Grosser [CD-single] [Import]

Track Listings

1. Grosser (Edit)

2. Grosser (Dub Remix By Mr Malte)

3. Ich Hasse Das (Teil 2)

4. Freimarkt

Grosser,Fettes Brot,Yomama,Rap

Average customer rating:

German Marches on a budget
Old LP Re-Issue on CD
Quality?
Not WW2 military marches
Great!

German Military Marches

Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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More German Military Marches and Polkas, Vol. 2
Landser Marches
Regimental Marches of British Army, Vol. 1
Stormtrooper Marches
Panzer Marches

ASIN: B000002NQE
Release Date: 1994-04-14

Tracks:

Salute To The Colors
Petersburg March
The March Of The Riding Brigade
Castaldo March
March Of The York Army
March Of The Mounted Calvary
Helen March
Mussinan March
Parade Of The Bavarian Troops
Away We Go
The Salute To The Forest Rangers
Fliers March
The Cadets March
The Kaiser March
Adreas Hofer March
Radeetsky March
Spanish March
Nussdorfer March
Donner And Blitz
German Parade Of Marches

Customer Reviews:

German Marches on a budget.......2006-11-05

A good budget recording of twenty German military marches from Legacy International. As far as I know several of the marches on this recording are not easily available elsewhere. I was glad to find a CD of this recording which I had previously had on a LP vinyl record. Sadly the transfer to CD has not enhanced the sound quality. It sounds as it did on the vinyl record. There is a volume 2 of German Military Marches from Legacy International as well as an excellent recording of French military marches.

Old LP Re-Issue on CD.......2004-08-21

This is a collection of old LP recordings that were originally released on the Oylimpic Label some years ago. It has floated around since and has now come out on CD. The CD lists the German Air Force Band, but this group only plays in half of the selections listed. The other half is from another old Olympic Label recording with the Hoch Und Deutschmiester band of Austria.

Its too bad the producers were not a bit more honest about who is performing on this CD. The recording quality here has not been improved much from the original LP recordings.
The same poor linear notes are used with no info. about the
band(s) or music. Just some general ramblings about how military music may have developed in Germany. Its pretty general stuff.

While I have complained about the poor production qaulity the style of playing is still quite good. The recording sounds like it was made back in the 1960s or 70s when German bands sounded different than today. The best selection is the Zapfenstrich medley of marches and hymns used by the old Prussian army as an evening Tattoo piece and a salute to the colors. The music is not listed, but it includes Beethoven's "Zafenstreich March", as well as the old "Kurfursten march", which is included seperately later on the CD as well. This special medlely includes drum and fife florishes unique for the occasion in the old German army and concludes with a stirring version of "Deutschland Uber Alles". This selection is alone worth getting the CD for.

The other music played by the Hoch Und Deutschmiester Band is very good Austian martial selections, although these recordings have been re-issued and improved in their sound quality on another label. Overall you get a decent potporri of German and Austrian marches played by two different bands on this CD for a low price. The sound quality is poor, but not unbearable. This is basically a low budget production. You get what you pay for with this price. Enjoy

Quality?.......2003-02-25

Good representation of melodies. It would have been more enjoyable if they had used a better recording device to capture the sound. I think that wax cylinders went out of favor back in the 1920's. (Very limited dynamic and acustic range) Presentation is slightly better than the "average" high school drum and bugle corps.

Not WW2 military marches.......2002-11-06

I was searching for songs like Panzerlied and bought this CD.
I guess I expected too much from this CD.

Great!.......2002-03-07

Beware of the other CD with this title. THIS is
the good CD, the other is not. This has many great
marches on it including some they used a bit in Nazi
Germany (the Nazis wrote few songs, they used stock).
Overall, FANTASTIC. You will not be disapointed, I
just wish that a march or two was longer.

Average customer rating:

A Major Document of an Incredible Oeuvre...

Schubert: Lieder

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AYQCIK
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Customer Reviews:

A Major Document of an Incredible Oeuvre..........2007-03-12

.
Of over 600 songs, Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore realized over three-quarters: these are those. Gerald Moore was of course as important to this project as Fischer-Dieskau.

DGG's sound is excellent.

This set is a remarkable document of art.
.

