Gundula Janowitz

[Conchis]

I seem to be very much alone in my opinion of this singer.

She is acclaimed as 'the greatest post-war soprano' but, to me, her singing sounds both static and strained.

I'm currently listening to her in Kempe's otherwise excellent 1969 recording of Ariadne Auf Naxos and she is providing the only moments of pain in what is otherwise undiluted pleasure.


What am I missing? I feel she's a serious blight on Karajan's Walkure and an unhappy centre to the Bohm Capriccio.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What am I missing?

Good taste.

[Conchis]

Good taste.

I ought to add: I don't like Schwarzkopf, either, who seemed to occupy the same fach as Janowitz, so maybe my issue is with the 'white' voice.

[Richard Tarleton]

I ought to add: I don't like Schwarzkopf, either, who seemed to occupy the same fach as Janowitz, so maybe my issue is with the 'white' voice.

conchis - I dont consider then in the same fach at all. I'm with you on Schwarzkopf, though I respect her, but find her problem to be that she has an inherently unlovely voice, which she makes the best of by dint of sheer intellect. Whereas GJ's voice has a uniquely silvery (rather than white?) beauty, unsurpassed in Mozart, Strauss.....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

conchis - I dont consider then in the same fach at all. I'm with you on Schwarzkopf, though I respect her, but find her problem to be that she has an inherently unlovely voice, which she makes the best of by dint of sheer intellect. Whereas GJ's voice has a uniquely silvery (rather than white?) beauty, unsurpassed in Mozart, Strauss.....

- Schwarzkopf has such affected diction, which in German works makes it sound as if she has a bad cold (she was good in Furtwangler's Tristan, though). But Janowitz - Conchis must be capable of treasons, stratagems and spoils!

[Zucchini]

I feel she's a serious blight on Karajan's Walkure ...

Couldn't agree more. When paired with the huge, heroic voice of Jon Vickers, how on earth could she be his sister? What a mismatch. Her voice reminds me (unfavourably) of the noise you get when you rub a damp finger round a wine glass ... Very likely nice in Mozart though

[Conchis]

Couldn't agree more. When paired with the huge, heroic voice of Jon Vickers, how on earth could she be his sister? What a mismatch. Her voice reminds me (unfavourably) of the noise you get when you rub a damp finger round a wine glass ... Very likely nice in Mozart though

Well: glad I'm not completely alone.

Schwarkopf and Janowitz sang many of the same roles. I hear what Richard says about Schwarzkopf's 'intellect' but that doesn't make me appreciate the voice.

Michael Tanner, in his review of Ring records, remarked of the Karajan Walkure: 'The Sieglinde sounds like Aled Jones.'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Michael Tanner, in his review of Ring records, remarked of the Karajan Walkure: 'The Sieglinde sounds like Aled Jones.'

'nuff said.

[Conchis]

'nuff said.

It's one of the rare times when I've agreed with him.

[Beef Oven!]

I ought to add: I don't like Schwarzkopf, either, who seemed to occupy the same fach as Janowitz, so maybe my issue is with the 'white' voice.

What do you mean?

[Richard Tarleton]

(she was good in Furtwangler's Tristan, though)

[Conchis]

What do you mean?

Same voice type, same roles.

[Beef Oven!]

Same voice type, same roles.

Why do you call that the 'white' voice?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's one of the rare times when I've agreed with him.

I think I'd prefer to be "completely alone" in an opinion than have it supported by Elsie.

[Conchis]

Why do you call that the 'white' voice?

I hear it as a plain voice that gives easily under pressure and tends to sound strained when handling the higher notes.

Hear also: Anja Silja.