Der Erwin I

1. Der Willi

2. Das Abitur

3. Im Buchladen

4. Servus, Oma

5. Mahlzeit

6. First-Class Hotel

7. Der Kaiserschmarrn

8. Nurejew

9. Der Kinderfunk

10. Heut' Geh' Ich Ins Buro

11. I Hab' Koa Freid

12. Bilanzen

13. Nikolausi

14. Wiedersehn

15. Der Russische Witz

16. Die Melodie

17. S'lawinderl

18. Die Gulaschsuppe

19. Mister Hapflinger

20. Der Ostblockplayboy

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Der Erwin I,Gerhard Polt,BMG,World Music

Average customer rating: I got it for the same reason.... Where's the full-length version? "Che belle voci!" Great opera amazing

Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro (Highlights) Gundula Janowitz , Barbara Vogel , Klaus Hirte , Patricia Johnson , Martin Vantin , Erwin Wohlfahrt , and Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Janowitz, Gundula | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Troyanos, Tatiana | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Operas | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Mozart: The Magic Flute (Highlights) Mozart: Don Giovanni [Highlights] Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Highlights) Mozart - Così fan tutte / Cuberli, Bartoli, Rodgers, Streit, Furlanetto, Tomlinson, Berlin Phil., Barenboim [highlights] Verdi: Aida (Highlights) ASIN: B000001GDO Release Date: 1990-05-16

Tracks:

1. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Overture
2. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 1: Duettino: 'Se a caso Madama la notte ti chiama' - Figaro, Susanna
3. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 1: Cavatina: 'Se vuol ballare signor Contino' - Figaro
4. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 1: Aria: 'La vendetta, oh, la vendetta' - Bartolo
5. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 1: Aria: 'Non s piu cosa son, cosa faccio' - Cherubino
6. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 1: Aria: 'Non piu andrai farfallone amoroso' - Figaro
7. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 2: Cavatina: 'Porgi amor' - Contessa
8. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 2: Canazona: 'Voi che sapete' - Cherubino
9. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 2: Aria: 'Venite, inginocchiatevi' - Susanna
10. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 3: Act III: Aria: 'Vedro, mentr'io sospiro' - Conte
11. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 3: Recitativo: 'E Susanna non vien!' - Contessa
12. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 3: Aria: 'Dove sono i bei momenti' - Contessa
13. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 3: Duettino: 'Che soave zeffietto' - Susanna, Contessa
14. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 4: Aria: 'L'ho perduta' - Barbarina
15. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 4: Aria: 'Aprite un po' quegli occhi' - Figaro
16. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 4: Recitativo: 'Giunse alfin il momento' - Susanna
17. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Act 4: Aria 'Deh vieni, non tardar' - Susanna
18. Le nozze di Figaro - The Marriage of Figaro: Finale: 'Gente, Gente, all'armi, all'armi' - Conte,Tutti

Customer Reviews:

I got it for the same reason...........2006-03-07

as many of the others...because that one song that echoed over the courtyard of Shawshank Prison grabbed me. So, I looked in the credits and discovered this. OK, so it's just the highlights, but it's an AMAZING album from start to finish. Presented with passion, humanity, and sometimes even humor. Sometimes opera will drive me up the wall when I don't like one of the singer's voices, but this one has a wonderful collection of talent, and is very easy to listen to.

Where's the full-length version?.......2003-05-03

I have both the highlights and the full recording of this version of Figaro. For some reason, though, Amazon doesn't seem to carry the full version, which is too bad. This is one of the few operas I actually think needs the recitiatives.
Anyway, so since the acting doesn't matter too much on a highlights version I won't get into that. The singing is very good, in fact I think it's probably the best version of Figaro out there. The only exception is in regards to Gundula Janowitz's performance of Dove Sono, which seems to be very ill-suited to her voice. The rest of her part is done beautifully. I also think it's sad that Marcellina's aria was left off, since that is always one of my favorite songs and I will never intentionally buy a recording where it has not been included, but due to how frequently it gets cut, I am not surprised.
Anyway, I recommend the highlights version if you are after something you can listen to in the car and don't want to bother with a full three disc set. For all other purposes I would advise you to track down the full-length recording, which is definitely worth it.