The Hyperion Schubert Edition 36 ~ An 1827 Schubertiad / Banse, Finley, Schade, Dawson, G. Johnson

Average customer rating:

A Fulfilling Evening of Schubert Songs

The Hyperion Schubert Edition 36 ~ An 1827 Schubertiad / Banse, Finley, Schade, Dawson, G. Johnson

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Hyperion Schubert Edition 35 - Schubert, 1822-1825 / Dawson, McGreevy, Langridge, Hampson, Koningsberger, Maltman, Davies, G. Johnson
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The Hyperion Schubert Edition 34 / 1817 - 1821
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 31 / Christine Brewer, Graham Johnson
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 37 ~ Schubert - The Final Year / Ainsley, Rolfe Johnson, Schade, G. Johnson

ASIN: B00004RITF
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

Romanze Des Richard Lowenherz, D907 - Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
Jagers Liebeslied, D909 - Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
Schiffers Scheidelied, D910 - Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
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Wolke Und Quelle, D896B - Juliane Banse/Graham Johnson
Frohlisches Scheiden, D896 - Michael Schade/Graham Johnson
Sie In Jedem Liede, D896A - Michael Schade/Graham Johnson
Das Weinen, D926 - Juliane Banse/Graham Johnson
Heimliches Lieben, D922 - Juliane Banse/Graham Johnson
Die Sterne, D939 - Juliane Banse/Graham Johnson
Der Wallensteiner Lanzknecht Beim Trunk, D931 - Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
Der Kreuzzug, D932 - Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
Der Hochzeitsbraten, D930 - Lynne Dawson/Michael Schade/Gerald Finley/Graham Johnson
Cantate Zur Feier Der Genesung Der Irene Kiesewetter, D936 - Tom Raskin/Ashley Carling/Paul Robinson/Charles Gibbs/Holst Singers/Stephen Layton/Graham Johnson...

Customer Reviews:

A Fulfilling Evening of Schubert Songs.......2005-10-10

For those unexposed to the enormous undertaking by Hyperion records to record all of the songs and song cycles of Franz Schubert, this superb CD is a fine way to discover. Schubert's range of vocal writing was immense and though many of his songs are de rigueur on the recitals of every singer, there are so many that are rarely heard, little jewels of composition hiding on the library shelves, that it takes a project such as this by Hyperion to bring them fully to our attention.

This CD is a true 'Schubertiad' - an evening of various works by one composer involving several soloists. The constant here is the fine pianist Graham Johnson who collaborates with each of the singers providing a consistency of vision that truly makes this group of songs unified. The soloists are all excellent - Juliane Banse, Lynne Dawson, Gerald Finley, Graham Johnson, Michael Schade - but the evening's crowning artist is Gerald Finley. This young Canadian baritone has a voice of rare beauty and communicative powers and his rendering of the poetry so important in Schubert's settings is uncanny. Since this recording, made in 2000, Finley has become one of the more sought after singers in opera, oratorio, recitals, and contemporary works: he has premiered opera roles by Saariaho and Adams, his most recent triumph is the lead in Adams' stunning 'Doctor Atomic'. Each of his many operatic roles allows him to communicate the large image in Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Purcell, Britten, etc, but here Finley works his magic on the bare stage with piano: the power of his communication is equally powerful. A most satisfying recital. Grady Harp, October 05

Zemlinsky: Lyrische Symphonie; Eine Florentinische Tragödie; 3 Psalms

Average customer rating:

Zemlinsky: Lyrische Symphonie; Eine Florentinische Tragödie; 3 Psalms

Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008MLU3
Release Date: 2003-10-13

Tracks:

Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Langsam
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Lebhaft
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Von Hier Ab Plzlich Breiter . . .
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Langsam
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Feurig Und Kraftvoll
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Sehr Msig
Lyrische Symphonie, Op.18 - Molto Adagio
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - Lied Aus Dixieland
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - Lied Der Baumwollpacker
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - Totes Braunes Mel
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - ler Bursche
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - Erkenntnis
Sinfonische Gesge. Op.20 - Afrikanischer Tanz
Psalm 83
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Overture
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - So Langsam, Weib?
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Spinn Ein Kleid, Getaucht In Purpur
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Was Gibt Es Neues, Mein Prinz?
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Wie Er Gleich Schalen Krer Spricht!
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Was Ist Das?
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Holdsel'ge Bianca
Eine Florentinische Tragie, Op.16 - Simone, Jetzt Muss Ich Nach Hause Gehen
Psalm 13, Op.24
Psalm 23, Op.14

Average customer rating:

An OK "Stradella" from Flotow teamed with interesting excerpts from Lortzing's "Regina",
Very good but largely unknown opera
Rare but delightful

Flotow: Alessandro Stradella

Manufacturer: Gala
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001LYGM6
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Customer Reviews:

An OK "Stradella" from Flotow teamed with interesting excerpts from Lortzing's "Regina", .......2007-01-12

SOURCE for "Alessandro Stradella" by Friedrich von Flotow: Broadcast from Bavarian Radio, July 2, 1977.

