Today's Version of My Top 15 Most Beautiful Songs/Arias Ever Written

When I started this post months ago, it really was going to be just my top 10 favorites. But then there were just too many.  And then there were too many wonderful recordings of each song.  So this is more than 10 favorites, as sung by just a few of my favorite singers. They are in no particular order.  Making me rank them would just be cruel.

Nessun Dorma

Bjorling and Puccini!  Need I say more?

Casta Diva

This isn't my favorite recording of Monserrat Caballe singing this aria, but it's still pretty amazing.  Her decrescendo on the high note at 4:25 alone is worthy the two and a half minutes of applause that follow.

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

En priere

Here's another great recording.

An Chloris

Clair de lune

Morgen

For over 20 years, Elizabeth Schwartskopf's gorgeous high note on "wogenblauen" has been my ideal, that place I was working towards.  This summer I found it.

C

I had never heard of this singer, but I really like this performance.

Le Secret

And another

Die Nacht

Ave Maria 

This always gives me chills, and sometimes even tears.  Stunning!

Befreit

Die Stille Lotosblume

Mondnacht

Four Last Songs, especially Im Abendrot

I'm cheating and counting the set as 1 song. Here's Schwartzkopf sing all four songs.

Flagstad demonstrates why Strauss requested her for the premier.  This left me in tears.


And yes, I did listen to all of these again today.

Tai Chi and German Lieder

Last night I forgot to take my CD player to tai chi class.  Not a big deal.  I had my computer with me and I had a Deuter album on iTunes that I really like to listen to while doing tai chi.  You can listen to samples from each of the tracks with the link to amazon, or you can get an idea of what the whole thing is like from this.



So, I got to class, turned on the computer, started the music, and then greeted the students as they arrived.  Class went very well, and we were just getting ready for one final run through of the form, when suddenly the Deuter was over, replaced by another German.  



I've been sharing tai chi principles and even some of the forms with my voice students.  It's actually been quite helpful.  I just never expected to share Dietrich Fischer-Diskau with my tai chi students.

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to my voice blog, where I'll share my joys and frustrations of being a singer and a teacher of singers.

Today I had a wonderful practice session. I worked mostly on my Brahms set for the recital. I love these songs and they love me. It's amazing how easy it is to sing when you find the rep that really fits your voice. Plus, I just love lieder. I've said it before and I'll say it again-- although there is a lot of wonderful music in the world, as a singer, I could be perfectly happy if music began with Schubert and ended with the death of Richard Strauss.