Birgit Nilsson sings "Starke Scheite" from Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Georg Solti, conductor ROH, 1963
The most perfect the most ecstatic the most beautuful the most sensual. Her love for siegfried nearly blows the roof off valhalla let alone it being destroyed by flames. And sang by the greatest of all time.
Everywhere I read the same thing: "Huge voice", "immense volume" and all that kind. On the one hand, I agree: the voice is powerful, impressive. However, I would not extol him over other no less outstanding Wagnerian soprano. Birgit Nilsson's voice is incomparable upstairs. Its upper register has no equal, but in general it can hardly be compared with giants such as, say, Astrid Varnay, Kirsten Flagstad, Helen Traubel or Ellin Farell. Birgit has a very mediocre middle and lower notes. Moreover, sometimes it seems that her voice sounds somehow narrow and stifled. But Astrid Varnay middle and lower registers are just a volcano of power and volume - here it has no equal.
Absolutely, well 'said'. Nilsson's vocal strength and stamina were in the top FFF passages. Compared to the other ladies (not forgetting Gertrud GROB-P.), Birgit's middle and lower notes weren't as hefty as they could have been ... Varnay was out of this Planet!
In excellent voice but confusingly veers from severe to loving that is not in synch with what she is singing about. The last section lacks intensity and conviction and is a bit edgy.
