O Isis und Osiris

Kurt Moll (born April 11, 1938) is a German operatic bass. He has made innumerable recordings of opera, sacred music, and lieder with many of the great conductors and piano-accompanists. In 1991, he won a Grammy Award for his recording of Das Rheingold. He can be seen in many roles on video, including Sarastro (twice), Osmin, the Commendatore, Dr. Bartolo (Mozart), Hunding, Gurnemanz, and Baron Ochs (several times). His voice was notable for its range, a true infra-bass including full, resonant low and very-low notes with relaxed vibrato; also for its unusual combination of extreme size and purring, contrabassoon-like timbre. Although he was large enough for most of Wagner's noble-bass roles, he was not a thunderer and he never performed as Hagen, Hans Sachs, nor Wotan. His interpretations tended to be restrained and intelligent, even in buffo roles like Baron Ochs and Osmin. His recording of Schubert's philosophical "Lieder für Bass" set a new standard for these songs...

Lyrics & English Translation

[SARASTRO]
O Isis and Osiris, give
The spirit of wisdom to the new pair.
She who links to her the wanderer's steps,
Strengthens them with patience in danger.

[CHOR]
Strengthens them with patience in danger.

[SARASTRO]
Let them see the fruits of the test;
But, if they should go to the grave,
Then, the valient course of virtue rewarded,
Receive them in your abode.

[CHOR]
Receive them in your abode.


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I send my kind and warm regards,