Klaus Nomi
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 by Billy
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Klaus Nomi started being famous in the late seventies when he performed with David Bowie in New-York. Quite unusually, the German countertenor was involved in underground and pop music, and in opera as well.
He was not only famous because of his exceptionally wide tessitura, but also because of his elfin look and usual appearances on stage as a black and white alien. Yet his career was short: he was one of the first celebrities to die from AIDS.
In November, 1982, before his home crowd in Munich, Klaus Nomi performed The Cold Song from King Arthur by Henry Purcell. Although the audience did not know, he was already seriously ill at the time, which appears obvious on the movie below. He died a few months later, aged 39 only.
| What power art thou, who from below Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow From beds of everlasting snow See'st thou not how stiff and wondrous old Far unfit to bear the bitter cold, I can scarcely move or draw my breath Let me, let me freeze again to death. |
The lyrics to this old aria appear strangely prophetic when you watch at it now, the last two lines especially... Knowing what a difficult time Klaus Nomi was having then, just adds to its intensity and frightening beauty.
ahhh my friend, you know how this piece moved me when you pointed it out to me years ago!
I am still moved with it, and I am glad you made a post out of it.