1972

 

6 janvier 1972 : Tristan und Isolde. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Segerstam. Brilioth. Rundgren. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde). Bjorling. Johansson. Ericson.

11 janvier 1972 : Macbeth. Staatsoper Vienne. Klobucar. Paskalis. Ghiuselev. Birgit Nilsson (Lady Macbeth). Prevedi. Aichberger.

13 janvier 1972 : Hans Rochelt - Aufführung von Lady Macbeth in Wien. Gespräch mit der schwedischen Sängerin Birgit Nilsson über ihre Zukunftspläne.

15 janvier 1972 : Macbeth. Staatsoper Vienne. Klobucar. Paskalis. Ghiuselev. Birgit Nilsson (Lady Macbeth). Prevedi. Aichberger.

19 janvier 1972 : Siegfried. Munich Nationaltheater. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde)

23 janvier 1972 : Die Gotterdammerung. Munich Nationaltheater. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde)

1 février 1972 : Tristan und Isolde. RAI Rome. Mehta. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde). Brilioth. Wolff. Nimsgern. Meven. ENREGISTREMENT LIVE.

17 février 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Varviso. Brilioth. Rundgren. Bjorling. Wennberg. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Meyer.

20 février 1972 : Siegfried. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Varviso. Brilioth. Ulfung. Bjorling. Asker. Rundgren. Meyer. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde).

23 février 1972 : Die Gotterdammerung. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Varviso. Brilioth. Saeden. Rundgren. Asker. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Andersson. Ericson.

17 mars 1972 : Elektra. Scala de Milan. Sawallisch. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Meyer. Ulfung. Crass. Bjoner.

21 mars 1972 : Elektra. Scala de Milan. Sawallisch. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Meyer. Ulfung. Crass. Bjoner.

25 mars 1972 : Elektra. Scala de Milan. Sawallisch. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Meyer. Ulfung. Crass. Bjoner.

29 mars 1972 : Elektra. Scala de Milan. Sawallisch. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Meyer. Ulfung. Crass. Bjoner.

6 avril 1972 : Tristan und Isolde. Munich Nationaltheater. Sawallisch. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde). Hopf. Baldani. Vermeersch. Ridderbusch. Grumbach. ENREGISTREMENT LIVE.

22 avril 1972 : GALA PERFORMANCE honoring Sir Rudolf Bing. Levine. Bonynge. Molinari-Pradelli. Adler. Rudolf. Bohm / Peters. Milnes. Stratas. Stewart. Plishka. Raimondi. Moffo. Arroyo. Sutherland. Pavarotti. Robinson. McNeil. Kirsten. Corena. Flagello. Caballe. Domingo. Bumbry. Crespin. Sereni. Amara. Di Giuseppe. Siepi. Tucker. Merrill. Price. Resnik. Tucci. Dalis. Macurdy. McCracken. Konya. Elias. Hines. Lorengar. Rysanek. Vickers. Zylis-Gara. Corelli. Birgit Nilsson (Salomé : Final scene).

30 avril 1972 : Concert Carnegie Hall, New York. Birgit Nilsson / John Wustman (piano). Dich, teure Halle (Tannhauser), Gebet, Begegnung, Anakreons Grab, Mignon IV (Hugo Wolf), Allerseelen, Wiegenlied, Du meines Herzens Kronelein, Standchen (Richard Strauss), Og jeg vil ha mig en hjerten skjaer, med en primula veris, det forste mode, killing dans (Grieg), Twenty years, gib mir dein Herze (Erkka Melartin), jeg giver mit digt til Varen, I give my poem to the spring (Emil Sjogren), Aspakers polska (Wilhelm Peterson Berger). Encore : Ebben, ne andro lontano (La Wally), fourteen years (swedish folksong), song (anonyme), La folletta (Salvatore Marchesi), Wien, Wien, nur du allein! (Rudolf Sieczynski).

11 mai 1972 : Tristan und Isolde. Staatsoper Vienne. Stein. Cox. Ridderbusch. Birgit Nilsson (Isolde). Roar. Bunger. Hesse.

14 mai 1972 : Die Walkure. Staatsoper Vienne. Varviso. Cox. Ridderbusch. Adam. Antoine. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hesse.

3 juin 1972 : Tosca. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Varviso. Birgit Nilsson (Floria Tosca). Ulfung. Saeden.

12 juin 1972 : Elektra. Londres, Royal Opera house Covent Garden. Solti. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Dernesch. Resnik. McIntyre. Craig.

15 juin 1972 : Elektra. Londres, Royal Opera house Covent Garden. Solti. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Dernesch. Resnik. McIntyre. Craig.

19 juin 1972 : Elektra. Londres, Royal Opera house Covent Garden. Solti. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Dernesch. Resnik. McIntyre. Craig.

22 juin 1972 : Elektra. Londres, Royal Opera house Covent Garden. Solti. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Dernesch. Resnik. McIntyre. Craig.

14 septembre 1972 : Elektra. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Klobucar. Meyer. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Lindholm. Ulfung. Saeden.

17 septembre 1972 : Elektra. Opéra royal de Stockholm. Klobucar. Meyer. Birgit Nilsson (Elektra). Lindholm. Ulfung. Saeden.

27 septembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

30 septembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

3 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

6 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

9 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

13 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de Chicago. Leitner. Esser. Martin. Rundgren. Hoffmann. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Hoffman.

20 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de San Francisco. Suitner. Thomas. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Grant. Stewart. Lindholm. Lilowa. ENREGISTREMENT LIVE.