"Che belle voci!".......2002-06-26

This recording is fantastic. Bohm is a lively, exciting conductor who can also make one wet-eyed in the final scene. Prey has the perfect blend of mischievousness and richness of sound for Figaro's character, and he is well-matched by Edith Mathis as Susanna who is delightful and full-voiced. Gundola Janowitz as the Countess is also amazing, and her "Dove sono" is really moving. Fischer-Dieskau is a powerful Count, too. Troyanos (Cherubino) is beyond praise and her "Voi che sapete" ranks with Frederica von Stade. The sound quality is crisp and clear, and the selections are good, though I wish the sextet "Riconosci in questo amplesso" was included. In all, great!!!

Great opera.......2001-08-18

The Marriage of Figaro is arguably one of the best operas ever developed, and it's great to know that this cd contains the best songs from the fabulous opera. The orchestra, along with the singers, give a grand performance of high caliber. If you enjoy classical music, then this will make a magnificent addition to your musical collection.

amazing.......2000-12-30

After watching Shawshank Redemption I looked everwhere for this recording. This is some of the most emotionaly moving pieces of music I have ever heard. Im a 17 year old guy in a punk rock band, and I cried probably the hardest Ive ever cried in my life when listening to the duettino sull aria. Its one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my entire life. I cant imagine not having it.

Average customer rating: Correction Fritz Wunderlich can do no wrong.... The Wonder of Wunderlich I wish I could give this release more than 5 stars: it's terrific!!!

The Art of Fritz Wunderlich Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lortzing | Lortzing, Albert | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Magnificats | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Passions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: The Magic of Wunderlich [Includes Bonus DVD] Fritz Wunderlich: Great German Tenor Schumann: Dichterliebe / Wunderlich, Giesen Schubert: Die Schöne Müllerin, 3 Lieder / Fritz Wunderlich Very Best of ASIN: B0009PLMQW Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Duetto And Chorus: Kommt, Eilet Und Laufet
2. Aria: Sanfte Soll Mein Todeskummer
3. Recitative And Chorale: O Schmerz! Hier Zittert Das Gequalte Herz
4. Aria With Chorus: Ich Will Bei Meinem Jesu Wachen
5. Recitative: Mein Jesus Schweigt Zu Falschen Lugen Stille
6. Aria: Geduld!
7. Duet: Et Misericordia
8. Aria: Deposuit Potentes
9. Recitative: So Stehe Denn, Du Gottergeb'ne Seele
10. Aria: Adam Muss In Uns Verwesen
11. Chorus: Jauchzet, Frohlocket, Auf, Preiset Die Tage
12. Recitative: Es Begab Sich Aber Zu Der Zeit
13. Aria: Frohe Hirten, Eilt, Ach Eilet
14. Aria: Ich Will Nur Dir Zu Ehren Leben
15. Recitative: Und Liess Versammeln Alle Hohenpriester
16. Terzetto: Ach! Wann Wird Die Zeit Erscheinen
17. Recitative: Und Gott Befahl Ihnen Im Traum-Genug, Mein Schatz Geht Nicht Von Hier
18. Aria: Nun Mogt Ihr Stolzen Feinde Schrecken

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Aria: Hier Soll Ich Dich Denn Sehen
3. Recitative And Aria: Konstanze, Dich Wiederzusehen, Dich!/O Wie Angstlich, O Wie Feurig
4. Aria: Wenn Der Freude Tranen Fliessen
5. Quartet: Ach! Belmonte! Ach, Mein Leben!
6. Aria: Ich Baue Ganz Auf Deine Starke
7. Recitative And Aria: Welch Ein Geschick!/Wie, Du Solltest Fur Mich Sterben!
8. Aria: Dies Bildnis Ist Bezaubernd Schon
9. Zum Ziele Fuhrt Dich Diese Bahn
10. Wie Stark Ist Nicht Dein Zauberton
11. Der Welcher Wandert Diese Strasse Vol Beschwerden
12. Tamino Mein! O Welch Ein Gluck!

