[MAS]

Destinn is the first dramatic soprano I’ve heard in this aria, and I was initially thrown by the different language; it seemed like it didn’t quite fit. Now that @ewilkros has discovered the different texts, I realized why I wasn’t able to follow the lyric. But Destinn’s voice is rather plain in tone, though that may be the recording, and she sings straightforwardly and her diction is, as far as I can tell, very good - you can tell there are words…

Salvati i is pleading quite noticeably; there is a plaintiveness to the sound of her voice, and she sounds young, which Destinn does not.

Schneider’s voice is silvery, which fits the piece, but in a faster tempo than the others so far. I don’t detect any real connection to the piece, other than some sadness. It’s a beautiful voice.

Borkh’s slender voice sounds like it would suit this piece, and as she usually makes much of the words, but I don’t think she adds what I expected to the aria.

Trötschel has a smoother approach to the text, an overall serenity, that doesn’t suit the text - she seems too calm, as if she’s already got her wish.

Of the five, Salvati seems that she got the aria’s intent.

 

[MAS]

He didn't just "discover" the different texts - He actually re-wrote the lyrics based on what he had heard - That's talent - On my best day I couldn't do that - At some point I had listened to everything three separate times and it never occurred to me that each was singing an entirely different interpretation - No wonder I couldn't find the alternative lyrics - They were probably re-writing them in the studio - Not actually being able to speak a word of the language can great hinder one's comprehension...

Trying to follow German singing without the proper text is frustrating. Add to that I have the sound of the Czech version in my ears, and you get total confusion.
Like you, I don’t speak German, so… 🤪