I agree that her voice is more beautiful here than it was later in her career, but even with the wide vibrato she developed, she was a great and satisfying dramatic performer. She gave the audience everything she had. I got to see her perform live several times and I will never forget how completely absorbed she was in the roles she played and how powerful her voice and presence were.
...i'll just say that unfortunately i wasn't around to hear them live. that would have been a treat and a half to hear those two glorious voices live and in person. it kinda sucks because i wasn't able to hear any of the legendary voices who had their primes in the 1950s, 60s, 70s or 80s. there are some great voices out there now but the ones that truly inspire me are my 5 favorites: Tebaldi, Price, Sutherland, Callas and Nilsson. i love the larger sized soprano voice.
I'm a big fan of the later Gwyneth Jones - but this is very beautiful, it has to be said. You can still hear that fearless attack and a vibrancy that - well, let's say expanded later on!
Great! With other interpretations on youtube she hardly gets a mention when comparisons are made but this is comfortably better than by several more acclaimed names.
Fantastic rendition. If Jones had continued down this path, she could've been one of the legendary Verdi sopranos. Of course, she chose Wagner and Strauss instead, gave some immortal performances, but paid a price for the toll it took on her voice,
Lyrics; Pace, pace, mio Dio! Cruda sventura M'astringe, ahimè, a languir; Come il di primo Da tant'anni dura Profondo il mio soffrir. L'amai, gli è ver! Ma di beltà e valore Cotanto Iddio l'ornò. Che l'amo ancor. Nè togliermi dal core L'immagin sua saprò. Fatalità! Fatalità! Fatalità! Un delitto disgiunti n'ha quaggiù! Alvaro, io t'amo. E su nel cielo è scritto: Non ti vedrò mai più! Oh Dio, Dio, fa ch'io muoia; Che la calma può darmi morte sol. Invan la pace qui sperò quest'alma In preda a tanto duol. Misero pane, a prolungarmi vieni La sconsolata vita . . . Ma chi giunge? Chi profanare ardisce il sacro loco? Maledizione! Maledizione! Maledizione
aww...i haven't heard any of those divas. i so totally agree with you in regards to coloraturas! i prefer the coloratura to have dramatic meaning when it's done and i love it when sung by a larger/darker voice. that's one of the reasons why i so love Sutherland. Callas' bel canto and coloratura singing moved me by her intent and emotional reasoning as where Sutherland's voice in and of itself was overwhelmingly impressive.
She is AWESOME in this aria! Was that before or after her 1964 Covent Garden debut as another Leonora (Trovatore) with Prevedi, Glossop and Simionato? She was great there, too!
well there are some that considered Birgit Nilsson to be a spinto... i said that to say that we can't always go by what a few people think when the masses know better. to your point though, it's interesting to hear spintos such as Tebaldi and Leontyne Price who have resonant, voluminous voices consider themselves to be lyrics. i'm not saying that Tebaldi was a dramatic soprano or that she had a voice the size of Jones, but she was definitely a lirico-spinto with more emphasis on the spinto.
Me too.. I have also heard Arroyo (marvelous in trovatore) and Sills(Faust... medium size voice but lovely and lyrical.. and. Moffo ( also Faust).. in spite of the fact i am not nuts about Faust.. I like the bigger voices and I hate chirpy coloraturas.
Valid comments. Ihave heard both women live.. Price in the early 70'ds( three times) ( in her prime)...a nice sized voice, but not huge and very lyrical, with a dark color. Tebaldi (late 60's Gioconda... and it was a loud, voice flat above F. I much preferred Price's sound. Much prettier and in tune. I am not sure what I would claissify Tebaldi from my live experience.. perhaps a mezzo. she sounded good from F to F(at the top of the staff) and horrible above it.
Before 1955 Callas' voice was a lot bigger than Gwyneth's voice, other bigger voices than this one also include Birgit Nilsson, Joan Sutherland, and Edda Moser.
what a childish comment. It's from the same period when you claimed Mariah Carey had heavier voice than Wihitney Houston and Edda Moser had heavier voice than Leontyne Price.