Tracks:

1. Duet: Strahlt Auf Mich Der Blitz Des Goldes - Hermann Prey
2. Duet: Hier Nimm Den Ring Der Treue
3. Scene And Duet: Ich Denk Ihn Lieber Mir Von Meinem Stande/Liebe Ist Seligkeit, Ist Licht Und Leben
4. Toast: O Freunde, So Leeret In Vollen Zugen - Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
5. Duet: Ich Sah Euch Lieblich Und Engelsschon - Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
6. Duet: O, Lass Uns Fliehen Aus Diesen Mauern - Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
7. Scene And Duet: er Ist's! Carlos! Mein PRinz!/Gott, Der Entflammte Der Liebe Heisse Glut - Hermann Prey
8. Duet: Infame Feder! Welch Scheusslicher Pinsel/Ach, Geliebte! Nie Kehrst Du mir Wieder! - Hermann Prey
9. Aria: Und Es Blitzten Die Sterne
10. Scene: Nicht An Mich, Geliebter, Denke
11. Duet: Du Sussester Engel, Wie Herrlich Hast Du Geteufelt!
12. Leukippos, Du?
13. Arioso: Ja, Ich Lieb Sie, Olga
14. Aria: Wohin Seid Ihr Entschwunden

Tracks:

1. Recitative And Arioso: Holdes Laubgezewig, Du Schones/Schattige Ruh, Nie Gab Natur Sie Mir
2. Aria: Der Gedanke An Die Flammen Der Liebe
3. Aria: Bleibt Ihr Treu Dem, Der Euch So Verachtet?
4. Aria: Finstre Furie, Ihr Geister Der Holle
5. Aria: Nur Einen wunsch, Nur Ein Verlangen - Hermann Prey
6. Recitative And Duet: O Unverhofftes Gluck/Das Hore Ich Von Dir, Von Meinem Freunde? - Hermann Prey
7. Ma Se Il Nostro Gioir/Alcun Non Sia
8. Perche A Lo Sdegno/Padre Cortese/Si Non Vedro
9. Aria: Erwacht In Meinem Herzen
10. Duet: Nur Weinen Lernte Ich/Nur Klagen lernte Ich
11. Aria: Keine Schlange Lasst Sich Toten
12. Romance: O Schweige Still, O Lasse Dich Erbitten
13. Trio: Doch Nun Zu Dir/Trenne Nicht Das Band Der Liebe - Hermann Prey
14. Aria: Man Wird Ja Einmal Nur Geboren
15. Song: Lebe Wohl, Mein Flandrisch Madchen - Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
16. Recitative And Duet: Du Stehst Wirklich Vor Mir/Der tempel Brahmas Strahlt - Hermann Prey

Tracks:

1. I. Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai
2. II. Aus Meinen Tranen Spriessen
3. III. Die Rose, Die Lilie, Die Taube, Die Sonne
4. IV. Wenn Ich In Deine Augen Seh
5. V. Ich Will Meine Seele Tauchen
6. VI. Im Rhein, Im Heiligen Strome
7. VII. Ich Grolle Nicht
8. VIII. Und Wussten's Die Blumen, Die Kleinen
9. IX. Das Ist Ein Floten Und Geigen
10. X. Hor Ich Das Liedchen Klingen
11. XI. Ein Jungling Liebt Ein Madchen
12. XII. Am Leuchtenden Sommermorgen
13. XIII. Ich Hab Im Traum Geweinet
14. XIV. Allnachtlich Im Traume Seh Ich Dich
15. XV. Aus Alten Marchen Winkt Es
16. XVI. Die Alten Bosen Lieder
17. Zartliche Liebe: 'Ich Liebe Dich' WoO 123
18. Adelaide Op.46
19. Resignation WoO 149
20. Der Kuss Op.128
21. Was Ist Silvia, Saget An
22. Lied Eines Schiffers An Die Dioskuren D 360
23. Liebhaber In Allen Gestalten D 558
24. Der Einsame D 800
25. Im Abendrot Op. Post. D 799
26. Leise Flehen Meine Lieder
27. An Die Laute D 905
28. Der Musensohn D 764
29. An Die Musik D 547

