[MAS]

The two venerable ones, Serafin 1939, Toscanini 1940 are, of course, in monophonic sound and show their age. The Karajan, being from 1984, the Digital Age, is of a different category, though not without its problems: reverberant and raw, but the voice, Agnes Baltsa, with her often biting tone, holds her own against the two veteran and puissant mezzos, Stignani for Serafin and Castagna for Toscanini.

Of the three singers, Stignani has the best material, a voice of large proportions, rich, beautiful, free at the top and bottom, and used with artistry if a bit stolid. She has no trouble delving into her chest register and letting loose her top.
Castagna, for Toscanini, sounds closely recorded; the voice is a lesser instrument than Stignani’s, but no less artistically used, though she indulges in aspirates when the vocal line gets difficult. The top is less free and used with caution when a fff seems indicated. The video cuts off before she is finished.

Baltsa, for Karajan, is the equal of the two veterans but with a slender voice, capable of plunging into her chest along with the best and not shirk up top, with plenty of power, though she is more distantly recorded. The voice is compact, but can cut through the orchestra easily.

A difficult choice, but I think I can cut Castagna first, which leaves two very different voices. I need to ponder before voting.

 

[MAS]

This is between Stignani and Baltsa, with Stignani having the more imposing instrument and Baltsa delivering a touch more drama. Castagna is good (once she settles into the pitch at the start), but her voice seems to possess less declamatory bite. I loved her in the lyrical "Printemps qui commence" a while back, but not so much in this sterner material.

Had Stignani been as effective as Baltsa (or a number of other singers) in the Iago-esque mutterings of "nil..nil...", I'd choose her. But this is a theatrical requiem by an agnostic, and the more operatic the singing, the better. I see too that no one has yet picked Baltsa, so I'll let that decide my vote.

I was tending towards her, but waffling between her and Stignani. I find Stignani too marmoreal and Baltsa more human and emotional.