Julia Varady

[bhodges]

Right now I'm listening to Zemlinsky's Lyrische Symphonie, and basking in Julia Varady's gorgeous voice.  I realize I don't have many other recordings with her -- the only one I can recall is her role as Judith in Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle (coincidentally, also with Fischer-Dieskau, like this Zemlinsky). 

Any other recordings to recommend?  (Probably more late-Romantic or 20th-century music would be my first choice.)

--Bruce

[PerfectWagnerite]

How about in Strauss' Frau Ohne Schatten with Solti conducting?

[bhodges]

Oh, doh!  That's perfect, thanks.  I've seen that recording but don't have it.

--Bruce

[PerfectWagnerite]

You don't have that one? The most expensive opera recording in history?

[bhodges]

You don't have that one? The most expensive opera recording in history?

Actually I didn't know that budget factoid!  Very interesting...

But no, after I saw the Met's staging and wanted to get a recording, I got the Sawallisch because apparently it was one of the few that wasn't cut.  At the time, friends were saying the Solti was cut (which apparently his earlier recording was), but I think this one is complete.  Anyway, I gorged on the Sawallisch so much that I hadn't felt the need to get another, but of course we all grow and change and our ears are bigger than our stomachs and...

Do you recall if Solti made cuts in this one, or is it complete?  (There was a discussion about this on the old board, but for some reason I can't locate it.)

--Bruce

[PerfectWagnerite]

Actually I didn't know that budget factoid!  Very interesting...


Do you recall if Solti made cuts in this one, or is it complete?  (There was a discussion about this on the old board, but for some reason I can't locate it.)

--Bruce

Gramophone Good CD Guide says the the Solti recording "presents the score absolutely complete". I think you can take their word for it

[bhodges]

Gramophone Good CD Guide says the the Solti recording "presents the score absolutely complete". I think you can take their word for it

Oh great, then I'll nab it soon.  I adore the score, and as fantastic as the Met's production was (truly amazing) I would like to see another designer's take on it.

--Bruce

 

[PerfectWagnerite]

I don't have another Frau for comparison but the Solti sounds pretty damn good to me. The cast is impeccable with Domingo, Varady, Behrens, and Van Dam. You also get one of the great Strauss orchestras in the world, the Vienna Philharmonic.

[bhodges]

The Sawallisch is overall excellent -- I love his way with Strauss -- but the cast is probably not quite as strong as Solti's: Cheryl Studer, Hanna Schwarz, René Kollo and Marjana Lipovsek.



--Bruce

[knight66]

Bruce, Re Varady, she has several recitals on Orfeo. Two of Verdi heroines, a Strauss disc and a Wagner recital. All conducted by Fischer-Dieskau, her husband. I have an EMI bargain Wagner disc, (see below) and am keeping my eyes open for the others at a good price. Additionally on Orfeo, there is a disc of live performance extracts. It have been much praised, though I find the choping about unsettling and it sounds a bit random. However, she is well showcased in Mozart, Strauss, Wagner and Verdi.

It strikes me that for such a very well thought of singer, she seems to have recorded very little.

Here is what is available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_m_h_/026-5259094-8142841?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dclassical&field-keywords=varady

Mike

[Que]

Bruce, Re Varady, she has several recitals on Orfeo.

I can strongly recommend her Tchaikovsky lieder recital CD.
Completely unknown, but absolutely superb IMO.



Q

[bhodges]

Thanks, knight and Que, for those recommendations.  Coincidentally, yesterday I found the Orfeo Strauss CD for about $6 at Academy!  I haven't listened to the entire thing yet, but I did try out the final scene from Salome, and she sounds terrific in that. 

--Bruce

[Tsaraslondon]

She also recorded Arabella with Sawallisch conducting. I haven't heard the complete set, but I did hear the final scene on the radio once, and thought it absolutely glorious.

She is also the Donna Elvira on the DVD of Karajan's Salzburg Don Giovanni. I believe Baltsa, who sang it on the recording had fallen out with karajan by the time of the stage production (though they made up later).

[knight66]

Varady has been a name but not a reality to me, in that I read about her, but have very few recordings and I don't have an image of her voice in my head. I am always drawn to voices that are distinctive. I have ordered three of her recital discs, all conducted by Fischer Dieskau. Two have arrived, the Verdi recitals. They were recorded a year apart.

As I sink into the sound of her voice for a concentrated listen, I start to hear its individuality. It is quite a dark soprano voice, it has a vibrancy to it. It can be soft, not merely in volume but also in expression and she can sound like a tigress.

She has a sound technique and seems comfortable across a wide range or roles. That is a great strength here. The portraits are detailed and rounded and she has a highly individual way of moulding and phrasing the music. She catches the ear. Volume 1 starts with a fearless, but subtle interpretation of one of the showpieces from Nabucco. It is perhaps a bit too subtle in that the sheer sweep of the piece slightly disintegrates and that is down to the gear changes from the conductor. I did wonder if that was going to be his hallmark, but no, in most of the arias he gives superb support.

Also on that first disc we get two Trovatore arias, two Traviata pieces and a brace from Un Ballo, finally 'Pace, pace' from La Forza. In each she digs into the characters, we are not simply traversing the roles in a one size fits all approach.

Volume two is even finer. The pieces are longer and she really absorbs me in these longer scenes. Don Carlos, her singing reminds me of Caballe. Not able to float the sound quite as exquisitely, she nevertheless is vocalising beautifully, but with meaning. Her arias from Macbeth seem to me the best since Callas. Equal to Baltsa when she first recorded them for EMI. The conducting of the sleepwalking scene is especially fine. Aida is another complete success and then a moving scene from Otello, leasurely in timing, it nevertheless is focused and riveting.

I look forward to the Wagner and I have just ordered a Don Giovanni with her and Auger. I must have a look for the Strauss disc. She makes me thirsty for more and what better thing can I say.

Mike

[Lilas Pastia]

There are some good videos on you tube. She sings Strauss' Four Last Songs  with beautiful voice and great intelligence (Masur, Leipzig Gewandhaus orchester). A classy lady. Watch also for the Tabarro  excerpt with (appropriately) hubby D F-D as Michele. Sawallisch conducts.

[bhodges]

There are some good videos on you tube. She sings Strauss' Four Last Songs  with beautiful voice and great intelligence (Masur, Leipzig Gewandhaus orchester). A classy lady. Watch also for the Tabarro  excerpt with (appropriately) hubby D F-D as Michele. Sawallisch conducts.

What a treat!  Thank you so much for that link.  As an aside: obviously she's been on the scene for awhile, but I've just not "put two and two together" and connected her with all these recordings. 

And thank you Tsaras for that Arabella heads-up, and knight, for that beautiful and detailed listening report.  She does seem like a very intelligent singer.

--Bruce

[PerfectWagnerite]

If you want to see her in action try here where she sings Sieglinde.