Tracks:

1. Granada
2. Mattinata
3. Funiculi-Funicula
4. O Sole Mio
5. Vergiss Mein Nicht
6. Ein Lied Geht Um Die Welt
7. Du Bist Die Welt Fur Mich
8. Ich Kusse Ihre Hand, Madame
9. Caro Mio Ben
10. Ave Maria
11. Plaisir D'Amour
12. La Danza
13. Serenade: Fern Im Weiten Land, Dort Unten Im Suden
14. Be My Love
15. Santa Lucia
16. Tiritomba
17. Heute Nacht Oder Nie

Tracks:

1. Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein
2. Denk Dir, Die Welt War Ein Blumenstrauss
3. Ich Kenn Ein Kleines Wegerl Im Helenental
4. In Wien Gibt's Manch Winziges Gasserl
5. Draussen In Sievering
6. Ich Weiss Auf Der Wieden Ein Kleines Hotel
7. Ich Muss Wieder Einmal In Grinzing Sein
8. Im Prater Bluhn Wieder Die Baume
9. Herr Hofrat, Erinnern Sie Sich Noch?
10. I Hab Die Schonen Maderln Net Erfunden
11. Es Steht Ein Alter Nussbaum Drausst In Heiligenstadt
12. Wien Wird Bei Nacht Erst Schon
13. Wenn Es Abend Wird/Gruss Mir Mein Wien
14. Ob Blond, Ob Braun, Ich Liebe Alle Frau'n
15. Weine Nicht, Bricht Eine Schone Frau Dir Das Herz
16. Mein Herz Ruft Immer Nur Nach Dir, O Marita
17. Eine Kleine Fruhlingsweise
18. Schlaf Ein, Mein Blond-Engelein
19. Annchen Von Tarau
20. Still Wie Die Nacht

Customer Reviews:

Correction.......2006-12-13

Now folks, both of what the two other reviewers wrote about the tragical death of Fritz Wunderlich is wrong. Wunderlich died in hospital at September 17 1966. He had broken his skull, when he fell down the stairs in the hunting-house of a friend. Late in the evening of September 16, Wunderlich, as usual when not at home, had phoned his wife in Munich. He was very tired from strolling through the forest the whole day, making out the ideal locations for the hunt, which should start early in the next morning (Wunderlich was a passionate hunter). After he had wished his wife a good night, he went to the staircase in order to go down to his bedroom at the first floor. He still wore his heavy hunting boots - with open shoestrings! As walking downstairs, Wunderlich struggled over the open shoestrings and grabbed for the banisters, which was not more than a rope, fixed to the wall. The banisters teared out, and Wunderlich fell down the whole stairs. Fritz Wunderlich died in hospital the next day. It was only short before his 36'th birthday. An exceptional singing career had come to an untimely end. Some people believe that Wunderlich was drunken at the time of accident. If this is true can't be proven any more. But still this is not what his close friends said, regarding his accident and his death. In my opinion Wunderlich was the last of the really great tenors of the last century. All the tenors which came to fame after him (sorry folks, even such maestros as Pavarotti and Domingo) lack a certain quality in singing. It's the ease of breath flow, or singing on the breath without pushing the voice, it's the overtones, the legato, the mezza voce, the messa di voce and many more things - in short: the overall beauty of the voice through both registers. Wunderlich was the last tenor who had all this. Other examples are Caruso, McCormack, Gigli (despite the sobbing in his later recordings) and of course the wonderful Jussi Björling. But these are only some few names. If you listen for example to the cd's in the box "Famous tenors of the past" you will find that there were many very good and outstanding tenors in the first half of the 20'th century and - as we can only assume - in the time before the invention of the grammophone. Take a close look at todays famous tenors (I know, there are some quite good and promising ones) but what are they in comparison to those tenors (or better to say, to their voices and singing) I just mentioned before?

