"Als junger Liebe Lust mir verblich" from Die Walküre by Richard Wagner (1813-1883) George London (Wotan) Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde) London Symphony Orchestra Erich Leinsdorf, conductor London IX. 1961
....one the unique voices of history. They appear, they shine like gold from other spheres. The moment they disappear, we are aware they will never reappear again. This does not diminish great colleagues however never put them onto the same level.
I had the privilege of seeing George London in his prime at the old Met in Siegfried, Flying Dutchman, and Menotti's The Last Savage. I also saw/heard him there in Walkure at the beginning of his heart breaking vocal decline--we just thought he was having a terrible night. There truly was no one like him for a "brief shining moment."