The Otterphile – AsvO Sings the Wesendoncks (Encore)

This is Anne Sofie von Otter's performance of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder with Marc Minkowski from last spring. I originally posted about this concert back then. It's no longer available at medici.tv, but some kind soul posted it for us at the Toob, so we can enjoy it all over again. This clip even includes her encore of the final song, Träume. 

And as a bonus, here is an even more recent performance of the Wesendoncks with Paavo Järvi and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, recorded in June 2013. I think this Träume may be even better than the two above!

Anne Sofie von Otter's Dreamy Wesendonck Lieder

Here is something I haven't seen in a while: ASvO received a lengthy ovation at the end of her performance of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. That ovation wasn’t unusual—the wonderful surprise was her encore of the fifth song: Träume (Dreams). It was even better than the first time—a bit slower and dreamier. 

Wagner: Wesendonck for Wednesday – More Nina Stemme

Last month, I posted Nina Stemme singing the Wesendonck Lieder in their original guise, with piano, from (I believe) a studio recording. Here is a live performance from the 2012 Salzburg Festival. Mariss Jansons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic (sounding lush as always, even in their reduced chamber configuration.) Is Nina's voice getting darker and richer? She sounds almost contralto-ish to me.  (Upon re-listening, I think it just takes her the first song to warm up.)

Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder, op. 91 

Nina Stemme, Wiener Philharmoniker, Mariss Jansons

Sunday Brunch – Christa Ludwig Singt Wagner

This is the third song from one of the classic recordings of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. Enjoy.

Christa Ludwig with Otto Klemperer conducting.

Gratuitous Friday Special Edition – Nina Stemme and the Wesendonck Lieder – Complete

I posted Im Triebhaus last week, but I just had to share all five songs with my readers. Here is the complete set of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder sung by Nina Stemme, with Josef de Beenhouwer at the piano, and recorded in 2003. 

Frau Stemme's voice is so full and strong, yet so delicate. She is a consummate Wagner and Strauss singer, lacking only that heavy, wobbly, old-fashioned Wagnerian sound. And that's a good thing! (Don't forget to check out her Turandot broadcast, too!)

Sunday Brunch – Nina Stemme Singt Wagner

OK, no more JK (or Lohengrin) for a few days, 
but here is more Wagner. This clip is a gorgeous performance of the third Wesendonck Lied, Im Treibhaus, in its original guise.

Nina Stemme is accompanied at the piano by Josef de Beenhouwer.