Please make your own decision.

Fritz Wunderlich can do no wrong...........2006-05-05

... okay, maybe. It's just that I've never heard a recording I didn't love. And I prefer that he sing everything in German even when that means not using original language.

This is a bit strange because I'm most often bugged by Don Carlos and Vepres in Italian (just a personal quirk). Of course, I'm also bugged by dropping the "s" in Don Carlos, which is always incorrect. The man's name IS Carlos whether in Italian or French.

I tried to write Mr. Avila a personal note, but could not, so let me say that Fritz Wunderlich did not die of cancer, but a dreadful accident in Scotland (I'll not go into the whys and wherefores, I just wanted to set PART of the record straight.)

The Wonder of Wunderlich.......2005-11-22

Deutsche Grammophone does it again! This is an extensive 3-cd compilation album featuring the artistry of the great German tenor Fritz Wunderlich in a variety of vocal repertoire - Baroque cantata/oratorio, opera and Lieder. Like the other critic pointed out, I first heard Fritz sinigng a superb Tamino in the Karl Bohm Magic Flute, although I have also heard him sing Lieder opposite the mezzo soprano Christa Ludwig and baritone Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, who were his contemporaries and colleagues. Wunderlich died tragically in 1966 of cancer. He inspired a generation of purely lyric tenors or "tenors di grazie" whose charming voice would never roughen and lack grace. His Germanic style earned him popularity in World War II Europe and he was the leading exponent of Lieder in the 50's. His tenor voice is glorious, as close to a male angel as possible. On this recording, we are treated to sumptuous arias from Bach's Christmas/Easter Oratorios, and movements from 2 cantatas. Also noteworthy are the unsurpassed performances of Mozart tenor heroes- such as Belmonte from "Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail" (Abduction from the Seraglio) and his unbeatable Tamino from Die Zauberflote The Magic Flute. He sings bel canto opera arias fo tenor, from master composers Rossinni, Bellini and Verdi. While I don't much like that he is singing Italian arias in German, one must remember that at this time, in the LP Era of World War II Germany and Austria, German-born opera singers sang Italian opera in German translation/revisions. While many German singers could indeed sing in Italian, they were mostly trained to sing it in German because of excessive national pride and because Germans viewed Italian opera as course and un-melodic. Still, there have been superb German singers who sang in Italian like Wagner diva Birgit Nilsson,baritone Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, tenor Peter Schreier, soprano Edda Moser, baritone Walter Berry, tenor Herman Pretty, all post-Wunderlich sensations. Wunderlich sings Lieder in one CD with great and unrivaled musicianship. Especially impressive are the Viennese pieces. Further to the cd's this album is equipped with photos of Wunderlich and his family and a detailed profile biography.

I wish I could give this release more than 5 stars: it's terrific!!!.......2005-10-28

I knew little about the German tenor Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966), except reading the accolades given to his recordings and performances by reviewers in "American Record Guide" over the past 13 years. I knew Wunderlich recorded the role of Tamino in the famous DG recording of Mozart's "Die Zauberflote", with Karl Bohm/Berlin Philharmonic (Now on DG Originals CDs), but was not aware of what a wide range of repertoire he had until hearing this release.

This release has a wide variety of Wunderlich's discography, including Bach arias from his Christmas and Easter Oratorios, and movements from 2 cantatas; his Mozart roles in "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail" (Eugen Jochum/Bavarian Radio Orchestra) and "Die Zauberflote" (Karl Bohm/Berlin Philharmonic); a variety of arias and duets by Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, Richard Strauss, mostly sung in German, and with Hermann Prey, baritone and Erika Koth, soprano in many of the duets; Baroque arias by Handel, from "Xerxes" (including the famous "Ombre mai fu" sung in German) and "Julius Caesar", selections from Monteverdi's "Orfeo" (an early track from 1955 sung in Italian); Schumann's "Dichterliebe", 4 Beethoven Lieder, including "Adelaide" and "Der Kuss"; and 9 Schubert lieder, including "An der Musik," and "Der Musensohn", all with Hubert Giesen, piano; Popular songs such as "Granada" and Viennese songs, with chamber orchestra accompaniment. There are no texts for the songs, but you may have text booklets with other CD releases, so don't really need them when you hear Wunderlich's beautiful voice.

