ellandelachapelle (September 26, 2008 at 11:26 am)

She doesn't seem to use full voice? Well, if you're driving a Formula 1 racing car, you'd better have FULL CONTROL. So as not to crash! (full control doesn't mean less power. The opposite is true!) It amazes me that they could applaud. I myself was IN SHOCK. (a pleasurable one.)

ellandelachapelle (September 26, 2008 at 11:18 am)

This woman had an EXCEPTIONALLY physically strong disposition. When she was young (in the beginning of her career) she contracted tuberculosis. And then she did the OPPOSITE to what everyone else would have done: she continued to sing! She actually SANG HERSELF WELL! In Sweden (our common native country) she was very popular. As a witty television personality! (most of the viewers had never heard her SING.) "Listen! Birgit Nilsson is telling funny stories again!" (not all of them "decent"...)

greve (August 23, 2008 at 11:36 pm)

I totally agree with you! Magical beyond words!

Telramund (August 20, 2008 at 10:14 am)

It took me many years to warm to her steely voice, but after much listening I must admit that she is the best Isolde ever in my view. Just look at this: she's been singing for a solid four hours and she pulls this off as if she'd just walked on stage... and if this doesn't convince you, turn to Bohm's 66-67 Ring cycle recorded at Bayreuth: her immolation scene in Gotterdammerung is unsurpassed.Bad recording perhaps but a magical evening, clearly.

mxl2003 (June 10, 2008 at 2:13 am)

Listen to a different rendition, even from this time period. This DVD is notorious for its subpar sound quality. It's as you say, the *whole* piece, orchestra included...making it obvious that the "pancake-flatness" has nothing to do with "this woman."

AnatoleBelge (May 22, 2008 at 9:45 am)

Karl Boehm, I think (conducting).

birgitnilsson (May 5, 2008 at 2:04 pm)

A brilliant, steely and llimit,leff voice.Also capable of incredible pianissimi and beautiful nuances.Thanks for posting.

Matt54e (April 10, 2008 at 9:04 pm)

my god, she doesn't even sound like she's using full vocal resources. An astonishingly huge voice. She did have tuning problems ocasionally, but i can't hear them on this clip (who conducted, very beautiful). But other dramatic sopranos had similar issues (e.g. the lovely Varnay) so I wouldn't hold it against her.

aircat29 (April 1, 2008 at 10:27 pm)

es de lo mas maravilloso que escuchè jamas!

venise1946 (March 27, 2008 at 4:12 pm)

Sound? It is on oppen air!