Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:51 — 97.3MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Today I revisit one of my favorite singers of all time, the extraordinary Norwegian lyric-coloratura soprano Eidé Noréna (1884-1968), whose voice and artistry hit me like a bolt out of the blue when I first discovered her recordings several decades ago. Born Karoline Hansen, she made her concert debut at the age of 19 and in 1907 began her operatic career as Amor in Orfeo ed Euridice. In 1909 she married the actor Egil Eide, through whose coaching she became celebrated for her dramatic portrayals. Under her married name Kaja Eide she became one of the Norway’s most famous singers, though her career was essentially a provincial one until, mid-career, she restudied her technique and rebuilt her voice, which led to her La Scala debut as Gilda under the baton of Arturo Toscanini (and under her new professional name, Eidé Noréna). She went on to an international career, performing in the world’s most celebrated opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, the Salzburg Festival, and, particularly, the Paris Opéra. Her repertoire was a wide one, ranging from Ophélie to Desdemona, and her vocal technique was solid to the point of near-perfection, her legato singing being particularly remarkable. What sets her apart, and what makes her one of my favorite singers, is her profoundly musical interpretations allied to a keen dramatic sense, perhaps instilled in her by her husband. I originally introduced her to my listeners in Episode 71, and I think it’s high time we spend some more time with her. In this episode I feature her exclusively in the music of Charles Gounod, beginning with the charming song “Sérénade” set to a Victor Hugo text and continuing with the Roi de Thulé and Jewel Song from Faust, concluding with extended excerpts from Roméo et Juliette. We are lucky that there exists a live recording of a complete (albeit heavily cut) performance from January 1935 of Noréna as Juliette, with the American tenor Charles Hackett (1887-1942) as her Roméo. Excerpts of that recording are supplemented by studio recordings from 1929 of duets from the opera with the Corsican tenor Gaston Micheletti (1892-1959) as her Roméo.
Countermelody is the podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and author yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody’s Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly or yearly support at whatever level you can afford.