There is a booklet with articles about Wunderlich's career, including a preface by his widow, Eva Wunderlich, photos of Wunderlich as a boy and young man, with his wife Eva in 1965, and children Constanze, Wolfgang, and Barbara. I enjoy reading and looking at the booklet, even apart from listening to the beautiful recordings.

Wunderlich was a genius, and his voice sounds great in every track, mono (some, but not a majority) and stereo (most of the tracks in the 7 discs are stereo) alike. If you love great music, and opera, but like me aren't often of a mind to sit still for 3 hours to listen to one, get this. It's a great release, and reasonably priced to boot. I'm thankful to God for great music, for the ability to hear and feel, and for Fritz Wunderlich and his service to music lovers everywhere.

Average customer rating: French religious choral music: Ethereal, Blissed Out, Praiseworthy Song

Lux Æterna [Hybrid SACD] Manufacturer: Channel Classics Nl ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Duruflé, Maurice | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Messiaen | Messiaen, Olivier | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé Suites; Ma Mère l'Oye; Valses nobles et sentimentales [Hybrid SACD] Mendelssohn: String Octet; Piano Sextet [Hybrid SACD] Verdi: Requiem [SACD] Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3; Poulenc: Organ Concerto; Barber: Toccata Festiva Beethoven: Complete Sonatas & Variations [Hybrid SACD] ASIN: B0008GGIX4 Release Date: 2005-06-14

Customer Reviews:

French religious choral music: Ethereal, Blissed Out, Praiseworthy Song.......2006-03-24

This super audio disc set offers quite a lot of choral music, though admittedly it is pricey. Durufle is the main composer here, with his world-famous Requiem (Op. 9) being the centerpiece on the first SA-CD. But the other Durufle works are not fluff. We are given the the brief meditative setting of the Our Father text (Op. 14) plus the longer Messe cum Jubilo (Op. 11). Then the second SA-CD continues intermixed with choral music by Poulenc: (1)Four prayers of St. Francis (1949), and (2)Laudes (hymns of praise) for St. Anthony of Padua. The second SA-CD closes with Messiaen's equally famous motet, O Sacrum Convivium (1937).

The repertoire point then is just that this 2 SA-CD set contains choral works that stand high in the 20th century French literature. Another congenial aspect is that all of the works are - and were intentionally written by their respective composers to be - devotional, even in a sense liturgical. You can just sing this stuff as great choral music, but you can also sing it as great choral music plus a shared ritual of spirit.

The singers are a very high quality male group of sixteen from The Netherlands, called The Gents (who were earlier singing together for years as members of the Roden Boys Choir), plus about twelve invited female singers to meet the mixed chorus requirements of the music at hand. The Gents reminds me of a similar group in USA called Chanticleer. Their numbers invite the comparison, but their extremely high quality musicianship across the centuries of western choral literature are really the point of the comparison. It is nice to hear that the invited women are well up to the standards set by The Gents in the first place; and that is all to the good, because you wouldn't wish in this music to have half of the choir reaching high, while the other half sang along on lower levels of technique or tonal and expressive capacity.

In multi-channel super audio sound, this set will transform your listening space into a plausible and blessed acoustic based on the German Catholic Church of St. Gudula in Rhede. The space is important here, because each composer was quite familiar with various church venues, and so the sounds of the choir need to be one with the organ, particularly in the Durufle Requiem.

It is difficult if not impossible to fault the music or the singers. Technically, everybody is reaching high levels of breath control, articulation, phrasing, and tonal expressiveness. Subtle power is the watchword phrase here. (One would hardly wish for a ham-fisted, folk song approach to any of this literature.) Musically, these performances go deep, and probably will wear as well as any over the lifespan of your music collection. You can rest as a spirit and as an intellect in how these bejewelled works are performed. You can drift away in the chariot clouds as you listen. You can abide along with the singers and organist. You can even pray or praise in any way your beliefs or your conscience or your sense of intangible realities allows.

