Jessye Norman sings Wagner

I don't really feel it matters what's played when I've ceased to exist but Rachmaninov's 2nd. Symphony {3rd. vovement especially} would be it. I still feel I should be writing Sibelius 2 as this was the favourite of the love of my life. She saw it as her and I climbing a mountain together .The Liebestod was one of music's great creations along with the end of Gotterdammerung, Devorak's Rusalka, etc. There were several great operas from the late 19th. century obsessed with the love through death idea - Delius's Village Rome and Juliet comes to mind. In my heyday many thought I had a great future as a Chopin interpreter. That was between my being too repressed to remove my jacket in front of my girlfriend (age about 18.) After she left me it became very different. 60 years later she's still writing to my sister saying I'm the only person she ever loved, We were certainly matched in our insanity.

Camilla Nylund is a great present day Wagner/Strauss interpreter. I'll check qobuz to see if she has recorded this.
But Norman was one of a kind: such vocal and stylistic virtuosity and an incredible stage presence. She had to establish herself in Europe before being recognized in the US.

I never heard Norman in Wagner, but she was wonderful in a Verdi Requiem I heard in the late 1960s. The greatest Isolde I have heard live, only a few years ago, is Nina Stemme, conducted by Donald Runnicles in Berlin.

Unfortunately one of your respondents has apparently blocked me, or been blocked by me, so I can't read his or her comments!

Jessye - yep - quite a singer, - probably 3rd best on my list. I have met Joan from New Zealand - probably 2nd best on my list.

I don't know why, but I've never enjoyed the sound of vibrato. I know it's highly prized and appreciated in classical opera, but I've never really liked it. And that means I don't really enjoy most opera. Queen of the Night though, that's a fun piece!

Never was very fond of opera. Yet classical music I am.

Why? It gives too much opportunity to press religion in the very lyrics.

I'm more likely to have Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor played at mine. 😆

Do you know her performance of Strauss's Beim Schlafengehen from Four Last Songs? It's divine (I write as an atheist).

[media=https://youtu.be/Se0HPsJex04]

That would be a great way to go, Helen! 😄 The second half of this is very special, a wonderful piece of composition.

Nilsson, Flagsad, and Ludwig knock the spots off the rest.

Rachael Wilson is reaching Norman’s standard already.