|
The famous diva Metropolitan Frensiz Alda, speaking with almost all the greatest masters of the world opera scene, said: "After Enrico Caruso, I knew only one truly great voices in the opera of our day - this is Kirsten Flagstad.
Kirsten Flagstad was born July 12, 1895 in the Norwegian city of Hamar, the son of conductor Michael Flagstad. Mother was also a musician - a fairly well-known pianist and accompanist at the National Theater in Oslo. Is it any wonder that childhood Kirsten studied piano and singing with her mother, and in six years, sang songs by Schubert!
At thirteen years old girl knew the party Aida and Elsa. Two years later, classes began at the famous Kirsten Oslo vocal teacher Ellen Shitte-Jacobsen. After three years of study Flagstad made her debut - December 12, 1913. In the Norwegian capital, she performed the role Nuriv in popularity in those years the opera d′Albert E. "Valley". Young actress enjoyed not only a simple public, but a group of rich patrons. Latest determined singer a scholarship so she could continue to vocal education.
Thanks to financial support Kirsten worked in Stockholm, with Albert Vestvangom and Gillis Bratt. In 1917, returning home, Flagstad appeared regularly in opera productions of the National Theater.
"One might expect that, with the undoubted talent of the young singer, she rather quickly able to take a prominent place in the vocal world - wrote VV Timokhin. - But this did not happen. For twenty years Flagstad remained private, humble artist, who willingly took on any offers her the role, not only in opera but in operetta, revues, musical comedies. We were at the time, of course, objective reasons, but much can be explained by the nature of the Flagstad, which was totally alien to the spirit of "prime minister" and artistic ambition. It was a great toiler, less all thought of personal gain for themselves in the arts. "
In 1919, Flagstad was married. It takes a little time, and she leaves the scene. No, not because of the protests of her husband: she was expecting her daughter the singer lost his voice. Then he returned, but Kirsten, fearing congestion, while preferred "light roles in operettas.
 |
Then it was difficult to assume that in the future singer will specialize exclusively in Wagnerian roles. At the time of Wagner′s Party in its repertory were only Elsa and Elizabeth. On the contrary, she seemed a typical "universal performer, having sung for thirty-eight parties in operas and operettas in thirty. Among them: Minnie ( "Girl from the West" by Puccini), Marguerite (Faust), Nedda (Pagliacci), Euridice (Orfeo Gluck), Mimi (La Boheme), Tosca, Cio -Cio-San, Aida, Desdemona, Micaela (Carmen), Evrianta, Agatha ( "Evrianta" and "magic hands" Weber).
Future Flagstad as Wagnerian singer is largely due to coincidence, since she had all the data in order to be not less than outstanding "Italian" singer.
When, during the performances in 1932 in Oslo, a musical drama of Wagner′s Tristan and Isolde "Isolde ill - a famous Wagnerian singer Nanny Larsen-Todsen, remembered Flagstad. Kirsten′s new role coped superbly.
It was captured by the new Isolde famous bass Alexander Kipnis, considering that the place of Flagstad Wagner Festival in Bayreuth. In the summer of 1933 at another festival she sang Ortlindu in "Valkyrie" and the Third Norn in Götterdämmerung. The following year she trusted more responsible role - Sieglinde and Gutruny.
At the Bayreuth Festival performances and heard Flagstad representatives of the Metropolitan Opera. New York theater just at this time needed a Wagner soprano.
Debut Flagstad February 2, 1935 in New York Theater Metropolitan Opera in the role of Sieglinde brought the actress a real triumph. The next morning, American newspapers trumpeted the birth of the greatest Wagner singers of XX century. Lawrence Gilman wrote in The New York Herald Tribune, which is one of those rare cases where, obviously, the composer himself was happy to hear such an artistic expression of their Sieglinde.