SOUND for "Alessandro Stradella": Boxy and compressed stereo with a mildly annoying tape hiss throughout.

CAST for "Alessandro Stradella": Alessandro Stradella, a 17th Century singer whose romances have dire consequences - Werner Hollweg (tenor); Leonore, an attractive lady in difficult circumstances - Helen Donath (soprano); Bassi, a wealthy Venetian who demonstrates his love for Leonore by locking her up until they are to be married - Richard Kogel (baritone); Malvolino, a not very competent assassin hired by Bassi to eliminate Stradella - Alexander Malta (bass-baritone); Barbarino, an even less competent assassin - Ferry Gruber (tenor). CONDUCTOR: Heinz Wallburg with the Orchester und Chor der Bayerischen Rundfunk.

FORMAT for "Alessandro Stradella": Disk 1 - Act I, tracks 1-9; Act II, tracks 10-18; 63:38. Disk 2 - Act III, tracks 1-10; 25:45.

COMMENTARY for "Alessandro Stradella": The real Alessandro Stradella was a baroque composer who had a dangerous taste for seducing the mistresses of rich, powerful, bad-tempered men. News of a forthcoming assassination attempt financed by just such a man convinced the composer to flee from Rome. In 1682, having returned to his old habits, he was murdered in Venice.

Friedrich von Flotow (1812-1883), was born of an aristocratic family and was intended to go into diplomatic service. He diverted himself from that fate by diving into music--French music, it so happened, in the line of Auber and Meyerbeer.

Flotow seems first to have conceived "Alessandro Stradella" as a short sketch. (At a guess, it consisted of the tenor's music in the current Act I and portions of the finale of Act II.) He later expanded the piece into two acts and it met with considerable success. The opera is set in Venice in the late 17th Century. Stradella is shown as a singer, not a composer, a singer of almost Orpheus-like abilities. He finds a young woman being forced into a marriage she opposes. Stradella rescues her from the clutches of her domineering uncle and would-be bridegroom. The jilted man hires two (sort of) comic assassins. The assassins, hearing Stradella sing, are so moved that the can't carry out their assignment. Annoyed, the ex-bridegroom comes to find out why he hasn't got his money's worth. He hears Stradella sing, is moved, gives up his vengeance and all ends happily.

"Alessandro Stradella" is often classified as an operetta. I presume it's because Flotow didn't set his musical sights very high. After an overture (like that of his "Martha") that is strangely portentous for such a lightweight piece, "Alessandro Stradella" consists of a string of simple songs and a couple of ensembles with not very memorable orchestral accompaniment. Stradella's serenade "Horch! Liebschen! Horch!" hardly belongs in an opera at all, since it is patently a German Lied--and not a bad one, at that.

The cast is pretty good, with Texas-born Helen Donath as the best-known and best of the lot. Hollweg, the tenor, is fine but effortful. He sounds much more suited for Walther von Stolzing than the wispy, Orpheus-like Stradella.

SOURCE for "Regina" by Albert Lortzing: Concert excerpts recorded for broadcast on Berlin Radio, 1951.

SOUND for "Regina": Good, crisp 1950s mono.

CAST for "Regina": Simon, a factory owner - Gerhard Frei (bass-baritone); Regina, Simon's daughter - Helen Donath (soprano); Stefan, the production boss - Heinz Friedrich (baritone); Richard, the works inspector - Karl Heinz Stracke (tenor); Killian, a salesman(?) - Ernst Kozub; Barbara, a farm woman - Ilse Scharter (mezzo-soprano); Beate, a house maid - Sonja-Vera Korch; Wolfgang, a revolutionary - Herbert Rungenhagen. CONDUCTOR: Walter Schartner with Grosse Orchester des Berliner Rundfunks with the Grosse Chor and the Maennerchor der Solistenvereinigung des Berliner Rundfunks.

FORMAT for "Regina": Disk 2, excerpts, tracks 11-21, 49:18.