24 octobre 1972 : Die Gotterdammerung. Opéra de San Francisco. Suitner. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Thomas. Stewart. Grant. Napier. Lilowa. Rintzler.

28 octobre 1972 : Die Walkure. Opéra de San Francisco. Suitner. Thomas. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Grant. Stewart. Lindholm. Lilowa.

1 novembre 1972 : Siegfried. Opéra de San Francisco. Suitner. Appel. Thomas. Stewart. Rintzler. Booth. Lilowa. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde).

4 novembre 1972 : Die Gotterdammerung. Opéra de San Francisco. Suitner. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Thomas. Stewart. Grant. Napier. Lilowa. Rintzler.

17 novembre 1972 : Siegfried. Metropolitan Opera de New York. Leinsdorf. Thomas. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Stewart. Chookasian. Stolze. Neidlinger. Sotin.

Review of Byron Belt in the Newhouse Newspapers

'Siegfried" high point in Met stature

The Metropolitan Opera's new production of Richard Wagner's "Ring" Cycle continued in triumph this week with the unveiling of drama three, "Siegfried." Thanks to a generous gift of Eastern Airlines, the physical designs and concept remain those of original conductor-director Herbert von Karajan.

Thanks even more, however, to the vitality, power, sensitivity and sheer genius of conductor Erich Leinsdorf, "Siegfried" will long remain a high point in Met musical stature. Leinsdorf's direction resulted in the most superlative performance the Met orchestra has given in several years, and one of the most intellectual and emotional satisfying events of recent music seasons.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, matched Leinsdorf's magnificent concept and execution, but the entire "Siegfried" was on a distinguished level of achievement that brought glory to the performers, the company and - most important of all - to the genius of Richard Wagner.

"Siegfried" lacks the easy lyricism and drama of "Die 'Walküre," (which Leinsdorf will direct this week); and the consuming splendor of "Die Götterdämmerung." (which does not appear until next season), but it has many rich scenes, and a conclusion of radiant beauty.

The Gunther Schneider-Siemssen neo-Bayreuth sets work effectively in act one, fitfully in the long scene in the forest and gloriously in the final scene. The huge tree that shelters Mime in the [first scene], serves well for the action, and sets an appropriate mood to match the tempestuous music.

Jess Thomas, essaying his first Met performance of the title hero, is as close to ideal as we are likely to get in the near future. In the crucial forging scene, both the voice and dramatic action need more flint, steel and muscle than Thomas can provide, but elsewhere his superb physique, manly bearing and expressive voice create the young Siegfried most imposingly.

In "Siegfried." the god Wotan assumes the guise of The Wanderer, and has many of his human moments of drama and music. Thomas Stewart is a moving, dignified and vocally intense wanderer, whose singing touches the heart of the character and the audience. It is a superb accomplishment, again wanting only a certain ringing power to make it perfect.

Stewart was particularly splendid in the soaring scene with Erda in Act III. That goddess of wisdom and fertility was more tactful than earthy, was sung most beautifully by Lili Chookasian, and the entire dialogue became one of the music drama's authentic highlights.

The two major character roles of Mime and Alberich were in the expert hands of Gerhard Stolze and Gustav Neidlinger. The former recreated his celebrated interpretation that carries the whine to the point of madness most effectively. One is genuinely relieved when Siegfried finally dispatches Mime with one thrust of his sword.

Neidlinger, making his debut, sang with requisite sonority and acted with stilted gestures. Thanks to a voice of great expressiveness and power, the debut marks Neidlinger as a major addition during this crucial year based as it is largely in the regime of the past, with only glints of hope for the future.

Hans Sotin sang Fafner, the giant sleeping in the form of a dragon. The stage business for the battle between Siegfried and Fafner made the dragon into more of a primordial ooze, but we found it most exciting. Sotin's voice was miked (probably) or artificially augmented in some manner, most effectively.

The Forest Bird was sung with more drama than usual by Judith Blegen and the Brünnhilde was Birgit Nilsson. We link them not only to point up that, contrary to the audience response, Miss Nilsson's is scarcely the major role of "Siegfried," but also to note that the great lady was not in best voice. At less than best, however, Birgit Nilsson is an authentic Wagnerian, and she added a final note of glory to the Met's welcome achievement.

24 novembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Metropolitan opéra de New York. Leinsdorf. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Vickers. Jones. Adam. Dunn. Macurdy.

28 novembre 1972 : Siegfried. Metropolitan Opera de New York. Leinsdorf. Thomas. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Stewart. Chookasian. Stolze. Neidlinger. Sotin.

2 décembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Metropolitan opéra de New York. Leinsdorf. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Vickers. Jones. Adam. Dunn. Macurdy.

7 décembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Metropolitan opéra de New York. Leinsdorf. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Brilioth. Jones. Adam. Baldani. Sotin.

12 décembre 1972 : Siegfried. Metropolitan Opera de New York. Leinsdorf. Brilioth. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Stewart. Baldani. Ulfung. Neidlinger. Macurdy.

16 décembre 1972 : Die Walkure. Metropolitan opéra de New York. Leinsdorf. Birgit Nilsson (Brunnhilde). Vickers. Jones. Stewart. Baldani. Macurdy. ENREGISTREMENT LIVE.

20 décembre 1972 : MUSIC ON 2 (Royaume-Uni). Birgit Nilsson, Elizabeth Bainbridge, John Dobson…

Mise à jour : 20230613 Pierre Marchais