"The students conquered not only the voice of Flagstad, although the mere sound of it could not but arouse admiration - writes V.
 |
All the richness of emotional colors, feelings and moods full palette of paints prisoners in the music of Wagner, embodied Flagstad means of vocal expression. In this regard, the singer, perhaps, had no rivals in Wagner′s stage. Her voice were subject to the most subtle movements of the soul, any psychological nuances, emotional states: ecstatic contemplation and awe, passion, drama and poetry rise winged. Listening Flagstad, introduced to the audience the most cherished sources of Wagner′s poetry. Basis, "the core" of her interpretations of Wagner′s heroines were amazing simplicity, emotional openness, inner illumination - Flagstad was undoubtedly one of the greatest interpreters of-lyricists in the history of Wagnerian performance.
Art it was a stranger pathos and emotional external forcing. A few phrases sung artist, was enough in the imagination of listeners formed bright-cut image - there was so much in the singer′s voice gentle warmth, tenderness and warmth. Vowels Flagstad differed rare perfection - every note is taken as a singer captivated the fullness, roundness, beauty, and quality of a voice actress, as if absorbed in a typical northern melancholy, gave Flagstad singing the inexpressible charm. Astounding was her plastic vocalization, the art of singing legato, that would be the envy of the most outstanding representatives of the Italian bel canto ... "
For six years, Flagstad regularly appeared on stage "Metropolitan Opera in Wagner repertoire exclusively.
 |
All performances with the participation of the singer went under constant sold out. Only nine performances of "Tristan" with the participation of Norwegian artist brought the theater than ever before income - more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars!
Triumph Flagstad at the Met "opened the door leading opera houses in the world. On the eighteenth of May 1936, she debuted with great success in the opera "Tristan" at London′s Covent Garden. " A 2 September of that year for the first time the singer sings at the Vienna State Opera. She sang Isolde, and at the end of the opera singer called the audience thirty times!
Before the French public Flagstad first appeared in 1938 on the stage of the Paris Theater Grand Opera. She has sung the role of Isolde. In the same year she made a concert tour of Australia.
In the spring of 1941, returning to their homeland, the singer actually has ceased to act. During the war, it only twice leaves the Norway - to participate in the Zurich Music Festival.
In November 1946, the Chicago Opera Theater Flagstad sang in Tristan. In the spring of next year, made her first post-war concert tour of U.S. cities.
After Flagstad in 1947 went to London, she then for four seasons, singing in the theater "Covent Garden" leading Wagnerian party.
"Flagstad was over fifty years, - writes V. Timokhin - but her voice, it seemed, was not immune to time - it sounded as fresh, filling, juicy and bright, as in the memorable year of the first singles Londoners with the singer. It is easy to tolerate it and the enormous burden that could be prohibitive for a much younger singers. Thus, in 1949 she was made a week in the role of Brunnhilde in the three performances: "The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung.
In 1949 and 1950 Flagstad acts as Leonore (Fidelio) at the Salzburg Festival. In 1950, the singer is involved in the production of the Ring des Nibelungen "in the Milan La Scala.
In early 1951 took place on the return of the singer on the scene "Metropolitan".
 |
Continuing his farewell tour, in the 1952/53 year Flagstad sings with great success in the London production of Purcell′s opera Dido and Aeneas. Twenty-fourth November 1953 comes the turn of parting with the singer of the Paris Grand Opera. December 12 the same year, she gives a concert at the National Theater in Oslo in honor of the fortieth anniversary of his artistic activities.
After that, her public appearances were only sporadic. Flagstad finally said goodbye to the public on Sept. 7, 1957 concert at London′s Albert Hall ".
Flagstad has done much for the establishment of national opera. She became the first director of the Norwegian Opera. Alas, progressed disease forced her to leave the director′s post after the end of the debut season.
In recent years, the celebrated singer went to her home in Kristiansand, built in his time on the project of the singer, - a white two-story villa with a colonnade, decorates the main entrance.
Died Flagstad in Oslo on December 7, 1962.
