Birgit Nilsson (17 May 1918 - 25 December 2005) was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register. Nilsson made such strong imprints on many roles that they came to be known as the "Nilsson repertory". She sang the operas of Richard Strauss and made a specialty of Puccini's Turandot, but it was the music of Wagner that made her career; her command of his music was comparable to that of Kirsten Flagstad, who owned the Wagner repertory at the Metropolitan Opera during the years before World War II. Nilsson recorded all of her major roles. Partly because of her availability to play Brünnhilde, Decca Records undertook the expensive project of making the first studio recording of Wagner's four-opera Ring cycle, conducted by Solti and produced by John Culshaw. The effort took seven years, from 1958 to 1965. A film of the proceedings made her a familiar image for arts-conscious television viewers...
Lyrics & English Translation
Peace, peace, my God!
Cruel misfortune, alas, constrains me to languish;
Deep as on the first day, for so many years
My suffering has endured.
Peace, peace, my God!
I loved him, it's true! But God adorned him so much
With beauty and courage,
That I still love him, nor will I be able to remove
His image from my heart.
Fate! Fate! Fate!
A crime has separated us in this world!
Alvaro, I love you, and it is written above in heaven:
I will never see you again!
O God, God, make me die;
Since only death can give me calm.
In vain my soul hoped for peace here,
While prey to such grief.
Wretched bread . . . come prolong
My comfort-less life . . . But who is approaching?
Who dares to profane the sacred place?
Let them be accursed!
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I send my kind and warm regards,