Listening to Kathleen Ferrier soothes my soul. Listening to her sing this aria is akin to a religious experience for me. What a beautiful voice, what expressiveness, what passion, what musicianship. How I wish she'd had a longer time among us. May she rest in peace.
Сейчас редко кто так поет, ровнейший во всех регистрах звук, великолепное исполнение, сплошное восхищение от каждой ноты, чем больше её слушаешь, тем больше утверждаешься в мысли, - такого голоса, такого великолепия, как КЕТЛИН ФЕРЬЕР никогда не было и вряд ли появится в наш самодовольный век, голос редчайшей красоты.
A voice that halts you in your tracks and transports you to another place of such beauty and peace. My late mother introduced me to Kathleen Ferrier as a child in London and I now often listen to her outstanding interpretations from South Africa. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.'
I was lucky enough to hear Kathleen Ferrier three times live in the 1950s. This left an indelible mark on my soul. There has not been another voice like this since and probably never will be. It pours forth like double whipped cream! her interpretation, drama and delivery are perfect [never mind the orchestra]. Yes Dame Janet Baker had a beautiful voice [I heard her too fortunately] but perhaps the closes to Ferrier for perfection was the Hungarian contralto, Julia Hamari. Compare the two. Kathleen's voice is instantly recognisable. Each time I hear it I get shivers down my spine.
+Patrick Matthiesen Oh! lucky you. Given the chance to travel back and experience one singer live she would be the one. There are many contenders and I do not even truly like much of her material. However that incredible voice grabbed me as a very young child and has never lost it's grip. Pure magic
The very first time I heard "Che faro senza Euridice" was sung by Kathleen Ferrier (record), and I was deeply impressed by the quality/timbre of her voice. Later I grew to love Gluck's music. Though many great singers have sung this aria, somehow, I still find Ferrier touches my heart most.
This live radio broadcast of Kath in Orfeo ed Euridice LIVE ON OPERA STAGE in Amsterdam lay in the vaults of Netherlands Radio for decades gathering dust and completely lost. Mr Klaus Postuma the Producer of the original Amsterdam opera broadcast hadn't forgotten and eventually found it and immediately 'phoned Kath's sister Winifred in London with the good news. Mr Postuma flew to London and he and Winifred listened to the tapes. Winifred was astounded,describing the recording as if Kath was there on stage in front of her. No other recording exists of Kath singing the COMPLETE opera live. This is a treasure for all Ferrier admirers and beyond. As good as it gets---100%. Mr Postuma's perseverence has given us one of Kath's finest recordings.
A miracle ! Kathleen Ferrier touches the heart and soul with musicality, intelligence, sensibility and her sublime among sublimes voices. Tensions, layers of infinite subtleties with no mannerism, she is UNIQUE.Thank you for posting this live representation !
La version de référence... avec Kathleen Ferrier, la divine avec sa voix si troublante par sa profondeur, tant humaine et en même temps, si proche... des anges !
Que maravilla escuchar esta aria por una verdadera contralto y una gran cantante. Dame Janet lo cantaba muy bien pero no llegaba a la excelencia de la Ferrier. Realmente es algo que ya no existe, ni creo que vuelva a existir... queda en nuestros oídos y en nuestro corazón
È vero, era semplicemente unica, quel suo timbro e il suo particolare vibrato fa davvero piangere...Un angelo che è volato via troppo presto. Cara, cara Ferrier
The best I have EVER heard and I have heard most Contralto's. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and i cannot remember that happening before, with the possible exception of Caruso and Callas in her prime.
This shows what a dramatic singer - within a classical style - that Kathleen Ferrier had become. To fine that tone down to a thread and then expand it maintaining all quality. She is so deeply in character and moving. I agree that a couple of the vowels might not please all Italian listeners, but that is a small price to pay for such a remarkable piece of singing and theatre. If anything it reflects the fact that for much of her career she sang in English , especially during WW2. She had left school by the age of 14 with no language study apart from a smattering of French. She was exceptionally intelligent and musical, but as was customary at the time any money the family had was to be directing towards educating her brother - the son of the family. When she started to find her voice she had to work on style , interpretation and languages. Within 12 years she was at the top of her profession. If she fell short on a couple of vowels when singing Italian here so what! Her achievement was very great and I believe she was at the height of her powers when she died.
Tenortalker I've always thought it was a great pity she never had thee opportunity to sing this in Milan, Venice or Naples! The audience would have forgiven her vowels and taken her to their hearts.
i cried at the sheer beuuty of her voice and her aristry when i first hear this she died too early wihtout enough recording s to properly reflect what the world lost
"Der Tag ist schoen" -- that phrase alone in the Farrier Kindertotenlieder summons up the words in Keats's "Ode to Melancholy: "dwells in beauty, beauty that must die".
Sono scoppiata in lacrime dopo la prima Che farò. Sono senza parole e mi sto chiedendo come mai non ho mai sentito questa versione di Che Farò Senza Euridice prima.
Это контральто я слушала ещё на виниловой пластинке, когда не было интернета, и я училась в муз. колледже. Первый низкий женский голос, из зарубежных певиц, с которым я тогда познакомилась. Голос поразил своей мягкостью, там ещё звучали английские песни. Спасибо, за приятные воспоминания.
Für mich die beste Interpretation dieser Arie. Wunderbare Stimme, Gänsehaut ❤ Nan Merimman war auch wunderbar,Emmi Leisner auch,dennoch Kathleen ist hier wohl überreicht
So WHY do I still prefer the screeching of Callas and the plodding perfection of Baker? (Though Ferrier is so much more measured than, say, Damrau) Hmmmm...I still love all three, Callas, Ferrier and Baker and am so LUCKY to be able to hear all three AND compare them!!!!
+Guy Osborn There are a lot more high overtones in the voices of Baker and Callas, so you may be just hooked on that bright sound. It's like a violin or a viola; you can't get both in one instrument.
5:06 legend, legend, legend .............. Ferrier pushing the art of singing to its upper limits but , of course, this is no more singing, even no more music, this is part of other worlds
5:06 is here some possible hope in humanity, or the certitude of pain and despair ? Ferrier at the very end of the universe. Going further doensn't exist.
Listening to Kathleen and Callas they are two different interpreations. I prefer Kathleen, get goose gumps. And of course Dame Jane Baker. Sutherland technically great but difficult to get emotionally involved. I am an Italian speaker and vowels are not perfect, but a small price to pay.
Tá an ceol seo go h-álainn ar fad. Is fearr liom í ag amhránaíocht an amrán seo,tá mo chroí eirí in áirde tar éis í a cloisint. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Well, the recitativo part was dull (but most singers cannot handle the recitativi) but the aria was great in insight and expression with some weird changes of intensity. The tempo chosen by the conductor lacked in urgency so that Kathleen Ferrier could not give the aria the whole dramatic intensity she certainly intended to give.....But as a whole it is a wonderful performance....
+nofactzone I suspect that some of the leaden sound of the orchestra is the recording technology of the day, especially far from the microphone, as orchestral players are. We are lucky to have anything of her from 65 years ago.
