October: Featured Classical Music CDs

Der Fliegende Hollaänder
OP1289, Live Performance, 1955, w.Keilberth Cond. Bayreuth Festival Ensemble; Hermann Uhde, Rudolf Lustig, Ludwig Weber, Josef Traxel, Astrid Varnay, etc. (England) 2-Testament Stereo SBT2 1384, from Decca recording. Outstanding sound! $39.90, the Set.

“This enthralling performance has always been a highly recommended version. Its stereo incarnation was available only briefly on LP….Now Testament has had access to the original stereo tapes and, as in the case of the same year’s Ring now in progress, the sound is truly amazing, allowing us to enjoy the intense, vital performance even more than in the past….Phrase after phrase [from Uhde] etches itself in the mind in this unmissable portrayal. Incredibly Varnay, who was also Brünnhilde in 1955, bings to Senta a tireless dedication and vision to match Uhde’s hero. She fines her large voice down to the more intimate needs of Senta….All [of the cast] seem to be under the spell of the work and the conductor in a reading that now has the stereo sound it so richly deserves.”

- Alan Blyth, GRAMOPHONE, Oct., 2006

Otello
OP1303, Live Performance, 19 Oct., 1955, w.Kubelik Cond. Royal Opera House Ensemble; Ramón Vinay, Gré Brouwenstijn, Otakar Kraus, John Lanigan, Marian Nowakowski, Michael Langdon, etc. 2-Royal Opera House Heritage ROHS001. Slipcase Edition. Specially priced at $19.90, the Set.

“The Kubelik Otello has been the stuff of legends in operatic circles for many years. If anything, the reality is even better than the received history might have led one to expect. Indeed, this recording can easily lay claim to being one of the finest realisations of Verdi’s masterpiece to have been set before the public at any time. The reason for this lies principally in Kubelik’s conducting….The singers throughout perform at the same exalted level….The chorus and orchestra perform as if their lives depend upon it….If future issues in this welcome series can maintain or even approach [this] exalted level…opera-lovers everywhere are in for an extended treat.”

- David Patmore, CLASSIC RECORD COLLECTOR, Autumn, 2006

Lucia Di Lammermoor
OP1302, Live Performance, 26 Feb., 1959, w.Serafin Cond. Royal Opera House Ensemble; Joan Sutherland, João Gibin, John Shaw, Joseph Rouleau, Kenneth MacDonald, etc. 2-Royal Opera House Heritage ROHS002. Slipcase Edition. Specially priced at $19.90, the Set.

“Here [Sutherland] is the primary focus of interest. It is hard to imagine her realisation of Lucia as presented here ever being bettered. Her conception is exceptionally feminine and is delivered with a vocal virtuosity that is simply breathtaking….Throughout the evening, Serafin’s mastery of the…score is fully evident….If future issues in this welcome series can maintain or even approach [this] exalted level…opera-lovers everywhere are in for an extended treat.”

- David Patmore, CLASSIC RECORD COLLECTOR, Autumn, 2006