It made me a little sad to find out that soprano Inga Nielsen died on Sunday, apparently after a long battle with cancer. I got to hear her live just once--about six years ago--in the title role of Salome at the Netherlands Opera, and was so impressed I went out and bought her recording with Michael Schønwandt and the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (below). It is IMHO one of the best modern recordings of that piece, and one of my favorite opera CDs in general.
Here (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/11/news/Obit-Nielsen.php) is a short obit in the International Herald Tribune.
--Bruce
I've read great things about her recording of Salome, but I haven't heard it yet. My only encounter with her was seeing her perform Schoenberg's Erwartung at the Royal Opera House in 2002, I think, and very good she was, too.
Oh wow, I bet she would have been superb. :o Just did a quick search, and here (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Nov07/Inga_Nielsen_chan10444.htm) is a two-CD set of live recordings--including the Schoenberg! I will be getting this ASAP. Thanks for mentioning that!
--Bruce
I only heard Inga Nielsen as Clara in Zemlinsky's "Der Geburtstag der Infantin", conducted by Gerd Albrecht. She was very good.
Quote from: bhodges on February 13, 2008, 08:03:56 AM
It made me a little sad to find out that soprano Inga Nielsen died on Sunday, apparently after a long battle with cancer. I got to hear her live just once--about six years ago--in the title role of Salome at the Netherlands Opera, and was so impressed I went out and bought her recording with Michael Schønwandt and the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (below). It is IMHO one of the best modern recordings of that piece, and one of my favorite opera CDs in general.
Here (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/11/news/Obit-Nielsen.php) is a short obit in the International Herald Tribune.
--Bruce
I completely agree with you about her Salome. I love the recording. The vocal acting is so impressive. She's the only singer I've ever heard that makes the character sound exactly like a demanding, petulant, spoiled
adolescent. I'm very saddened to hear about her death.
Sarge
That is sad news.
I bought her 'Salome' some years back and it has been my favourite recording of the work, since.