Edita Gruberová
“Having a voice, experiencing the physical sensation of singing in your body, and feeling the spiritual rapport with the public: all this is a great blessing.”
– Edita Gruberová
Great Interpreters: Edita Gruberová
Broadcast on Fine Music Radio on 28 February 2014.
First broadcast “live” on Fine Music Radio on 25 January 2007.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:01:07 — 110.9MB)
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Edita Gruberová (b. 1946), who has been hailed by the press as a “coloratura marvel,” today’s “prima donna assoluta” and been given the nickname “l’Unica” (“the unique”), has engendered a considerable following, especially in Europe, where her performances are always sold out. During her career, now in its fifth decade, she has attained a legendary status, with many opera cogniscenti considering her to be one of the last of a group of truly great singers who, in the words of Niel Rishoi, “possess that singular quality that cannot be duplicated and who leaves an indelible impression on their audiences.”
According to Helen Matheopoulos, Gruberová possesses “an almost superhuman technique, which enables her to deliver some of the most difficult arias in the soprano repertoire with apparent ease, and apparently no hint of nerves.” She is noted for her great tonal clarity, agility, and ability to sing high notes with great power, making her an ideal Queen of the Night, a sumptuous Zerbinetta (a role she has sung more than 200 times) and one of the foremost interpreters of the leading soprano roles of Donizetti and Bellini.
Join me, Adriaan Fuchs, for this podcast edition of Great Interpreters, in which I take a closer look at the artistry and career of this remarkable singer who, at the age of 68, is still singing with a radiant voice that leaves many of her younger colleagues in the shade.
Should you wish to obtain more information on Edita Gruberová, I suggest that you visit the Edita Gruberová Fan Page.
Podcast Track List
1) “O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn…” from Act I of Die Zauberflöte (Mozart)
Edita Gruberová (Queen of the Night)
Conductor: Bernard Haitink
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1981
2) Variations on “Deh! torna mio bene” (Proch)
Edita Gruberová (soprano)
Conductor: Kurt Eichorn
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1983
3) Allegro from Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra, Op. 82 (Glière)
Edita Gruberová (soprano)
Conductor: Kurt Eichorn
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1983
4) “Una voce poco fa” from Act I of Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)
Edita Gruberová (Rosina)
Conductor: Gustav Kuhn
Munich Radio Orchestra
Recorded: 1982
5) “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from Act II of Die Zauberflöte (Mozart)
Edita Gruberová (The Queen of the Night)
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Zürich Opera Orchestra
Recorded: 1988
6) “Grossmächtige Prinzessin” (Zerbinetta’s aria) from Act II of Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss)
Edita Gruberová (Zerbinetta)
Conductor: Kurt Masur
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Recorded: 1988
7) “Spargi d’amaro pianto” from Act III of Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
Edita Gruberová (Lucia)
Conductor: Richard Bonynge
London Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1992
8) “Al dolce guidami” from Act II of Anna Bolena (Donizetti)
Edita Gruberová (Anne Boleyn)
Conductor: Elio Boncompagni
Hungarian Radio Orchestra
Recorded: 1997
9) “Quando di luce rosea” from Act III of Maria Stuarda (Donizetti)
Edita Gruberová (Mary Stuart)
Markus Hollop (Lord Talbot)
Conductor: Elio Boncompagni
Münich Radio Orchestra
Recorded: 1997
10) “Quel sangue versato” from Act III of Roberto Devereux (Donizetti)
Edita Gruberová (Elizabeth I)
Conductor: Friedrich Haider
Choeur de L’Opera du Rhin
Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded: 1997
11) “Ah! non credea mirarti… Ah! non giunge” from Act II of La sonnambula (Bellini)
Edita Gruberová (Amina)
Conductor: Marcello Viotti
Munich Radio Orchestra
Recorded “live” in 1998.
12) “Casta Diva… Ah! bello a me ritorna” from Act I of Norma (Bellini)
Edita Gruberová (Norma)
Conductor: Friedrich Haider
Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera
Recorded “live” in 2006.
13) “È strano! È strano!… Ah, fors’e lui” from Act I of La traviata (Verdi)
Edita Gruberová (Violetta)
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
London Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1992
14) Variations on “Twinkle, twinkle little star” (“Ah, vous dirai-je, maman”) (Adam)
Edita Gruberová (soprano)
Conductor: Kurt Eichorn
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: 1983
Videos
Stefan Pannen and Claus Wischmann’s 2009 documentary, Edita Gruberová: The Art of Bel Canto, is currently available for viewing on YouTube and provides a wonderful profile on this great singer: