What a magnificent, magnificent voice; such a deep and rich sound, and every word clear as diamond. I would guess Nilsson’s column of sound-recorded with far superior technology-would give us a good idea about Destinn’s impact in person. I imagine her sound riding upon the oceanic orchestration of Wagner, Strauss, and others, in one sense conquering even the largest orchestras, yet in another, not dominating the music but rather fulfilling its uttermost potential with her imperatorial sound.
Destinn always impresses me even when I know she was the greatest. She reminds me of Alssandro Moreschi, somehow they sound quite similar, they were both great singer. 😊
Emmy Destinn is, by far, my favorite soprano of all. That being said, it is too bad that recording technology was still in its infant stage. Her voice still sounds so beautiful, but we are missing so much of her natural vocal fidelity and fullness. The second recording was certainly better, but we are still missing so much. The result is that most people and young singers today do not appreciate the greatness of her voice because they are comparing these primitive recordings with modern recordings that, in so many cases, sound better than they really are due to technologically enhancing the sound.
Legato, firm tone, well supported (yuck--jargon). Totally even colour throughout. I suspect this voice was loud in the flesh. I’ve listened through several times now and I love her. Thanks for posting.
And the records don’t even do her justice. Vocally and technically, by which I mean the material coordination, Destinn was the greatest dramatic soprano of her time. Search RU-vid for her “D’amor sull’ali.” Or the Pamina aria. Or her Aida duet with Kirkby-Lunn (who was equally great)!
+ Ave María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum; Benedícta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus. Sáncta María, Sáncta María, María, óra pro nóbis, nóbis peccatóribus, nunc, et in hóra, in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Amen, Amen. (Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach/Charles-François Gounod) (Soprano: Emmy Destinn, 26 February 1878 - 28 January 1930) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Destinn en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_(Bach/Gounod) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary translate.google.com * * * Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedícta tu in muliéribus et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. * * * Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. * * * Je vous salue, Marie pleine de grâces; le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes Et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles, est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs, maintenant et à l'heure de notre mort. Amen. * * * Ave Maria, piena di grazia, il Signore è con te. Tu sei benedetta fra le donne e benedetto è il frutto del tuo seno, Gesù. Santa Maria, Madre di Dio, prega per noi peccatori, adesso e nell'ora della nostra morte. Amen. * * * Dios te salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen. * * * 성총을 가득히 입으신 마리아여, 네게 하례하나이다. 주 너와 한가지로 계시니, 여인 중에 너 총복을 받으시며, 네 복중에 나신 예수 또한 총복을 받아 계시도소이다. 천주의 성모 마리아는 이제와 우리 죽을 때에 우리 죄인을 위하여 빌으소서. 아멘. * * * Ave Maria, cheia de graça, o Senhor é convosco. Bendita sois vós entre as mulheres; e bendito é o fruto do vosso ventre, Jesus. Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus, rogai por nós, pecadores, agora e na hora da nossa morte. Amém. * * * 萬福馬利亞，滿備聖寵者， 主與爾皆焉，女中爾爲讚美， 爾胎子耶穌，並爲讚美。 天主聖母馬利亞，爲我等罪人， 今祈天主，及我等死候。亞孟。 * * * Zdrowaś Maryjo, łaski pełna, Pan z Tobą. Błogosławiona jesteś między niewiastami i błogosławiony owoc żywota Twojego, Jezus. Święta Maryjo, Matko Boża, módl się za nami grzesznymi, teraz i w godzinę śmierci naszej. Amen. * * * アヴェ、マリア、恵みに満ちた方、 主はあなたとともにおられます。 あなたは女のうちで祝福され、 ご胎内の御子イエスも祝福されています。 神の母聖マリア、 わたしたち罪びとのために、 今も、死を迎える時も、お祈りください。アーメン。 * * * Üdvözlégy Mária, kegyelemmel teljes, az Úr van teveled, áldott vagy te az asszonyok között, és áldott a te méhednek gyümölcse, Jézus. Asszonyunk, Szűz Mária, Istennek szent Anyja, imádkozzál érettünk, bűnösökért, most és halálunk óráján. Ámen. * * * Радуйся, Мария, благодати полная! Господь с Тобою; благословенна Ты между женами, и благословен плод чрева Твоего Иисус. Святая Мария, Матерь Божия, молись о нас, грешных, ныне и в час смерти нашей. Аминь. * * * Gegrüßet seist du, Maria, voll der Gnade, der Herr ist mit dir. Du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen, und gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus. Heilige Maria, Mutter Gottes, bitte für uns Sünder jetzt und in der Stunde unseres Todes. Amen. wikisource.org/wiki/Hail_Mary#Latin
![Emmy Destinn - Ave Maria [Bach/Gounod] - 1909 & 1911](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
