Ljuba Welitsch Recital

One of Giuseppe Verdi's most dramatic, profound and moving works, the Requiem (1874) was written in heartfelt response to the passing of poet, novelist and Italian patriot Alessandro Manzoni in 1873. This superb reading, witnessed and recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1960 under the masterful and knowing direction of Carlo Maria Giulini, features the then relativity new Philharmonia Orchestra (founded 1945) and Chorus, with a cast of vocal soloists that featured, on the women's side, Joan Sutherland and Fiorenza Cossotto, Luigi Ottolini and the recently deceased Ivo Vinco on the men's.

Wilhelm Furtwängler & the Berliner Philharmoniker in Rome (L

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Live)

Berg: Wozzeck, Op. 7 (Sung in Italian) & Violin Concerto

Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492

Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527 (Sung in German) [Recorded 1955

Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384 (Live)

Kienzl: Der Kuhreigen, Op. 85 [Recorded 1951]

Weber: Oberon, J. 306 (Recorded 1957)

This live recording of Wagner’s great opera Tristan und Isolde was recorded in August of 1958.; Wolfgang Windgassen, who champions the role of Tristan, was known for his powerful voice and successful performances in Wagner operas. He is often considered the most accomplished Wagner tenor of the twentieth century.; Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson was also a Wagner specialist, along with works from Strauss. Her voice is remembered for its force and brilliance in the upper register.

At or near the height of his conductorial powers, Herbert von Karajan's live April, 1959 La Scala Tristan und Isolde overflows its banks with top vocal talent; tenor Wolfgang Windgassen as Tristan and soprano Birgit Nilsson alone should be enough to interest any Wagner aficionado. Adding to the mix Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger and a late-1960s noted Tristan tenor in Claude Heater as Melot layers in considerably more justification for this set’s desirability despite an orchestra not quite able to reach true Wagnerian proficiency and expectedly allowing for less-than-pristine sound.

Wagner-Régeny: Die Bürger von Calais (Live 1958)

For the first time, the complete Beyreuth Ring from 1962 is being released on this magnificent 4-volume collection. This legendary performance is conducted by Rudolf Kempe, and features Otto Wiener as Wotan, Grace Hoffmann as Fricka, Gottlieb Frick as Hundig, Fritz Uhl as Siegmund, and Astrid Varnay as Brunnhilde. Die Walkure is the second of Wagner’s four music dramas that make up his epic Der Ring des Nibelungen.

For the first time, the complete Beyreuth Ring from 1962 is being released on this magnificent 4-volume collection. This legendary performance is conducted by Rudolf Kempe, and features Otto Wiener as Wotan, Grace Hoffmann as Fricka, and Gerhard Stolze as Loge. Das Rheingold is the first of Wagner’s four music dramas that make up his epic Der Ring des Nibelungen.