Júlia Várady - The Orfeo Recordings

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Orfeo honors Júlia Várady as one of the most important sopranos of the second half of the 20th century with the release of this 10 album boxed set ‘The Orfeo Recordings’ on the occasion of her 80th Anniversary on 1st September 2021.

A significant number of opera lovers and connoisseurs maintain that Maria Callas’ mantle ought to have passed to Júlia Várady, and that the (now eighty-year-old) Romanian-Hungarian-German soprano actually should, in her day, have ascended the international throne of the prima donna assoluta. But as it is said, her loyalty to her two musical homes, the Bavarian State Opera and the Deutsche Oper Berlin, prevented this. Nonetheless, she made guest appearances at all the world’s major opera theaters – but she was apparently not available to the market as unrestrictedly and ubiquitously as would have been necessary for her image, in order for her to be enthroned as the Várady (as the legitimate successor of the Callas). In addition to her loyalty to the two aforementioned opera houses, another reason seemed to be a natural modesty that prevented her from constantly drawing attention to herself (with a reputation, for example, of being the “difficult one,“ or even with scandals). Her marriage to the titan Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in 1977 may also have played a role, as she often and willingly stepped into his shadow.

Escerpts from reviews of previously released volumes included in this set:

Julia Varady sings Wagner

Varady's reading of the Wesendonck Lieder is remarkable, enthralling. There's nothing here of the slow, wallowing approach often favoured today. The feeling of the words is one of very present emotions. And transfiguration is a feature of Varady's concentrated, urgent Liebestod, her complete absorption with the text as much as with the music an object-lesson in great Wagner singing. The players of Fischer-Dieskau's Berlin orchestra cover themselves in glory. The recording is exemplary.

– Gramophone

Julia Varady sings Richard Strauss

The final scene of Salome, under the watchful eye of Varady's husband, Fischer-Dieskau, has the perfection of pitch and phrase one expects of this singer, as well as an expected acuity for the meaning of the text.

– Gramophone

Julia Varady - Puccini Arias

A lovely and somewhat surprising record by the most fascinating and patrician lyric soprano of the present age: 'surprising' because, though Varady is associated closely enough with Verdi, the Puccini connection is less readily made, 'lovely' because the voice is still so pure, the style so musical and the response so intelligent, immediate and full-hearted. She adjusts wonderfully well to the Italian idiom, lightening the vowels, freeing the upper range, allowing more portamento than she would probably do in other music, yet employing in its use the finest technical skill and artistic judgement.

– Gramophone



Product Description:


  • Release Date: August 20, 2021


  • Catalog Number: ORF-C210086


  • UPC: 4011790210865


  • Label: ORFEO


  • Number of Discs: 10


  • Composer: Gaspare Spontini, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Josef Myslivecek, Louis Spohr, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart


  • Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gerd Albrecht, Marcello Viotti, Roman Kofman, Wolfgang Sawallisch


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian State Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, Hamburg State Opera Chorus, Munich Radio Orchestra, RIAS Chamber Chorus


  • Performer: Aribert Reimann, Daphne Evangelatos, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Elena Bashkirova, Franco Tagliavini, George Fortune, Hans Schöneberger, Hartmut Höll, Helen Donath, Jorg Fadle, Júlia Várady, Kurt Moll, Lothar Odinius, Renate Behle, Stefania Toczyska, Stella Doufexis, Thomas Moser



Works:


  1. Nabucco, Act II: Ben io t'invenni

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  2. Il Trovatore, Act I: Tacea la notte placida

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  3. La traviata, Act III: È strano!

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  4. La traviata, Act III: Tenesta la promessa - Attendo, ne a me giungon mai

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  5. Un Ballo in Maschera, Act II: Ecco l'orrido campo - Ma dall'arido stelo

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  6. Un Ballo in Maschera, Act III: Morrò, ma prima in grazia

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  7. La forza del destino, Act IV: Pace, pace, mio Dio

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  8. Macbeth, Act I: Ambizioso spirito … Vieni! T'affretta!

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  9. Macbeth, Act II: La luce langue

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  10. Macbeth, Act IV: Una macchia è qui tutt'ora

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  11. Don Carlo, Act V: Tu che le vanita conoscesti del mondo

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  12. Aida, Act I: Ritorna vincitor!

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  13. Aida, Act III: Qui Radames verrà! … O patria mia

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  14. Otello, Act IV: Piangea cantando nell'erma landa

    Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Stella Doufexis

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  15. La Rondine, Act I: Chi il bel sogno di Doretta

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  16. La bohème, Act I: Sì, mi chiamano Mimi

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  17. La bohème, Act III: D'onde lieta usci

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  18. Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  19. Manon Lescaut, Act II: In quelle trine morbide

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  20. Manon Lescaut, Act IV: Sola, perduta, abbandonata

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  21. Suor Angelica: Senza mamma, o bimbo

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  22. Tosca, Act II: Vissi d'arte

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  23. Madama Butterfly, Act II: Un bel di, vedremo

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  24. Madama Butterfly, Act II: Che tua madre

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  25. Madama Butterfly, Act III: Tu, tu, piccolo iddio

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  26. Turandot, Act I: Signore, ascolta!

