I saw Jones in this role at the Met, several years after this performance. As often happened, she could vary night to night, but she was FANTASTIC in the Met performance. The public was truly stunned at the end, and it took a moment for people to collect themselves. And then the roaring ovations almost blew off the roof!
I've listened to a handful of Jones's live recordings of Elektra over the years, and they are always monumental. It's sort of strange because the vocal issues you allude to seem to have gone away whenever she performed this opera. The opera itself also does pack quite a punch. After I watched it the first time (without having done any homework), I was speechless for about half an hour.
You can hear here quite well the typical problems that Dame Gwyneth had. Intonation problems, lisping and the strong vibrato. At every live Elektra with her, I was always glad when the monologue was over, because only then did she begin to play to her strengths. You can see this well in the entire video, also available on youtube. Jones always flourished when she was on stage with strong partners. Then she was unstoppable and could sing anyone to the wall. With a volume that was unbelievable.
Yes, she often took some time to warm up. But once her voice was in the groove, it was like fireworks! I saw her onstage in so many roles, some mediocre, some extraordinary, but never boring.
Non importa se era stonata, il vibrato pesante e suoni alieni....lei non canta Elektra, la vive dal di dentro, scava in profondita'. A mio modesto avviso un'Artista da vedere piu' che sentire.....Una delle piu' grandi cantanti-attrici del secolo scorso
True, and yet in lyric roles like the Marschallin, she could sound just as beautiful as Fleming or Te Kanawa. And in her early days, her Verdi singing could rival anything by Tebaldi or Price or Caballe. A gorgeous instrument that she pushed too hard.
Rattus, thank you for the subtitles. I’ve watched the full performance so many times, and I have a basic grasp of German and French (subtitles). But I get a headache trying to hear German, read French, think in English! Do you have a video of the full opera with English subtitles?
