Page 28 - Birgit Nilsson Book

The role of Elektra makes superhuman demands — superb acting ability, a voice of steel and physical stamina, qualities Nilsson possessed in abundant supply until the end of her career. Indeed, the last fully-staged performances she gave in London were in Elektra in 1977 when the conductor was another living legend, Carlos Kleiber. And after an absence of several years from the Metropolitan Opera (a small matter of some tax problems with the IRS) Birgit Nilsson made a triumphant return as Elektra with James Levine in February 1980 at the age of sixty-two! Fortunately, one of these performances was lmed and is available commercially (and included in this set).
Birgit Nilsson’s last addition to her operatic repertoire was the role of the Dyer’s Wife in Die Frau ohne Schatten, which she sang in Stockholm in 1975. This was also the role of her last fully staged appearances, at the Metropolitan Opera in October 1981, when the role of the Empress was taken by her considerably younger colleague Eva Marton. At the end of the evening, when the curtain calls started and thunderous applause greeted the two ladies, Nilsson — with typical generosity of spirit — left the stage and the acclamation to Eva Marton.
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