Erich Korngold’s opera Die Tote Stadt (first performed in 1920) is best known for its aria “Glück, das mir verblieb” also known as “Marietta’s Lied”. Actually it’s a duet for tenor and soprano. Less well known is the tenor version of the same tune which closes the opera. The first line is the same but thereafter the tenor (Paul) sings different words to the same melody.
Renée Fleming
Sunday night Renée Fleming sang the aria (she sang both the tenor and soprano parts) to great acclaim during the Met’s 125 anniversary celebration. Here’s Glück das mir verblieb as sung by Fleming at the gala. Now listen to virtually the same music ( Glück, das mir verblieb ) sung by the incomparable Joseph Schmidt in a recording made 76 years ago.
Joseph Schmidt
It could be the simply the style of the different eras. Renee’s phrasing is very smooth, Schmidt rather stiff. Her tempo a bit slow, maybe?? I found myself hanging instead of being carried by the music as I am with other versions.
I have a fine dvd of this opera with excellent singers, but have only got thru it twice. Nice music, but the story so DREARY!!
Operafilly
Ah..but it’s lovely for Tenor too isn’t it! Love Korngold’s music, so lush…I’ve included Renee Fleming singing from ‘Das wunder de Heliane’ in my post on Korngold, do take a look if you get a chance. 🙂
[…] Verblieb” which is sung by both the soprano and tenor in the first and third acts. You can go here to listen to an augmented soprano version as well as the tenor part which ends the opera. The opera […]