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"...this remains, so far as I'm concerned, the essential Tristan recording."
High Fidelity, February 1968 "This series is among the most handsomely produced to be found these days, with documentation and presentation that are of unfailingly high quality."
Masterworks Heritage -- great artistry of the past, technology of the future
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 60896 - Available on CD |
Tristan und Isolde - Act III, Scene 4 - "Liebestod" wav (1,013k) | real audio |
St. Louis-born Helen Traubel became one of the greatest sopranos in her day, her magnificent voice inviting comparison with that of famed Wagnerian Kirsten Flagstad. On this collection, her tracks are complemented by selections from the century's leading Heldentenor, Lauritz Melchior, forming a two-disc program of Wagnerian highlights. Recorded between 1942 and 1945, this program shows both artists at the peak of their powers. Their riveting performances -- led by Fritz Busch, Artur Rodzinski, and Erich Leinsdorf -- mark a high point in the history of Wagner on record. Rare archival photos are supplemented by expert booklet notes and incredible remastered sound from original sources!
From the incredible remastered sound to the packaging design, the critical acclaim is unanimous for Sony Classical's pace-setting reissue series, Masterworks Heritage. Encompassing acoustic-era gems from as far back as the 1903 Grand Opera Series as well as landmark mono- and stereo-era performances from the 1920s to the pre-digital 1970s, this series continues with five important releases. Delighted collectors are reintroducing themselves to a treasure trove of legendary performances by their favorite artists of the past, meticulously remastered and presented in special, stylishly designed imported packaging.
In this, the eighth installment of Masterworks Heritage, these historic recordings of Wagner sung by Lauritz Melchior and Helen Traubel, as well as stereo recordings of Bartók and Prokofiev under George Szell and his Cleveland Orchestra, highlight the latest releases, which also include the first CD release of the debut recordings of violinists Michael Rabin and Ossy Renardy, a collection of twentieth-century American vocal works, and another installment of Lotte Lenya's authoritative renditions of Kurt Weill's songs. Some of these recordings are being issued on CD for the first time, having been unavailable for decades.
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