DOCUMENTATION for "Regina": No libretto. No summary of the plot. Brief biographical sketch of Lortzing and the opera. Track list that identifies principal singers.

TEXT for "Regina": Albert Lortzing (1801-1851), the son of an actor who became an actor, a leading tenor, a Kapellmeister (first in Leipsig, then in Vienna), and a composer of popular but lightweight operas, died broke. He appears to have become carried away with the spirit of the almost Europe-wide Revolutions of 1848. He wrote his own libretto and composed the music for a production at the Theater an Wien. Unfortunately for his art but luckily for his personal freedom, he wasn't quite fast enough. When the Revolution was suppressed in October 1848, all concerned decided that discretion was the better part of valor and the unperformed piece was shelved. In 1898, a modified version of the opera was performed in Berlin as "Regina, or The Marauders." The first staged performance of Lortzing's version took place in Leipzig in 1954.

COMMENTARY: My German is not currently good enough to pick up the meaning of a sung text on the wing, as it were (and come to think of it, it never was.) My impression is that "Regina" is a sort of left-wing agit-prop involving the daughter of the Big Boss, some noble-minded working men (or at least managers), picturesque peasants, servants and a revolutionary, a kind of operatic "Waiting for Lefty." The final chorus is a not terribly sincere-sounding affirmation of loyalty to the Fatherland--if not necessarily to the status quo.

"Regina" is good enough to make me regret that what we are given is a mere space filler for the lesser "Stradella." If the aristocratic von Flotow dabbled in the French tradition, the lower middle-class Lortzing was very much a German professional. The man knew how to write for an orchestra and he was in the direct line of German operatic development originating with Weber. The singers are not known to me but they range from good to very good. The tenor, Stracke, offers a fine example of the German lyric tenor style, and would have been a far happier choice for the part of Stradella--if we could ignore the twenty-six year gap between the performances.

Very good but largely unknown opera.......2006-10-05

One of my favorite operas is the exceptionally melodic -- and unjustly neglected -- opera Martha. Martha is on my personal top ten list, ahead of many operas which are far more famous but less beautiful. For years I have regreted than no other operas by Flotow, other than Martha, were available. Therefore, when I recently learned that Amazon offers another Flotow opera, Alessandro Stradella, I immediately ordered it. I haven't been disappointed. No, Alessandro Stradella isn't the masterpiece that Martha is, but then few operas are. But it is a very good opera which does not deserve its current obscurity. Lovers of Martha will recognize in Alessandro Stradella many of Martha's desirable characteristics, especially an abundance of beautiful melodies. If you know and love Martha, or simply are willing to try an unjustly obscure opera that is filled with melody, please try Alessandro Stradella. In my opinion, you will not be disappointed. Both the vocal and orchestral performances on this recording are quite good.

Rare but delightful.......2004-05-03

Okay, Friedrich von Flotow's opera, ALESSANDRO STRADELLA, will never displace the works of Wagner, Weber, or even Otto Nicolai, but it has its distinctive and appealing charms, as evidenced by this delightful air check issued by Gala at an extremely favorable price. Flotow, of course, is much better known though his opera MARTHA, which still holds the stage, if barely (it once was a major repertoire item at the MET).

This production, dating from 1977 (Bayerische Rundfunk), features some fine singing by Werner Hollweg in the title roll, and Helen Donath as Leonore. The easy arias, ensembles, and choruses fall nicely on the ear---much of the music is quite hummable, and indeed, Alessandro's famous aria, "Jungfrau Maria," continues to be a favorite of lyric tenors. Right now, I must confess, I can't get it out of my mind!

Tracks:

Psalm 13 Op.24 - Chor des Stadt. Musikvereins zu Dusseldorf
Psalm 23 Op.14 - Chor des Stadt. Musikvereins zu Dusseldorf
Psalm 83 - Chor des Stadt. Musikvereins zu Dusseldorf
Fruhlingsglaube - Andre Sebald
Geheimnis - Andre Sebald
Minnelied - Andre Sebald
Hochzeitsgesang - Lothar Blum
Aurikelchen - Mulheimer Kantorei
Horch! Vom Hugel, Welch Sanfter Klang - Deborah Voigt
Schoner Jungling - Deborah Voigt
Wie Lieblich Er Ruht - Deborah Voigt
Stumm In Wehmut Schaut Der Mond Herab - Deborah Voigt
Und Ein Specht Klopft - Deborah Voigt
Als So Weihevoll Der Alte Sprach - Deborah Voigt
Horch! Vom Hugel, Welch Ein Wilder Klang? - Deborah Voigt

