Word: traubel
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...years Traubel and Flagstad divided most of the leading Wagnerian roles. In Die Walküre, Traubel sang a dozen Sieglindes to Flagstad's Brünnhildes. The usually aloof Flagstad finally said to Traubel: "I think it is now time we turn this around and I sing Sieglinde and you sing Brünnhilde." The change never came off. Shortly afterwards Flagstad returned to German-occupied Norway...
...change of prima donnas changed the Met's backstage atmosphere. When she wasn't on stage, Flagstad had knitted quietly in the wings, avoided visitors. Traubel opened the door of her dingy little dressing room to anyone who could crowd inside. Her laughter boomed so lustily that stage managers feared it could be heard in the auditorium. In the old horse-&-buggy era, Wagnerian divas like Johanna Gadski and Lillian Nordica had expected even the stagehands to wait on them. Traubel insists on putting on her own makeup, wig and costumes, because "being dependent is a luxury...
Diamond v. Ruby. The most provocative argument in opera today is who is the greater-Flagstad or Traubel. If Flagstad were to return (as now seems unlikely) who would have the top roles? For the 1946-47 season the answer is plain: Traubel is signed up. There is no doubt that the Met finds it easier to work with the untemperamental Traubel-and the Met is always willing to let well enough alone. Because European opera houses have been shattered and their companies scattered, the Met has become, by a survival of the luckiest, perhaps the leading opera house...
...office, the debate about Traubel and Flagstad is irrelevant: Wagner continues to sell out. There are still some who prefer Flagstad's glacial perfection to Traubel's warmer but more uneven performances. Traubel's singing, being more emotional, generally improves as the evening goes on; she is at her best in the great third act of Tristan...
Lauritz Melchior, who has sung about 125 times opposite each, says: "Flagstad's voice is like a shining diamond. Traubel's voice is like a beautiful ruby." He adds: "Traubel is one of the greatest darlings I have ever been working with. In the last 20 years I have killed at least 24 Isoldes. Helen is the most agreeable. She is the nicest of them all. Flagstad was not so easy. She got a little swollen with success. Helen will always have both feet on the ground. She will never start...