GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => Opera and Vocal => Topic started by: Marc on December 12, 2012, 05:39:17 AM

Title: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Marc on December 12, 2012, 05:39:17 AM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/11/lisa-della-casa

R.I.P. the most beautiful woman on the operatic stage.

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2ymabsg.jpg)
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Opus106 on December 12, 2012, 05:55:35 AM
Three within a day! 11 December 2012 has probably been one of the worst days for music.
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: The new erato on December 12, 2012, 06:38:17 AM
My favorite in Strauss. RIP.
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: PaulSC on December 12, 2012, 11:50:48 AM
My favorite in Mahler 4. And yes, a beautiful woman! RIP
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Lisztianwagner on December 12, 2012, 11:57:05 AM
I remember the recording of Le Nozze di Figaro she made with Kleiber very well, she had a beautiful voice. RIP.
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: jochanaan on December 12, 2012, 01:44:32 PM
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on December 12, 2012, 11:57:05 AM
I remember the recording of Le Nozze di Figaro she made with Kleiber very well, she had a beautiful voice. RIP.
That recording is the best Nozze I know.  RIP Signora della Casa.
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: mjwal on December 14, 2012, 07:45:37 AM
A wonderful singer - and to judge by the film about her made for German TV not that long ago, a wonderful woman. Her Arabella is unmatched, and she is a great Marschallin and Octavian in various excerpts; I also prefer her Ariadne (complete) to any other singer's. All of these are on live recordings of varying provenance and quality. Her Donna Elvira in the Mitropoulos recording has also never been surpassed, in my opinion, just equalled by Schwarzkopf. There is quite a lot on YouTube, if one hasn't the discs at hand.
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Chaszz on December 18, 2012, 05:35:48 AM
Another loss in 2012 -- Lisa Della Casa, beautiful Swiss soprano, great interpreter of Strauss and Mozart roles, at 93. Her Four Last Songs by Strauss is in Decca's Legendary Performances series, and her Don Giovanni is among EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/arts/music/lisa-della-casa-opera-singer-dies-at-93.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/arts/music/lisa-della-casa-opera-singer-dies-at-93.html)

(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00004XQ8H/ref=dp_image_0?)
Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Tsaraslondon on December 19, 2012, 01:37:29 AM
Quote from: Chaszz on December 18, 2012, 05:35:48 AM
and her Don Giovanni is among EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series.



I think you'll find it's Schwarzkopf's Don Giovanni (under Giulini) that is in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series. I don't think Della Casa ever recorded for EMI.

Della Casa and Schwarzkopf did, however, share the role of Donna Elvira in the Salzburg production, conducted by Furtwangler, and it is actually Della Casa who appears in the Paul Czinner film of that production.

Title: Re: Lisa Della Casa 1919-2012
Post by: Wendell_E on December 19, 2012, 02:36:53 AM
Quote from: Tsaraslondon on December 19, 2012, 01:37:29 AM
I think you'll find it's Schwarzkopf's Don Giovanni (under Giulini) that is in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series. I don't think Della Casa ever recorded for EMI.

She was the Elvira in Josef Krips' recording of Don Giovanni, also in Decca's Legendary Performances series.  Perhaps that was what Chaszz was thinking of.  That recording was my introduction to the opera.