Tracks:

Waldgesprach - Soile Isokoski
Maiblumen Bluhten Uberall - Soile Isokoski
1. Der Alte Garten - Andreas Schmidt
2. Erdeinsamkeit - Andreas Schmidt
1. Die Drei Schwestern - Violeta Urmana
2. Die Madchen Mit Den Verbundenen Augen - Violeta Urmana
3. Lied Der Jungfrau - Violeta Urmana
4. Als Ihr Geliebter Schied - Violeta Urmana
5. Und Kehrt Er Einst Heim - Violeta Urmana
6. Sie Kam Zum Schloss Gegangen - Violeta Urmana
1. Lied Aus Dixieland - Michael Volle
2. Lied Der Baumwollpacker - Michael Volle
3. Totes Braunes Madel - Michael Volle
4. Ubler bursche - Michael Volle
5. Erkenntnis - Michael Volle
6. Afrikanischer Tanz - Michael Volle
7. Arabeske - Michael Volle

Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau; Psalm 13 Op24

Average customer rating:

It should be clear by now that Zemlinsky is one of the Giants

Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau; Psalm 13 Op24

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Schoenberg in Hollywood
Ernst Krenek: Jonny spielt auf

ASIN: B0000042D7
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

I Sehr mig bewegt
II Sehr bewegt, rauschend
III Sehr gedent, mit schmerzvollem Ausdruck
Psalm XIII
Psalm XXIII

Customer Reviews:

It should be clear by now that Zemlinsky is one of the Giants.......2006-10-18

The recent gorgeous recording of his Lyrische Symphonie [1923] with Matthias Goerne, Christine Schaefer, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach (ZEMLINSKY: Lyric Symphony op. 18) is continuing proof of that fact, I believe.
But about ten years earlier, Riccardo Chailly (like James Conlon, Antony Beaumont and Gerd Albrecht, an avid advocate of Zemlinsky's art) set out on a series of recordings of Zemlinsky's masterworks, like his orchestral fantasy/symphonic poem Die Seejungfrau (of around 1900), which we are reviewing here. While not as freely polychromatic and dense as his later Lyrische Symphony, and while not as grand in scope (it is over half an hour long), this Die Seejungfrau is in itself an engaging piece of evocative music. Here it is given a dramatic reading by Riccardo Chailly conducting the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester (now Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester) Berlin, with an almost psychologic intensity, which also characterizes his cycle of Mahler symphonies he recorded with (mainly) the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Although Die Seejungfrau was written after the story by Hans Christian Andersen, and although Alexander Zemlinsky himself had devised some kind of 'program', the music doesn't follow the narrative explicitly, as it was Zemlinsky's (and Schoenberg's) wish to write music which transcended the distinction between 'absolute' and 'programme' music.
The music for Die Seejungfrau begins mysteriously, with low brass and slowly toiling low harp-strings, soon covered by rustlings of high harp and flute, evoking a sense of looking up, from the depths of the sea bed towards the light of the bright sun, reflected through the waves far away up above ... And then (at [2:05]) there comes the sweet but at the same time wonderfully noble theme of the mermaid, followed again [2:30] by the haunting 'deep sea music' from which grows a theme expressing a deep sense of longing: the dreams and hopes of the little mermaid (?), whose theme we hear again at [4:02]. And then, at about [4:20], the full passion is released wit one of the most beautifully caressing, warm melodies ever composed, from which a number of motives grow and develop onwards, shifting the moods the whole of the time, evoking the hopes and noble passions of the mermaid as she rescues the prince; as she falls in love with him; as she visits the Sea Witch to ask her to transform her tail into human legs; as she is in pain with every step she takes while in the human world; as she sees how the prince she passionately loves falls in love with the Foreign Princess; as she sees how the Prince marries the Princess; as she sacrifices herself by refusing to kill the bridal pair (the only way to regain her original state); and finally, as she is transformed into a spirit of the air ...
This is wonderfully evocative music, played with utter and loving care for the polychromatic intricacies that are a hallmark of the music of Alexander Zemlinsky. Zemlinsky's music takes a unique position between, so to say, Wagner and Schoenberg. But where Schoenberg was to develop his polychromaticism into atonality and dodecaphony, Zemlinsky did not venture into that direction. Zemlinsky deserves to be heard just as much as his contemporaries Mahler and Schoenberg, I believe. Thank heavens there are such advocates like Riccardo Chailly to give us the best possible performances, in opulently recorded sound, of this beautiful music. Highly recommended. But if you feel this is beautiful music, then please do try Zemlinsky's highly sophisticated, colorful and intensely emotional Lyrische Symphonie, marvellously sung by Matthias Goerne and Christine Schaefer and excellently conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.

