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Miliza Korjus - "The Art of Coloratura" Recorded 1934-1936 Download ID: 265039 (Duration 74'39") Restoration by HTS Studio for Hänssler Classic COMES WITH ENGLISH NOTES & COVERS

Phöbus stolz im Sonnenwagen (Les oiseaux dans la charmille) Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann

Korjus was once asked what she most enjoyed about her musical career, she answered: »The records. It's the only way to become immortal.«

The recordings here, all titles from Electrola from the years 1934-1936, show Miliza Korjus as a true master of pyrotechnics. Bad-mouthers have suggested that her best role was Olympia, the singing automat in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. (Track 8) Indeed, some parts of the mad scene of Lucia (3) sound like they come straight out of Spalanzani's workshop; but in light of the remaining opera titles, the usual prejudices don't hold much water. As to the degree of expression over which Korjus commanded, this is shown above all in the second aria of the Queen of the Night (I): Her performance has fire and verve, and her high F's are not tweety whistle-tones, but rather dagger thrusts. She shows herself to be a first-class singer and musician in the »Martern« Aria (2).

And in the »Bell Song« (5) one can understand why the journalist Jurgen Kesting felt reminded upon hearing the nuances, brilliance, timing, and verve of Jascha Heifetz. Equally unabashedly virtuosic are Korjus' recordings of Dinorah's Shadow Aria (7), Mireille's Arietta.(9), and Elena's Bolero (19). The fact that the extreme high notes are almost non-vibrato lies in the nature of the human voice. (Mado Robin and Erna Sack were in this respect anatomic wonders.) The one who enjoys stratospheric sounds and vocal pyrotechnics will also delight in the show pieces (11-18); although one should not overlook the lyrical qualities of this singer, her cultured legato, her artful rubato, and her musicality...

Excerpted from enclosed sleevenotes, Thomas Voigt © 2004

Track Listing:

1. Der Hölle Rache - Mozart - Die Zauberflöte
2. Matern aller Arten - Mozart - Die Entführung aus dem Serail
3. Il dolce suono/Ardon gl'icensi - Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor
4. O Dourga Bionda (Blanche Dourga, pale Siva!) - Delibes - Lakmé
5. Dov' è l'indiana bruna (Ah, où va le jeune indoue) - Delibes - Lakmé
6. Ach, es ist der Gott der Jugend (Ah! C'est le dieu de la jeunesse) - Delibes - Lakmé
7. Du leichter Schatten (Ombre légère) - Meyerbeer - Dinorah
8. Phöbus stolz im Sonnenwagen (Les oiseaux dans la charmille) - Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann
9. Holde Nichtigall (O légère hirondelle) - Gounod - Mireille
10. Mercè, dilette amiche - Verdi - I Vespri Siciliani
11. Ach, Mama, ich sag es dir (Ah vous dirai-je, Maman) - Adam - Le Toréador
12. Aufforderung zum Tanz - Weber
13. Der Vogel in Walde - Taubert
14. La Danza - Rossini
15. Il Bacio - Arditi
16. Funiculi Funicula - Denza
17. Die Nachtigall - Alabieff
18. Frülingsstimmen - Walzer - Strauß

Please note: This is not a Pristine Audio historic restoration.

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