The very last work on the second SA-CD is the Messiaen. Somehow this motet, O Sacrum Convivium, is the perfect conclusion to all that has gone before. One suspects that musical thinking - and maybe even devotional awareness - resulted in the wise ways that each work is programmed in sequence on the two SA-CD's in this set. Ah, how nice and how lovely, that the marketing bees' buzz was sent away in favor of thinking through what order we should have in this set.

As the Messiaen fades, yet lingers, you may find occasion to hit the repeat buttons on your player. The Messiaen is entirely light-bearing, entirely glowing, entirely voiced in exquisite meaning, not only by the immediate real singers at hand, but somehow by all the rest of us who have ever heard this motet over the decades since 1937.

Save up your change, then, and splurge when you can on this set. Then let whatever lights of spirit and humanity you know at your best join in celebration with the music and the performers. Bravo to the people at Channel Classics for letting this set be an unblemished example of what a classical SA-CD recording can be these days.

Kudos all round. Plus lots of stars.

Average customer rating:

Sergej Larin - Eternity ~ Western Poets in Russian Music, Vol. 3 Nikolay Medtner , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Mikhail Glinka , Cesar Cui , Anton Rubinstein , Vasily Kalinnikov , Dimitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky , Alexander Tikhonovich Grechaninov , Alexander Borodin , Anatol Alexandrov , Sergej Larin , and Eleonora Bekova Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Borodin | Borodin, Alexander | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Cui, César | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Glinka | Glinka, Mikhail | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Kalinnikov | Kalinnikov, Vasily Serge | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Medtner | Medtner, Nikolai | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sergej Larin - Romance ~ Western Poets in Russian Music, Vol. 2 ASIN: B00005BIJ6 Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

1. Inneres Wuhlen Aus 'Erwin Und Elmire', Op.6 No.6
2. Erster Verlust, Op.6 No.8
3. Es Traumte Mir Von Einer Weiten Heide, Op.63 No.5
4. La Mort, Op.48 No.5
5. Les Larmes, Op.65 No.5
6. Le Colibri
7. Les Deux Menetriers
8. Wandrers Nachtlied II Aus 'Neun Lieder Von W. Goethe', Op.6 No.1
9. Lieb Liebchen, Op.12 No.1
10. Bergstimme, Op.12 No.3
11. Die Thrane, Op.83 No.8
12. La Rondinella Pelegrina
13. Der Konig War Alt
14. Romance De Paul Et Virginie
15. Wo?
16. Mi Sento Il Cor Trafiggere
17. Septain De C.G.
18. Les Feuilles Mortes, Op.11 No.1
19. Ho Perduto Il Mio Tesoro

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Georg Oeggl Singt Manufacturer: Preiser Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000C3QP Release Date: 1998-07-04

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Der Erwin I Gerhard Polt Manufacturer: Bmg ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000ASSP Release Date: 1992-03-02

Tracks:

1. Der Willi
2. Das Abitur
3. Im Buchladen
4. Servus, Oma
5. Mahlzeit
6. First-Class Hotel
7. Der Kaiserschmarrn
8. Nurejew
9. Der Kinderfunk
10. Heut' Geh' Ich Ins Buro
11. I Hab' Koa Freid
12. Bilanzen
13. Nikolausi
14. Wiedersehn
15. Der Russische Witz
16. Die Melodie
17. S'lawinderl
18. Die Gulaschsuppe
19. Mister Hapflinger
20. Der Ostblockplayboy
21. Wann I Nimmer Meng Dad

International Music:

1. Der Himmel Ist Hier [Import]
2. Die 9te [Import]
3. Die Aerzte [Import]
4. Drums of the Earth V.1 [Import]
5. Dry Lungs V.4 [Import]
6. Eine Seefahrt die ist Lustig
7. End of the Yahgan's Journey
8. Erwarten Se Nix
9. Fresca French [Import]
10. Geradeaus

International Music

International Music