That is my reaction as well...I'm always shocked to realize this is NOT a voice held up as "THE EXAMPLE" of "open throat" singing. Perhaps she has just too much "wealth" of sound for some ears.....I love ANNA Moffo's voice and this woman's voice....and not many others reach that level of beauty as consistently.

@@Winnepausakee For me, Dalila is a dramatic mezzo, neither a soprano nor a lyric mezzo. So it takes a lot of legato singing and some clear and demanding expression. Obraztsova has the magic voice for all of that. And most important of all, this is such a rich and warm voice that every man would go into the web of this spider.

@@Altonahh10 Not only go "into the web of this spider" as you suggest, but fight to be at the head of the line....It is said that those voices that distinguish themselves as "knowable" every time their heard as "just theirs...not to be confused with anyone else" are those who achieve acclaim. AGain, I wonder that Obratsova is not a name commonly known. Like a few others, Correlli, Wunderlich, Pavarotti, Bjorling, Moffo, Horne....the first few notes of any Obratsova recording identifies her to my ear and I stop whatever else I was doing to allow myself to be enthralled....

@@Winnepausakee In the operatic world everybody knows her, I´m absolutely certain. Some because of her musical craft, others of her involvement in the Soviet Government ;-)

@@Altonahh10 For sure. It is a pure low dramatic mezzo role. That being said, I would not call Elena’s natural voice a pure dramatic mezzo. Her tessitura and natural undarkened timbre is more of a higher placed mezzo. Which is a great thing for her. Because it allowed her to sing both soprano and even contralto roles effectively. Which is why some consider her a soprano sfogato.

Perfecta interpretación…

A mi también!!

Así es, su voz , su interpretación es única, nada igual al arte de la Reina Obraztsova.

A solid technique that didn't last long... Here she's starting to sound a little bit odd, and soon after her sound was just horrible, wasn't it?

@@DiomedesDioscuro Not this way.

@@giorgioan4673 What do you mean?

The only that can compare is IMO Shirley Verrett: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a5qVnqmlu82qm2w.html

Thank you, Marla, I loved it. Great acting too.

+Global Voice I adore Irina and consider her one of the truly great singers of our time. But somehow I don't feel she sings this as good as Elena does. Irina has a clearer and admittedly prettier voice; and she most certainly "knows what she is singing"' if you follow me - but I Think that Dalilas earthy sensualism is better voiced both by Obraztsova and Shirley Verrett.

***** Arkhipova - this is the Dalila of the last century. She is canonical, reference Dalila. All the rest - after Irina. Huge and very strong voice of Arkhipova best suits Dalila. Well, of course, impeccable vocal technique of Irina. Regarding Verrett. She mediocre Dalila. Her voice is low, as it should be, but not huge, and it is the most important thing for treacherous Dalila.

@@globalvoice1814 What?? Verrett was absolutely fantastic with Dalila! I love Obraztsova but with Verrett never have I heard a sexier and sultry Dalila. The role calls for a larger voice, but it hardly requires a Kundry or an Ortrud.

@@oohforf6375 Says who? Besides, this is technically impeccable. The voice is recognizable, the lust to kill pooring out of every cell, hidden by false emotions. It can´t get any better.

@@Altonahh10 Says who what?

согласна, хорошая музыка, красивое пение -терапия

El canto de la Reina Obraztsova directo al corazón…

Бессмертная Елена,русская душа!

Вообще весь этот токийский концерт - ее вершина.

Можно назвать когда она была у подножья?

@@vitalylesindorf640 да, она красива, молода, прекрасно обучена, несёт столько света в искусство в этом концерте, шедевр, торжество её Дара.

@@vitalylesindorf640 Согласна совершенно. В Токио она превзошла саму себя! Особенно в арии Принцессы де Буйон!Как там зрители в зале с ума не сошли от восторга!!!

She never sang an actual soprano role

@@Tkimba2 I didn't say a whole soprano role. But on YT you can find many soprano arias sung by her.

And for me :)

At first i read "she isn't perfect". I'm so glad that wasn't the case. She is incredible, I can't get enough, her sound is delicious!!

One of a kind and maybe my favorite mezzo :-)

lot of people label her as a soprano, but she is clearly an epitome of a true dramatic mezzosoprano with great extension to soprano range (and down to contralto, listen to her Pique Dame or Ulrica - epic!). she could have sung Wagner biggest roles. Brünnhilde, Isolde, Kundry..., but she didn't speak German. :(

Может лучше, и зовут её Елена Образцова!

Да, голос не дрожит только у синтезатора.

Это называется вибрато :-)

Такое чувство и у меня

Да! Неповторимая!!!

Así es…te eleva…es un cúmulo de emociones….la Reina Obraztsova.

@@grocery9617 Filipino?

And Jessye Norman's version?

@@TCt83067695 I only know one recorded version which is too slow. And Norman is a little "too intellectual" in her interpretation, I think.

@@Altonahh10 intellectual? How do you mean? Do you mean she was acting as well rather than just singing?

A singer must be able to let us forget about her real intentions in that scene. Obraztsova has it all. The full-bodied voice, the charisma and the technique to seduce us with her decrescendi, her longing breath and the lustful tone

Dubbel Henke she had one of the most beautiful voices ever!

никогда не превзойдет. Кроме голоса надо быть еще и величайшей и особенной личностью.

Никогда. Потому что мы через пение слушаем душу певца. А она у каждого индивидуальна. Оперный певец в первую очередь должен быть интересным человеком. А потом - певцом.

@@vitalylesindorf640 Bien dicho…yo la escucho y lloro oyendo su voz…irrepetible!!!

@@laprimmadonna2341 Obrigado.