Your favourite historical Wagner recordings?

[Karafan]

I do too!!

I will let you know my learned () thoughts on the 1938 set when it lands on the old doormat.....

Bws
K.

[Karafan]

Petrushka:

The sound on the 1938 Boehm recording is very good indeed; the original recordings having been remastered in 2005.

The principals are beautifully caught and the balance is very good between singers and orchestra (which I had worried might have favoured one strongly over the other, but which does not).

The acoustic of the splendid old Semperoper in Dresden (sadly destroyed in the war) is very well rendered, adding a nice bloom around both voice and instruments. Nissen sounds effortless and his voice has a beautiful gleam, especially in the upper registers. His tone doesn't spread under pressure and I would say it was worth its modest cost for the magical Quintett alone.

The recording is spread between two discs, as opposed to the "three wine-red deluxe albums of five discs each, retailing for 90 Reichsmark" of 1938, which the interesting booklet essay details.

K.

[Petrushka]

Petrushka:

The sound on the 1938 Boehm recording is very good indeed; the original recordings having been remastered in 2005.

The principals are beautifully caught and the balance is very good between singers and orchestra (which I had worried might have favoured one strongly over the other, but which does not).

The acoustic of the splendid old Semperoper in Dresden (sadly destroyed in the war) is very well rendered, adding a nice bloom around both voice and instruments. Nissen sounds effortless and his voice has a beautiful gleam, especially in the upper registers. His tone doesn't spread under pressure and I would say it was worth its modest cost for the magical Quintett alone.

The recording is spread between two discs, as opposed to the "three wine-red deluxe albums of five discs each, retailing for 90 Reichsmark" of 1938, which the interesting booklet essay details.

K.

Thanks for that positive report, Karafan. This disc is already safely stowed away for Christmas Day!

I've read several books on the terrible 1945 raid on Dresden (and went there in 1990) and while they naturally mention the destruction of the Semperoper none, as far as I know, mention the fate of the orchestral players. How was the personnel of this great orchestra affected by the events of that terrible night? Anyone know?

[ARBurton]

I got it from a 3rd party seller on Amazon, so it was probably a one-off. There's a few listed still - the German seller (Music-overstocks) is pretty good I have used them before and they list it on there for under £9, with your £1.26 postage on top, of course. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...seller=&colid=

There are audio samples on there as well, naturally. I thank the sound holds up very well indeed - not crumbly or indistinct at all.

Confession time: I shelled out a king's ransom today for the Böhm 1944 (Preiser) complete Meistersinger with Schöffler from Vienna (nla). You can buy it as a download on Amazon for £6, but you cannot put a price on "fondling the goods", to borrow a phrase from a pal of mine.

Looking forward to that one - it is said to be even finer than his 1968 Bayreuth recording on Orfeo (which is also good). The sound, for its age, is spectacular. I'd be interested to hear if there are other admirers of that set on the board.

K.

Hi there - yes, I am indeed. It`s also available (at a very cheap price) on the Cantus Classics label although I don`t know what their transfer is like. I have to say however that fine though this Msinger is, Jochum`s 1949 Munich set is better. IMHO, of course.

[Karafan]

I have to say however that fine though this Msinger is, Jochum`s 1949 Munich set is better. IMHO, of course.

Is that the one on Myto with Hotter, Kupper, Treptow, et al, ARB?

K.

[Biffo]

Elmendorff - Die Walkure Act I and Wotan's Farewell - both recorded in the Semperoper, Dresden in Autumn 1944. Amazing sound quality and excellent singing from Lorenz, Teschemacher, Bohme and Herrmann plus the glorious Staatskapelle.

[Karafan]

Might have had a dabble at that, Biffo, old bean. But at a penny under £50 I shall have to swerve to avoid it!

[Biffo]

Karafan: Sorry about that, I didn't realise it had soared in price since I bought it.

Just checked, it is available from Amazon for £16.37 (and cheaper from affiliates). The set is on the Profil label and is part of their Dresden series (Vol 23).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Staatskapelle-Dresden-Vol-23/dp/B001PSJT3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1323341601&sr=1-1

[Karafan]

Aah, thanks for the update Biffo - that's more like it....

[Prommer]

What about the excerpts from Parsifal conducted by Karl Muck?

[gurnemanz]

I mentioned the the Muck recordings on Naxos a while ago in a Parsifal thread:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?3642-Your-recommendable-recordings-of-Parsifal/page3&highlight=parsifal

[amateur51]

Aah, thanks for the update Biffo - that's more like it....

Currently £7.99 inc from HMV! - woo-hoo

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=921486&affiliate=awin&awinuid=882&affId=102563&WT.mc_id=101915

[Petrushka]

Currently £7.99 inc from HMV! - woo-hoo

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...T.mc_id=101915

Duly ordered!

[Segilla]

Has Act II of the Bruno Walter Walkure ever been issued on CD?

I seem to recall that at least one of the singers, because of gathering difficulties, sang small parts of another character. (I think it was mentioned in the first edition of The Record Guide, (DS-T and ES-W )

[arthroceph]

I find that if I really love a piece of music, my ears are able to follow it despite attendant noises.

A case in point is this, where there's plenty of coughing to distract, but the intensity of the performance shines through (maybe not on first and second hearings):
Tristan: Prelude to Act 3, Berlin 3 Oct / Furtwängler

In many ways, inferior music can feel musically better in a pristine recording: analogous to plastic surgery, introduce noise and distractions, and it becomes forgettable dross.