Most Wanted Recitals!: Cristina Deutekom In Vienna

…this is the one to get. First heard on a local Los Angeles classical station many years ago. Glad to see it finally on CD. Look for Eva Lind’s “Fruhlingsstimmen” (“Voices of Spring” from Die Fledermaus) also. Two wonderful operetta CDs you will never tire of. Both original Philips recordings.

Singers like Christina Deutekom are one in a million and she was so low key/underrated. She sung virtually everything from Lady Macbeth to Queen of the Night to Strauss' Voices of Spring. She had the most unusual way of handling coloratura passages like the triplets in the queen of the night aria that must be heard to be believed. It's a bit like a yodel, but really pretty. She had to retire because of cardiac issues, but lived to a ripe old age and just passed away this summer.This CD has some of her vintage non-operatic work, including vocal arrangements of Viennese waltzes and songs. It also has her singing Christmas carols.

A fine medium weight coloratura in her prime, she ably moved on to more dramatic roles later in her career. This disc presents Viennese "bonbons" and selections from her Christmas album. The Viennese selections benefit from the deft hand of Franz Allers on the podium.

Christina Deutekom has a unique voice, that will not be to every ones taste. I enjoy her unique qualities. It is a very bright coloratura but with more depth and strength than the standard coloratura. She also has an inborn excitement to the tone. Most of the music is not frequently recorded so it is fresh material as well. I missed this recording when it was available as an LP so it great to have the first CD release.

Great Recordings

This album is worth its price for a couple of waltz selections, chief among them the smile inducing Lipizzaner Kaiserin. An older, darker Deutekom sings Christmas favourites. She brings a particularly touching gravitas to What Child Is This (the Greensleeves tune). Otherwise, this is a rather unvaried compilation of waltzes sung by a great singer.

La musique de CARL MICHAEL ZIEHRER suffit , pour les amateurs de ce compositeur à rechercher des enregistrements de sa musique. Sur ce CD , on découvre la voix d'une cantatrice , inconnue pour ma part , qui met son talent dans l'interprétation de différents airs extraits des opérettes de C.M.ZIEHRER et en plus de quelques morceaux hors opérettes.La voix de la cantatrice est une heureuse découverte , qui pour ma part m'a enchantée. A recommander aux amateurs.

Una delle grandi voci del suo tempo in un terreno fertile per lei quale l'operetta viennese. Fantastico dominio dell' agilità.

「夜の女王のアリア」（復讐の心は地獄のように胸に燃え）を動画で見漁っていた際に、ダイジェスト映像の中で、もっとも印象に残った歌声（微動だにしないw映像のインパクトも含めて…）だったのが、このCristina DeutekomとDiana Damrauでした。全くオペラには詳しくないのだけど、夜の女王の恐ろしさがたった30秒ほどの映像に凝縮されており、もちろん、他の方も（当たり前ですが）巧いのだけど、激情のDiana Damrauに対し、冷淡のCristina Deutekomと、全くキャラクターの異なる夜の女王で興味深かった。さて、冷淡な…と書いたものの、実際のところはCristina Deutekomの歌声には角が無くてとても聴き易く、ぬくもりがある。実はソプラノの歌声には「キンキンしていて聴いていられない」というようなイメージがあり、抵抗があったのですが、Cristina Deutekomの声に関して言えば、それはまったくの思い込みでした。特にこのアルバムの後半の「Silent Night」や「Ave Maria」といったクリスマス曲集はとても美しく、ぬくもりに満ちています。聴きたかった（復讐の心は地獄のように胸に燃え）は収録されていませんが、それは別途ショルティ指揮の魔笛を購入しました。残念なのは、Cristina Deutekom歌唱のアルバムが入手困難、高額なものが多いことですね。このアルバムもいつ廃盤になるか分かりませんので、興味のある方は早めに買われた方が良いですよ。