From "original analogue tapes with tape speeds of up to 76 cm/s which are of astonishingly high quality, even by today’s standards."

Fritz Wunderlich frequently sang the tenor part in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on Schiller’s “Ode to joy”, but he never recorded it on LP. His contribution makes this live recording of a 1962 concert at the Hessischer Rundfunk a rarity and closes a gap in the discographic legacy of the singer who died so prematurely. Wunderlich’s cantabile performance style ennobles the tenor solo in the “alla Marcia“ style, and he smoothly blends into the excellent line-up of soloists: Shige Yano (soprano), Marga Höffgen (alto) and Theo Adam (bass-baritone). The conductor is Dean Dixon, the first Afro-American to hold the post of chief conductor (1961-1974) of a German Radio Symphony Orchestra.

"This CD forms part of our series “Legendary Recordings” and bears the stamp “1st Master Release”. This term stands for the exceptional quality of audite’s archive releases which are all, without exception, produced using original tapes from the radio archives. Usually, these are the original analogue tapes with tape speeds of up to 76 cm/s which are of astonishingly high quality, even by today’s standards. In addition, the process of re-mastering, executed with professional expertise and sensitivity, reveals hitherto hidden details of the interpretations, creating a sonic image of superior quality. CD releases produced from private recordings of radio broadcasts or old 78rpm records cannot match this level of sound quality." - Ludger Böckenhoff, Producer, Audite Records.