that she was not Flagstad’s successor.
There does exist another English-language interview with Flagstad. At the Eastman School of Music is a recording, on several vinyl discs, of a radio broadcast of Die Valkure, which includes an intermission interview with Flagstad. Actually, she does all of the talking, and it is in English,. This recording of the opera now exists on RUclips, but it does not include the interview.
karlakor There is also a radio broadcast in 1937 where she sang "Silent Night." Before the carol, she speaks to her American friends. I think that it is still available.
An absolutely fascinating programme about the great Flagstad, including her recorded advice to aspiring Wagnerian singers. A big thankyou for this important historical upload. This broadcast is going straight into My Favourites.
Years ago, I found a recording in New York which had a live performance of The Wesendonk Leider from a live performance given in Norway in 1951. It had some additional speaking by Flagstad than what is here, I think. The Wesendonk Leider was a disappointment. Obviously, whoever was in charge of the taperecorder didn't have any idea how to set the microphones to a suitable level for that huge voice. The BBC did a tribute to Flagstad December 7, 1972, ten years after her passing. In that program, there are additional portions where Flagstad speaks in English. She started with a very small voice of good quality, sang very correctly and the voice grew and GREW!!! There will never be such a great Wagnerian Soprano again. She did ONLY exercises with her first teacher for two years, did repertoire concurrently by herself, and young voice students don't study that way anymore. They try bigger songs and arias too soon!
Thank you for this wonderful program. Strange that Culshaw doesn't mention that her first complete opera recording for Decca was Gluck's Alceste. Cheers.
Flagstad disliked her family name being pronounced à la Germanic, that is as “Flagstadt”, as we hear it here in the first sentence of this otherwise commendable, nay precious, documentary. Many thanks. 👏👏👏
John Culshaw is a little off on a few dates, according to his book "Ring Resounding." He actually met Flagstad in March of 1956, when she recorded some songs of Schubert and Schumann. Negotiations with Decca/London Records started in late 1955. Her last commercial recording was in London the first week of 1959. It was the "Songs From Norway" album.
Wagnerian operas and singers leave me completely cold, and this hasn’t helped. In the supposedly wonderful Furtwängler recording, I think she sounds horrible, and her highest notes last a millisecond, just awful.
What a delight! Back to an era of excellence, high culture and Light. 🕯
as a non-English speaker, her English is incredible.
Somehow I alway think of the fjords and mountains of Norway when I hear her singing. She had almost an echo in her voice that was unique.
Wonderful wonderful wonderful, thank you for sharing this !
Gorgeous, gorgeous voice. What a singer!
Tears at the end. Can we ever pay enough tribute, homage to this marvellous singer & human being?
mckavitt13. A lovely comment
No! There was Flagstad and then there was (and is) everyone else!
@@lochness11 Thank you, my friend.
She was treated with such cruelty after WW2. One of the greatest artistes ever - she deserved much better, but her memory has far outlasted those who accused her. Kirsten Flagstad triumphed over her foes.
Flagstad's voice was a vocal wonder of the world. How fortunate that so many of her recordings have been digitally remastered and given a "new sonic life". Her only real successor was Birgit Nilsson. Together, the two of them constitute the greatest Wagnerian singing of the Twentieth Century.
@Nicholas Ennos What a completely rude and stupid comment by someone who apparently knows and cares nothing about opera
Nilsson was not her successor. Flagstad had no successor.
@@direfranchement Some would say Nilsson had no predecessor.
@@meltzerboy That’s something very different. Impossible to know whether she had a predecessor. Easy to ascertain that she was not Flagstad’s successor.
Successor, yes, but not quite her equal in roles they shared.
That was amazing to listen to. The ending definitely made me sad.
Rosannasfriend Almost all endings, even happy ones, make one sad... by their nature, definition perhaps.
The greatest of all...
Yes. She is.
Oh the Sibelius. Glorious.
A basket of thanks for posting this
The late John Culshaw was one of the most gifted recording producers of all time.
And might have contributed to Jussi Björling's death.
There does exist another English-language interview with Flagstad. At the Eastman School of Music is a recording, on several vinyl discs, of a radio broadcast of Die Valkure, which includes an intermission interview with Flagstad. Actually, she does all of the talking, and it is in English,. This recording of the opera now exists on RUclips, but it does not include the interview.
karlakor There is also a radio broadcast in 1937 where she sang "Silent Night." Before the carol, she speaks to her American friends. I think that it is still available.
karlakor A shame.
An absolutely fascinating programme about the great Flagstad, including her recorded advice to aspiring Wagnerian singers. A big thankyou for this important historical upload. This broadcast is going straight into My Favourites.
Unbelievable voice unbelievable singer. This sound is only possible by the human instrument trained perfectly! Love it!
Years ago, I found a recording in New York which had a live performance of The Wesendonk Leider from a live performance given in Norway in 1951. It had some additional speaking by Flagstad than what is here, I think. The Wesendonk Leider was a disappointment. Obviously, whoever was in charge of the taperecorder didn't have any idea how to set the microphones to a suitable level for that huge voice. The BBC did a tribute to Flagstad December 7, 1972, ten years after her passing. In that program, there are additional portions where Flagstad speaks in English. She started with a very small voice of good quality, sang very correctly and the voice grew and GREW!!! There will never be such a great Wagnerian Soprano again. She did ONLY exercises with her first teacher for two years, did repertoire concurrently by herself, and young voice students don't study that way anymore. They try bigger songs and arias too soon!
Thank you for this wonderful program. Strange that Culshaw doesn't mention that her first complete opera recording for Decca was Gluck's Alceste. Cheers.
Flagstad disliked her family name being pronounced à la Germanic, that is as “Flagstadt”, as we hear it here in the first sentence of this otherwise commendable, nay precious, documentary. Many thanks. 👏👏👏
FLAGSTAD was the GREATEST WAGNERIAN SOPRANO
Absolutely!
John Culshaw is a little off on a few dates, according to his book "Ring Resounding." He actually met Flagstad in March of 1956, when she recorded some songs of Schubert and Schumann. Negotiations with Decca/London Records started in late 1955. Her last commercial recording was in London the first week of 1959. It was the "Songs From Norway" album.
She had actually retired on December 12, 1953 which was forty years to the day of her debut.
22:08 siegmund sieh auf mich
There is a longer version of this recording of Flagstad speaking, at: /watch?v=3PjMukkeG9s
❤️🇱🇨
I can’t fund any of her Greig recordings
There are quite a few on RUclips
search on youtube this video title ''''''Kirsten Flagstad: Haugtussa Op . 67 by Grieg'''''''
They have since long been completed. No need for further funding.
Would it be fair to say Flagstad was to Wagner as Callas and Tebaldi were to Belcanto
yes but the beauty of her voice is uncomparable.
Tebaldi did nothing to bel canto actually! Still a great voice.
She hated people pronouncing her surname as if it were German.
This is very poignant
Wagnerian operas and singers leave me completely cold, and this hasn’t helped. In the supposedly wonderful Furtwängler recording, I think she sounds horrible, and her highest notes last a millisecond, just awful.
You have know any knowledge at all!! And what you than anyway here and comment