Astrid and Birgit and Martha

Intrigued by Alex Ross's post on the prank played by Astrid Varnay on Birgit Nilsson? Then check out this transcription of a televised discussion with Varnay, Birgit and the great Martha Modl. Here's one gem, Nilsson on her testy relationship with Karajan:

"Making music with him was marvelous. But doing theater with him wasn't so marvelous. He was a lighting technician. We walked around like blind pilgrims looking for some light, with our faces tilted up to catch some if we found it. If you liked his lighting everything was fine! Everyone was so reverent about him. I didn't see why you had to be more reverent about Karajan than about anyone else. I said what I thought. Once he said, 'Frau Nilsson, do that again, but this time with heart. You know your heart, it is there where your wallet is.' 'Then we have at least one thing in common, Herr von Karajan' I replied."