She is sublime.

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62. Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler.

https://youtu.be/ebH-gAzpB94

 

This makes my spine tingle.

“Ach, ich liebte, war so glücklich” (from Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail). Sung by Sandrine Piau.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-1wtBn3l8A&t=3111s

 

“Se viver non degg'io” (from Mozart: Mitrade, Re di Ponto). Sung by Ann Murray and Yvonne Kenny.

https://youtu.be/8CVGkYeRCxo

 

Ravishing and extraordinary.

“Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke” (from Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail). Sung by Richard Croft.

https://youtu.be/kD1dpxaMPK4

 

Heart-meltingly beautiful tenor voice which navigates the rapid passages with such exquisite agility... I've not heard this aria sung better.

Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras No. 5. Sung by Isabel Bayrakdarian.

I: Aria, 

II: Dança.

https://youtu.be/4UovriT5Xk0

https://youtu.be/dmaOEW2hUQ8

 

This comes very close to being perfect. The Bachianas brasileiras No. 5 is rather too frequently and notoriously given to sopranos with too heavy a tone, whereas Villa-Lobos had in mind a much lighter, more luminescent and purer timbre. Bidú Sayão, Mady Mesplé, Natania Davrath, they were the singers who early on were performing this work, but once richer lyric sopranos such as Moffo and Te Kanawa sang this, it seemed to set a different expectation. I think Bayrakdarian has the right sound, and she sings it with passion and intelligence and very great beauty.

 

I adore this work.

 

 

And... oh, darn it, I'm going to post the links to two recordings of this beautiful work conducted by the composer himself, one with Bidú Sayão (1945), and one with Victoria de los Angeles (1958).

https://youtu.be/2NvNxmqFxdU

https://youtu.be/zBZg_t4VWOo

 

 

 

Johannes Brahms - Tragic Overture

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Leonard Bernstein)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siYoz9CLA2c

Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 3 (3rd movement)

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Sir John Barbirolli)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tB2SLLnPZg

Richard Wagner - Tristan and Isolde (Prelude and Liebestod)

Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

Liebestod sung by Waltraud Meier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4bqRlNSQQE

Waltraud Meier is my supreme favourite in that repertoire.