Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962) was one of the preeminent Wagnerian Sopranos in the 20th century, yet she really didn't sing heavy, Wagnerian roles until she was in her 40s. In pre-war...
Read MoreGermaine Lubin (February 1, 1890 to October 27, 1979) was probably the greatest dramatic soprano produced by France. She is problematic, as were many during World War II in that...
Read MoreEileen Farrell was a great American high dramatic soprano, and, at the same time, she was also a jazz singer. I will write this again. She used no swallowing muscles, ...
Read MoreToday, I want to talk about German opera, specifically Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss. I am going to reveal my terrible prejudice now - I think that the best...
Read MoreVerdi wrote two high dramatic soprano roles: Abigaille in Nabucco, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. These roles are close to impossible, which is why these works are seldom heard. However,...
Read MoreThis clip is 15 minutes long. It is the Immolation scene from Götterdämerung. I won't put anything else in this post because this performance is enough. It is the culmination...
Read MoreRose Pauly was one of the great high dramatic sopranos. The file below is from Richard Strauss's Die Ägyptische Helena, which never entered the standard repertoire. Part of the reason...
Read MoreFrida Leider was one of the greatest sopranos who ever lived. She sang a heavy repertoire, although later when she was older, she learned to bring her voice down enough...
Read MoreMild und Leise Grob-Prandl This woman had one of the largest voices in recorded history, hence the High Dramatic Soprano moniker. She was Viennese, and it was reported that when...
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