Memories of the great Regine Crespin

Some time in the late 50's, one of our buddies
returned from a visit to Paris, where he informed us of a performance
of "Le Chevalier de la Rose" featuring two artists who were "new" to
his ears. They were Rita Gorr (who just made her opera farewell in
Pique Dame) and an astounding soprano by the name of Regine Crespin.
Shortly after, Met audiences thrilled to the great Crespin voice and
artisty. She possessed on of the very greatest voices we ever heard.
Like Flagstad and De Los Angeles,the lower range was so naturally rich
she did not need to "plunge" into chest voice;the lows were as
sumptuous as the middle, and in those days, the top was brilliant and
secure (the top of the voice tended toward some flatness, especially
in the later years in Werther.)
No one who had heard the Leonie Rysanek Senta
ever would dream that Crespin, or anyone, could rival what she
accomplished, but at Crespin's first Senta, the screaming and total
carry-on of the audience was richly deserved for she was absolutely
sensational in every possible way. Her Sieglinde with Jon Vickers was
also one of her greatest achievements (not bad to have Nilsson as
Brunnhilde),and later on Crespin sang a beautiful Brunnhilde as well.
This past week we have lost two of the
greatest artists of "our time"(I speak as an oldie) and we must
forever treasure what they accomplished. Our lives have surely been
enriched by their careers, and they will not be forgotten by those of
us who have grown to appreciate the vocal art so dearly.
Rest in Peace, Beverly
and Regine


Sincerely Charlie