Surprise, there are more rarities here than chestnuts
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"EMI owns a wealth of classic recordings by Christa Ludwig, most of it constantly recycling. Here they do us a favor and duplicate a 4-CD set from French EMI, now out of print, entitled "Les introuvables de Christa Ludwig." I don't think this material is actually undiscovered, but since a good deal is form the Fifties and early Sixties, it's wonderful to have in back in print at a super-bargain price. the fifth Cd is operatic, and it inncludes all the chestnuts, with heavy emphasis on Ludwig's classic Oktavian oppoiste Schwarzkopf in Der Rosenkavalier under Karajan.
Anything form her peak years comes with an automatic recommendation, but more serious collectors may be interested in a complete program listing with recording dates, as follows:
Bach, J S:
Es ist Vollbracht (from St John Passion)
Recorded: 1961, Berlin-Grünewald, Grünewaldkirche
Berliner Symphoniker, Karl Forster
Erbarme dich (from St Matthew Passion)
Recorded: 3-4 January, 14-15 April, 10-12 May, 21, 25-26 November, 28 December 1961, Kingsway Hall, London
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Bellini:
Sgombra è la sacra selva from Norma
Recorded: 5-12 September 1960, Teatro all Scala, Milan
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Tullio Serafin
Bizet:
Habanera (L'amour est un oiseau rebelle) (from Carmen)
sung in German
Berliner Symphoniker, Horst Stein
Brahms:
Sapphische Ode, Op. 94 No. 4
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Liebestreu, Op. 3 No. 1
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Der Schmied Op. 19/4
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Die Mainacht, Op. 43 No. 2
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Dein blaues Auge, Op. 59, No. 8
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Von ewiger Liebe, Op. 43 No. 1
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Das Mädchen spricht, Op. 107 No. 3
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Heimweh, Op. 63, No. 8
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Wie Melodien zieht es mir, Op. 105 No. 1
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Mädchenlied, Op. 107 No. 5
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Vergebliches Ständchen, Op. 84 No. 4
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht, Op. 96 No. 1
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Auf dem See, Op. 59 No. 2
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Feldeinsamkeit, Op. 86 No. 2
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
In stiller Nacht WO033 No. 42
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Schwesterlein
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer, Op. 105 No. 2
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Ständchen, Op. 106 No. 1
Recorded: 31 March - 3 April 1969, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Two songs for contralto with viola obbligato, Op. 91
Recorded: November 1965 & March 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano) & Herbert Downes (viola)
Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53
Recorded: March 1962, Kingsway Hall, London
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Handel:
Es blaut die Nacht (Julius Caesar)
Recorded: 19 March, 1962, Berlin-Grünewald, Grünewaldkirche
Berliner Symphoniker, Horst Stein
Mahler:
Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Recorded: 3-5 May, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Hans und Grete
Recorded: 3-5 May, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Frühlingsmorgen
Recorded: 3-5 May, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Der Einsame im Herbst from Das Lied von der Erde
Recorded: 19-22 February, 1964, Kingsway Hall, London & 7-8 November 1966, Abbey Road Studos, London
Philharmonia Orchestra & New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Von der Schönheit from Das Lied von der Erde
Recorded: 19-22 February, 1964, Kingsway Hall, London & 7-8 November 1966, Abbey Road Studos, London
Philharmonia Orchestra & New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Mozart:
In quali eccessi ... Mi tradì quell'alma ingrate Don Giovanni
Recorded: June/July 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
E amore un ladroncello (from Così fan tutte)
Recorded: September 1962, Kingsway Hall,, London
Philharmonia Orchestra, Karl Böhm
Rachmaninov:
Sing not, O lovely one, Op. 4 No. 4
Recorded: November 1965 & March 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Oh, my field, Op. 4 No. 5
Recorded: November 1965 & March 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Ravel:
Trois chansons madécasses
Recorded: November 1965 & March 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Reger:
Der Brief, Op. 76, No. 8
Recorded: 29 November & 1 December, 1965, Bürgerbräu, Munich
Gerald Moore (piano
Volkslied aus Franken - Waldeinsamkeit, Op. 76, No. 3
Recorded: 29 November & 1 December, 1965, Bürgerbräu, Munich
Gerald Moore (piano
Rossini:
La regata veneziana
Recorded: 29 November & 1 December, 1965, Munich Bürgerbräu
Gerald Moore (piano)
Saint-Saëns:
Une flûte invisible
Recorded: November 1965 & March 1966, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Schubert:
Die Allmacht, D852
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Fischerweise, D881 (Schlechta)
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
An die Musik D547
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Der Musensohn, D764 (Goethe)
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Ganymed, D544 (Goethe)
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D774
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Ave Maria, D839
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Die Forelle, D550
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Gretchen am Spinnrade, D118
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Frühlingsglaube, D686
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Der Tod und das Mädchen, D531
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Lachen und Weinen, D777
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Litanei auf das Fest Allerseelen, D343
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Erlkönig, D328
Recorded: 28-30 November, 1961, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965 (Von Chezy / Muller)
Recorded: 8 November, 1965, Abbey Road Studios, London
Geoffrey Parsons (piano)
Schumann:
Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42
Recorded: 3, 4, 6 May & 25 June, 1959, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Strauss, R:
Die Nacht, Op. 10 No. 3
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Allerseelen, Op. 10 No. 8
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69 No. 5
Recorded: 29 November & 1 December, 1965, Bürgerbräu, Munich
Gerald Moore (piano)
Der Rosenkavalier, Act 3 - conclusion
Recorded: 10-15 & 17-22 December 1956, Kingsway Hall,, London
Teresa Stich-Randall, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wächter
Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Verdi:
Liber scriptus... Quid sum miser... Recordare (Messa da Requiem)
Recorded: 16-21, 23-27 September 1963 & 7 April 1964, Kingsway Hall, London
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
Wagner:
Wesendonck-Lieder
orch. Mottl
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Mild und leise from Tristan und Isolde
Recorded: 21-23 March 1962, Kingsway Hall, London
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Wolf, H:
Gesang Weylas
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
Auf einer Wanderung
Recorded: 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20 November, 1957, Abbey Road Studios, London
Gerald Moore (piano)
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