Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi :: Julia Varady - Opernszenen (Mozart, Strauss, Verdi)

Excellent

BDSinC | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | 10/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Firstly, before discussing the music and the singing, let us talk about the basic presentation of the CD. It looks lovely and the booklet is informative, especially about Varady's assumption and history in the various roles she is singing. No translations of the works are contained in the booklet, so that is a drawback for those who want them.



I have a number of recordings offered by the Bayerische Staatsoper LIVE series, and they are all super. The sound sometimes varies, as is normal for a live performance, but one is really "there" and the sound doesn't ever disappear or fade into recordings noise.



Having never heard Julia Varady live, I guess this is the closest I will come to that honor. Her singing is forward, very bright, but filled with depth. I was actually amazed at her production, for the habit of sort of "sliding up" to notes and distorting vowels after starting them to achieve a more "vibrant sound" (something done in her recording of La Juive under the Phillip's label) simply doesn't exist in her live performances. I couldn't catch all her words, especially in the ARABELLA and DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER pieces. Her legato line is wonderful.



The selection I was surprised to hear was her Abigaile from Verdi's Nabucco. I would NEVER classify her voice ever in the catagory of a dramatic soprano this work requires. Yet, she is very successful in her interpretation, and the voice is never lost in the flood of orchestra sound. Since this is a live performance, one is inclined to believe she had the power needed to make the role work. Again, her Italian is not that clear, or it sounds like the diction is sacrificed for the beauty of tone. This could be, however, not so much how she is singing as how things were recorded. Though other singers in other recordings I have from this same series are very clearly recorded and every word fully understood (Aida, from the same series with Domingo and Tamowa-Sintow).



Overall, the interpretations are very good. Obvious musicality is evident. She does feel the roles she is singing, and I have to say, they are completely different in style, character, requirements, and technical skills, and she meets all her challenges head on and is more than just successful. Her performances are truly wondrous.



As an artist, Julia Varady is definately one we could call very versatile. She seems to sing composers and music that are so different, and often NEVER sung by the same singer, at least not at the same time (usually if great at Mozart, by later life he is no longer sung at all when they venture into the heavier repertoire; yet, she can sing Mozart and Wagner without a problem even after taking on heavy roles).



Another interesting aspect of this recording is we can trace the singer's "career development." We are able to hear live recordings of the 70's near her career's beginning, and her singing in the 90's when singing very heavy roles was becoming more common for her. What I find so incredible is the lack of vocal deterioration. She is as beautiful, and her voice as controlled, as it was in her younger days. Few singers have the luck or ability to remain so "unchanged" through the years.



This said, I will not say these are perfect performances. There are things that she doesn't do well. Her trill (for the Trovatore selection)is really just a hint of a trill, nothing to notice or be impressed with. Diction is at times unclear. Yet, the performances are more than enjoyable, they are really excellent.



It is wonderful that Bayerische Staatsoper is releasing these recordings now for the public to enjoy. With so few new releases of commercial recordings being released, and those that are so often being just for some cross-over artist to make a name for himself, it is really refreshing to hear something truly well done, with the energy of a live performance (because it is live, and we hear audience reaction, which adds to the energy) but with the clarity of sound nearly as good as a studio recording. Truly this is a great buy, and for those who are not familiar with Julia Varady, you won't be disappointed, she is a truly great artist."