Average customer rating:

Remarkable double set for a master voice
The Finest Collection of German Lieder

Very Best of
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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The Very Best of Christa Ludwig
Schubert: Lieder
Winterreise
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
Great Recordings Of The Century - Schubert: Die Schone Mullerin / Fischer-Dieskau, Moore

ASIN: B000083GON
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Die Schone Mullerin
Whoin?
Halt!
Danksagung An Den Bach
Ungeduld
Das Lied Im Grunen
Der Tod Und Das Madchen
Heidenroslein
Die Forelle
Standchen
Du Bist Die Ruh'
Erlkonig/Winterreise
Gute Nacht
Die Post
Von Ewiger Liebe
Die Mainacht
Wiegenlied
Auch Klein Dinge
Fussreise
Gebet
Der Gartner
Lebewohl
Morgen!
Freundiche Vision
Mit Deinen Blauen Augen
Des Antonius Von Padua Fischpredigt

Tracks:

Grosser Herr, O Starker Kong
Erleucht' Auch Meine Finstre Sinnen
Cara Sposa, Amante Cara
Die Frist Ist Um
Leb' Wohl
Il Balen Del Suo Sorriso (II Travatore, Act III)
Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata!
Per Me Giunto E Il Di Supremo
Alzati!...Eri Tu
Vanne...Credo In Un Dio Crudel
Era La Notte...Si, Pel Ciel

Customer Reviews:

Remarkable double set for a master voice.......2007-03-25

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is not only one of the most remarkable opera singers but probably the best performer of german lieder ever, and this double set of EMI's The Very Best series is it a vivid proof of it. His noble singing, impressive characterizations and powerful understanding of music is clearly portrayed here.
There is only one thing missing for perfection: Fischer-Dieskau's marvelous performance of Mozart music, absent in this set, but you can find high peaks: Schubert's Das Wandern, Die Forelle (always one of my favorite lieder), Brahms'Wiegenlied, Wagner's Die Frist ist um (chilling) and Verdi's Eri tu (sour mix of rage and sorrow).

The Finest Collection of German Lieder.......2005-01-15

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is the master when it comes to German song. He is the king when it comes to Lied (song) interpretation by any German composer from Gluck to Schubert to Wolf. Sure, people may prefer Fritz Wunderlich or newer greats like Thomas Quasthoff, but everybody must first hear Fischer-Dieskau's take on the song.

I received this CD as a Christmas gift, and was very excited to hear the quality of all the performances. Fischer-Dieskau's specialty is his Schubert Lieder, and his renditions are all fantastic-my favorites are Track 1, Die Schoene Mullerin, with its catchy accompaniment, Staendchen (Track 10), the serenade, and Du bist die Ruh (Track 11). Of course Erlking is a fan favorite, and FD's interpretation is fantastic.

Many people try to describe Fischer-Dieskau's style of interpretation and I find it quite difficult to explain. He has the ability to sing with a feeling of spontaneity, as if he is thinking and feeling the lyrics off the cuff, and yet technically each song is perfect, as if there is complete attention to detail.

The second CD contains excerpts from some of FD's opera/oratorio career, and some of the tracks are quite impressive. I personally prefer James Morris singing Wotan's Abschied by Wagner, but FD's version is extremely moving. FD is a bigger fish in the Lieder world than he is in the opera world, however (if the Lieder world is actually big enough to be a world--maybe just a region).

My take is that anybody who loves Fischer-Dieskau, German Lieder, or just good singing in general will be impressed and happy to own such a CD. I'm not familiar with all of FD's recordings (check it out, there are a lot) to know if these tracks really are HIS BEST, or if there are any glaring omissions, but I think everything on this CD is top-drawer.

How fortunate we are that a man like Fischer-Dieskau came along during the era of recorded sound. This CD is fantastic, and all music-lovers will approve.