Yes, I heard her Gilda live at the Met about 6 years ago. What great restraint and control in the upper registers! It was amazing to me how she had such a full bodied tone, but it still sounded innocent and feminine as Gilda should.
Thank you for posting this recording. I used to enjoy her "Qui la voce" here, it disappeard. What happened? Miss Swenson's bel canto singing is the best, absolutely.
Ruth Ann Swenson was one of the most popular sopranos for many years with the San Francisco Opera. She later went to the Met where she was treated shabbily.
@@sutherland9 Apparently he wanted female singers who also looked like movie stars. Ms. Swenson had put on some weight, and she had some health issues. He treated her badly.
Well, she had a long bout with fighting cancer and it seems that shortened her career and by the time she was strong enough to go back to singing I think she realized she was getting past her prime and decided to focus on teaching. That last part is just a guess but she does still teach so I assume that’s what happened but who is to say? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Very nice, effortless delivery, breath control and deft touch. A very lovely sound, with sweetness in the timbre. Nice high notes, without edge or shrillness. Lyric voices like these are too rare, and, unfortunately, easily strained by too many performances or singing the wrong repertory. Better to drop the notes above the C at the first sign of wear.