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  27. Turandot, Act III: Tu, che di gel sei cinta

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  28. Turandot, Act II: In questa reggia

    Composer: Giacomo Puccini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Marcello Viotti


  29. Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, Act I: Nu, zaboltalas' ja!; Puskaj pagibnu ja, no prezhde; Akh, noč' minula

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  30. The Maid of Orleans, Introduction & Act I: Aria: Da, čas nastal…Prostite wy, cholmy, polia rodnyje

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  31. Mazeppa, Act III: The Battle of Poltava

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  32. Mazeppa, Act III Scene 1: Spi, mladenez moi prekrasnyj

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  33. Mazeppa, Act I: Gopak

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  34. Charodeyka, Act I: Aria: Glianut s Nižnewo, so krutoi gory

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  35. Charodeyka, Act IV: Aria: Gde že ty, moi želannyi?

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  36. The Queen of Spades, Act I Scene 10: Otkuda eti slezy, zachem one?, "Lisa's Aria"

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  37. The Queen of Spades, Act III Scene 2: Už polnoč blizitsja

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  38. Iolanta, Op. 69, Prelude & Scene 1: Arioso: Otčego eto prežde ne snala li toskia ia

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Ensemble: Munich Radio Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Roman Kofman


  39. Wesendonck Lieder

    Composer: Richard Wagner

    Ensemble: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  40. Tristan und Isolde, Act I: Prelude & Act III: Mild und leise [Libestod]

    Composer: Richard Wagner

    Ensemble: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  41. Götterdämmerung, Siegfried's Rhine Journey & Act III Scene 3: Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort

    Composer: Richard Wagner

    Ensemble: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  42. Salome: Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund küssen lassen, Jochanaan!

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Ensemble: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  43. Ariadne auf Naxos, Overture; Ein Schönes war, hiess Theseus; Es gibt ein Reich

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Ensemble: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  44. Die Liebe der Danae, Interlude: Aufzug & Wie umgibst du mich mit Frieden

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Ensemble: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  45. Capriccio, Mondscheinmusik; Scene 13: Wo ist mein Bruder? & Kein Andres, das mir so im Herzen loht

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Ensemble: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau


  46. Arabella, Act I: Er ist der Richtige nicht für mich! & Act III: Das war sehr gut, Mandryka

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Ensemble: Bavarian State Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch


  47. Gli amori di Teolinda

    Composer: Giacomo Meyerbeer

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Gerd Albrecht


  48. Olimpie, Act II: Mais, quel trouble inconnu s'empare de mes sens? & O reine; Act III: Cassandre est libre! & Viens! suis-moi!

    Composer: Gaspare Spontini

    Ensemble: Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Stefania Toczyska, Franco Tagliavini

    Conductor: Gerd Albrecht


  49. Jessonda, Act I: Als in mitternächt'ger Stunde...Die ihr Fühlende betrübet; Act III: Ich hatt' entsagt der Erde Freuden & Mein Schritt, beflügelt von Entzücken

    Composer: Louis Spohr

    Ensemble: Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra

    Performer: Júlia Várady

    Conductor: Gerd Albrecht


  50. Ridente la calma

    Composer: Josef Myslivecek, arr. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  51. Oiseaux, si tous les ans, K. 307

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  52. Dans un bois solitaire, K. 308

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  53. Das Veilchen, K. 476

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  54. An die Einsamkeit, K. 391

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  55. Der Zauberer, K. 472

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  56. Als Luise die Briefe, K. 520

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  57. Un moto di gioia mi sento, K. 579

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  58. Abendempfindung, K. 523

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  59. Die Alte, K. 517

    Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  60. 3 Lieder, Op. 29: No. 2. Schlagende Herzen

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  61. 6 Lieder, Op. 68: No. 2. Ich wollt' ein Sträusslein binden & No. 3. Säusle, liebe Myrthe

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  62. 5 Lieder, Op. 39: No. 4. Befreit

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  63. 6 Lieder, Op. 37: No. 3. Meinem Kinde

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  64. 8 Lieder, Op. 49: No. 1. Waldseligkeit (version for voice and piano)

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  65. 5 Kleine Lieder, Op. 69: No. 5. Schlechtes Wetter

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  66. 6 Lieder, Op. 56, TrV 220: No. 5. Frühlingsfeier

    Composer: Richard Strauss

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Elena Bashkirova


  67. Khotel bï v edinoye slovo (I wish I could take all my sadness)

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  68. 6 Romances, Op. 6: No. 1. Ne ver', moy drug & No. 5. Otchevo? (Why?)

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  69. 6 Romances, Op. 28: No. 3. Zachem? (Why?)

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  70. 7 Romances, Op. 47: No. 1. Kabï znala ya (If I'd only guessed) & No. 2. Gornimi tikho letela dusha nebesami (Calmly the spirit flew up to heaven)

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  71. 6 Romances, Op. 73

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  72. 6 Melodies, Op. 65

    Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Performer: Júlia Várady, Aribert Reimann


  73. 6 Deutsche Lieder, Op. 154

    Composer: Louis Spohr

    Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Hartmut Höll


  74. Selections: from the Lieder Opp. 25, 37, 41 & 72

    Composer: Louis Spohr

    Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hartmut Höll


  75. 6 Lieder, Op. 103

    Composer: Louis Spohr

    Performer: Hartmut Höll, Hans Schöneberger, Júlia Várady