I'm a great admirer of Victoria de los Angeles---I saw her three times, in Scotland, in Recitals/Concerts. Front row every time!! She had a wonderful, lovable platform presence even before she opened her mouth. Rather shy. I couldn't believe I was sitting, in the front row, so close to one of the greatest post war sopranos.It's a hair raising experience,believe me, and yet she was so diffident in nature. On stage,
Covent Garden, The Met, Paris Opera, Milan, Bayreuth, North, Central, and South America opera houses, plus many, many more sprang to mind,and add the Recital Halls, and here she was---singing to me, and to the back of the Hall.! A unique timbre to the voice, and a TRUE passion in everything she sang. Furthermore, one could sense she wanted us to have just as pleasant an evening, as she was experiencng. Her smiles were genuine. Her body language confirmed that.
Kathleen Ferrier, a great favourite. Also Marian Anderson, and some of the Callas and Schwarzkopf recordings.