I have just discovered her through the wonderful posts out here on You Tube. Thank you so much for sharing such an incredible artist. She is phenomenal!!
Array( 11 months ago by twarrilow)
Seems tiny & huge at the same time in this. What a great performer. No artifice or tricks. Just the music and the story. (And a gert big voice lol)
I have the whole ...( 11 months ago by Pathetikos)
I have the whole performance with even worse sound and visual quality. Does a GOOD recording of this performance exist at all?
Gwyneth and the ...( 10 months ago by williamsagency)
Gwyneth and the great Hildegard Behrens are my absolute favorites! I know, I know, Birgit is in there too....hahah
who cares about her ...( 9 months ago by dramaticsopranodiva)
who cares about her vib...she is fab xx
louder, louder, ...( 8 months ago by voxveritatis1)
louder, louder, dame Gwyneth, we can still hear the orchestra...
I heard her several ...( 8 months ago by glamordimmas)
I heard her several times at Covent Garden and she was truly one of the great sopranos of all time - the vibrato, although it never recorded well, was actually thrilling on stage and used to accentuate the dramatic qualities of her voice, which could soar over a full orchestra. Her Turandot was unforgettable, made the more powerful by her extraordinary stage presence.
Yes, but the ...( 8 months ago by jirizika1962)
Yes, but the biggest does not mean the prittiest, I really cannot stand her vibrato a hystery in everythong she does, is beyond my taste.
How is noticed here ...( 8 months ago by jirizika1962)
How is noticed here, I would probably have to go and see her on the stage, but from the recorded extracts here I consider her voice really ugly, her vibrato destroys every tone. Sorry.
I'd rather have ...( 8 months ago by BeauTenor)
I'd rather have exciting than pretty. Pretty isn't worth much if there isn't dramatic commitment behind it.
If you listen to ...( 8 months ago by BeauTenor)
If you listen to her when she was younger, this was really a gorgeous instrument in many ways. She had great control over it, no matter what her detractors might say. She had a great pianissimo, especially considering the size of the voice.
Array( 8 months ago by thotmosis)
Unglaublich,was f ür eine herrliche Stimme,was für eine Bühnenpräsenz.
Taking everything ...( 8 months ago by raywong)
Taking everything together, she's probably the greatest, and most convincing, Elektra on stage. The vibrato is actually more compact than many other singers, and the basic tone is quite beautiful.
I couldn't agree ...( 8 months ago by Otellogv)
I couldn't agree more, BeauTenor. Her recital disc of Verdi, Wagner, Beethoven and Cherubini displays one of the most beautiful voices of the last century. Her 'D'amor sull'ali rosee' is quite breathtaking. Certainly as time went on her voice suffered some wear and tear - she is only human after all - but her Turandot in 1984 was such a tremendous success after all of the bad press she had received in the previous decade. I love her whole artistry ... even yet.
I agree with you. ...( 7 months ago by listentomom)
I agree with you. Within the wobble and the off pitch singing the tone is beautiful, especially when she doesn't over sing. But, hey, who the hell can sing this role anyway!!! She is very convincing and exciting and has a vulnerability at the same time, which is very appealing for my humble taste. She is my first choice when I come to Yutube, even taking into account the wonderful Rysanek's filmed version (I have that video), which is not live, but fabulously sung.
Yes, the flaws are ...( 4 months ago by Gigglingatagas)
Yes, the flaws are there. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this clip. I've never LOVED Gwynnie's voice - we all know the reasons. However, there are certain phrases that are utter perfection. Dramatic impetus, to me, is what individual interpretation is about after all.
This voice needs ...( 4 months ago by owenboi66)
This voice needs space. It's wonderful in a big house where the vibrato really seems integral to the carrying power of this amazing instrument. What I love about her is that she is utterly fearless as a performer. She gives everything she has - vocally and emotionally.
In what way Jones ...( 4 months ago by wotansings)
In what way Jones is better or more convincing on stage than are Behrens or Stemme or Polaski etc...?
LOL...a better ...( 2 months ago by BeauTenor)
LOL...a better question is in what way is she NOT better? I would never say Behrens was a convincing actress, and vocally, although she was loud, she never quite measured up in the biggest roles. Stemme...although a fine voice is kind of boring to me...no true excitement. Polaski was a great singer at one time, but she NEVER had this kind of animal magnetism on stage. Very few ever do. Couple that with this voice, and it's just an unbeatable combination.
Behrens was not a ...( 2 months ago by wotansings)
Behrens was not a convincing actress? Are you kidding? Even if not a real dramatic soprano, Behrens was a very fine actress. For me Jones is a bulldozer, where Behrens gave nice portayel of the parts. Same for Polaski. I think you have never seen them on stage, or you justprefer loud singing and this sort of over-acting like Jones.
No, I'm not kidding ...( 2 months ago by BeauTenor)
No, I'm not kidding. Haven't you ever seen her as Tosca? Ham City. She was a little better as Brunnhilde, but her Elektra was lacking. This character is SUPPOSED to be over the top crazy. Jones does a lot of it with her eyes, and her movement is actually pretty spare. I can only speak for what I've seen on video for Behrens and Polaski, but NEITHER of them has the voice for this role. I saw Jones live, as Elektra. Vocally and physically she was riveting and terrifying.
Of course Tosca was ...( 2 months ago by wotansings)
Of course Tosca was not for Behrens, look at her Marie in Woyzzek, this is what I call acting! For me Jones is always OVEracting, I do not like it.Both Behrens and Polaski (or Rysanke, or meier and so on) are (even in excess) natural... Vocally Jones is always terrifying, I'm still waiting for the performance where she's in tune, lol! Greetings
Das ist ja ekelhaft ...( 1 month ago by zafireh)
Das ist ja ekelhaft! wieso schleift sie die T öne so an? eine einzige Sirene!
Behrens, Marton, ...( 1 day ago by skyeomania)
Behrens, Marton, Polaski...etc. cannot compare in any way to Gwyneth Jones. She was the ultimate Elektra - and till today there is nobody to succeed her. Gwyneth rule!
ür eine herrliche Stimme,was für eine Bühnenpräsenz.
öne so an? eine einzige Sirene!