The Ultimate Brünnhilde and Isolde
… the Turandot all others are measured against ~ has left for Valhalla.
The voice was gigantic and had the ability to slice through even the cruelest, loudest orchestras. Nilsson was a good performer on stage, but it was her sound that made her: the thrill of that sound, which was like an expressive laser beam, was almost unbelievable. It has, fortunately, been well-captured on CD. Nilsson recorded Turandot twice commercially. In both recordings (one with tenor Franco Corelli, the other with Jussi Björling), her clarion tones, her imperiousness, and her sheer potency take one’s breath away. Just hearing her opening Battle Cry in Wagner’s Die Walküre (the second opera of the Ring cycle, in which Brünnhilde is first introduced) makes you want to hear it again just to make sure you’ve heard right. And the fact that Nilsson’s portrayal of the loving daughter of the King of the Gods, Wotan, is also at the same time defiant, loving, and tender makes one realize what a great artist she is. And her depiction of the Irish princess Isolde, complete with outrage and unmatchable nobility and humanity, is as fine as you’ll ever hear. What if she breaks a few glasses? All the more thrilling!
Wow. Lucky Odin.
Auf Wiedersehn.
Life | Mr. Bingley | 
January 11, 2006 7:42 pm
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The Seraphim have gained a wonderous new soprano. Rest in Peace.
That’s so true, Gunny. She had a voice of an angel. A very powerful angel. Absolutely breathtaking to listen to her.
Oh Bwunhilde
You’re so wuvvwy…
Yes, I know it,
I can’t hellllp it!
Sick little monkeys.