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Creator
Flagstad, Kirsten, 1895-1962
Call number
*L (Special) 88-32
Physical description
75 sound tape reels, analog; 75 sound tape reels, analog; 73; 2
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Kirsten Flagstad collection of noncommercial recordings [sound recording], Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library

Repository
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

These tapes constitute a large portion of the noncommercial recordings collected by Flagstad of her own performances and interviews. Recordings originating from Norway include Flagstad's farewell concert of December 12, 1953, and fourteen tapes recorded privately at the Norwegian Broadcast Service in 1954 and 1958 featuring songs by Norwegian composers.

Biographical/historical information

Kirsten Flagstad is regarded as the leading Wagnerian soprano of her generation. Born in Norway in 1895, she achieved international recognition with her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Walküre on February 2, 1935. In addition to Wagner, Flagstad's recordings include works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Delius, Elgar, Gluck, Grieg, Handel, Lie, Lindeman, Purcell, Rossini, Schubert, Schumann, Sibelius, Sindling, Strauss, and Wolf.

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur V. Dusenberry; 1969.

Scope and arrangement

These tapes are a large portion of the noncommercial recordings collected by Flagstad of her own performances and interviews. Among the opera recordings in the collection are excerpts from Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden Opera broadcast performances.

Recordings originating from Norway include Flagstad's farewell concert of December 12, 1953, and fourteen tapes recorded privately at the Norwegian Broadcast Service in 1954 and 1958 featuring songs of Norwegian composers.

Interviews with Flagstad are as follows: On singing Wagner (BBC, June 28, 1950); Farewell interview (Danish State Radio, December 26, 1953); Recollections of Metropolitan Opera debut (Danish State Radio, February 2, 1960); Opening of the Norwegian National Opera (Norwegian Broadcasting Service, February 16, 1959).

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Dusenberry bequest.

Bibliography

Kirsten Flagstad Discography by Howard C. Sanner, available in *L 05-6979

Using the collection

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Alternative form available

Preservation cassette copies of collection available in repository. For holdings information, consult local finding aids