Edita Gruberova

[sydneyboy]

I have discovered that the great coloratura soprano Edita Gruberova died on 18 October in Zurich. The cause of death was an accidental head injury. She was a leading coloratura soprano noted for her interpretation of the great bel canto heroines. A sad loss.

[+ Charlie]

I saw Gruberova's debut as Queen of the Night at the Met in 1977, and later as Zerbinetta. She was very impressive.

[TruHart1]

I saw her Zerbinetta at the Met way back when, but I have to admit, though her singing technique was very impressive, she had that aspirated coloratura delivery which always seems so Slavic to me, and which I don’t particularly like.

Don’t misunderstand, she was a great singer. I saw her Lucia in Chicago and was impressed by her attention to bel canto detail and note accuracy! She sang the usually cut section of the first act soprano aria (which few sopranos ever even attempt!) as if it were the easiest passage in the piece!

Though I only saw/heard her in live transmission video/audio performances in later, more recent years, she sang well into old age, mostly not showing too much voice loss.

TruHart1 😎

[TruHart1]

Another thing that comes to mind about Madame Gruberova was that she was really quite a good operatic actress. I know I was impressed when I saw her live in Ariadne and Lucia back in her earlier performing years. Watching her in later performances on video, it seemed to me that her acting only became stronger and deeper over time. JMHO.

TruHart1 😎