. American actress. Filmed in the movies: "Early fame" (Oscar), "Little Women," "The Philadelphia Story", "Woman of the Year", "Guess who comes to dinner?" (Bonus " Oscar ")," Lion in Winter "(Oscar)," On Golden pond "(Oscar) and other theatrical roles: Antiopa (voitelnitsy husband), Tracy Lord (" The Philadelphia Story "), etc. |
 Italian film actress. Filmed in the movies: "Gold of Naples", "Chochara" (Oscar), "Boccaccio 70", "Затворники Altony," "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow", "Marriage in Italian" ;, "Sunflowers," "Pret-a-porter", etc. |
 French actor. Appeared in films: "Razin," "Big Walk", "Little bather," gendarme of the Saint-Tropez "," Fantomas "," man-band ", etc. |
 Actor of Belgian origin. Real name - Van Varenberg. He made his debut in the film "Street of the barbarians" (1983). Starred in the films "Bloodsport" (1988), "Black Eagle" (1988), "Cyborg" (1989), "Lionheart" (1990), "Double Impact" (1991), "Universal Soldiers "(1992)," Nowhere to Run "(1993)," Hard Target "(1993)," Timecop "(1994)," Street Fighter "(1994) and others in the films" Lionheart " and "Double Impact" was co-author of the script. |
 French actress. Filmed in the movies: "And God created woman", "Babetta goes to war," "Rest Soldier", "Truth," "Parisian," Despite, " Shalako, " Boulevard of Roma " and others |
 Italian actor. Appeared in the movies: "White Nights", "Sweet Life", "8 1 / 2", "Divorce in Italian", "City of Women," "Ginger and Fred," "Interview" "black eyes", etc. He was awarded the Prize for Creativity, Felix (1988). |
 French actor and film. Roles in Theater: Michelle ( "terrible parent"), Nero ( "Britannica"), Lear (King Lear), and others appeared in films: "Eternal return", "Beauty and the Beast," " , Orpheus "," Captain Frakass, " The Count of Monte Cristo, " Iron Mask "," hunchback "," Fantomas ", etc. |
 German actress. Filmed in the movies: the trilogy "Sissi", "Christine," "Boccaccio 70", "Process", "Ludwig", "Train", "The main thing - love," "old gun" "Cesar and Rosalie," "Woman in the Window," "Simple Story", "Live coverage of the death, etc. |
 Swedish writer. Author of novels for children, "Pippi Longstocking - Long Stocking" (1945-1952), "The Kid and Carlson, who lives on the Roof" (1955-1968), "Rasmus-bum" (1956), "The Brothers Lionheart" (1979), "Ronia, the Robber′s Daughter" (1981), etc. |
 American actor. Appeared in films: "From now and for ever", "tattooed rose," "Sweet smell of success", "Elmer Gentri, the Nuremberg process," "Amateur birds from Alkatrasa", "Leopard," " ; Train "," Professionals "," Family Portrait in the interior, " Twentieth Century "," Atlantic City "," skin ", etc. |
 English actor. Acted in films: "The Lion in Winter," "Hamlet," "Elephant Man", "Charing Cross Road, 84", "Silence of the Lambs," "Kingdom of Shadows," "Nixon", " , Amistad, " Remains of the Day, " Hannibal ", etc. |
 American actor. Acted in films: A Streetcar Named Desire, " Viva Zapata! "," Savage, " In Port "(Oscar)," Pursuit, " Candy, " Queimado, " The Godfather "(Oscar)," Last Tango in Paris "," Superman, " Apocalypse Now "," Don Juan de Marco ", etc. |
 American actress. Filmed in the movies: "Cat on a hot roof, Baterfild, 8" (Oscar), "Cleopatra", "Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (Oscar), " The Taming of the Shrew ", etc. |
 In July 1859 the Swiss physician A. Dunant was present at the battlefield in the village of Solferino in Lombardy. He was a kind and sentimental, and therefore suffering injuries caused in him a burning desire to help the suffering. But as A. Dunant was still a practical man, he decided to found a world organization to provide medical care to the wounded and the victims of earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. |
 American actor. Appeared in films: "Graduate," "Midnight Cowboy," "Little big man", "straw dogs", "Lenny", "marathon runner", "Kramer v. Kramer" (Oscar ), "Tutsi", "Rain Man" (Oscar), "American Buffalo," "Sphere," "red herring", etc. |
CMS "SOT" v.1.11.15 |