Search - Frida Leider :: Sings Wagner

Peering through the Mist

Dane S. Thomas | Lancaster, California USA | 03/16/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hidden in this crude sounding disk is some extraordinary singing. Lauritz Melchior and Frida Leider (one of Melchior's favorite parters on and off stage) are both at the top of their game. The strength and emotion of the performances is amazing, as is every nuance of a live performance. While everyone would like a stereo performance done live at the met, the sad fact is that so much was destroyed during the second world war, including masters that were melted down or re-cycled, that it is a miracle that we have this performance at all. Personally, I feel Melchior was the greatest Heldentenor ever, and when coupled with someone like Leider (who hasn't Flagstad's diamond sheen and extraordinary intonation, nor Traubel's full blooded purity of tone and exemplary German diction - Melchior said "Flagstad was a Diamond/Traubel was a Ruby"-) yet with someone who shares a love of the music and a love of the role, Lieder was one of the greats, and for that, she passes in technical perfection, and it leaves us with an undeniable and lovely performance that rightfully deserves the legendary status it holds. Like I say, the sound is awful, but it's listenable. This is the second copy I have gotten, as the first one skipped throughout. If you are a fan of vocal history, this is an important aquisition. And while we may see great Wagnerian sopranos like Birget Nillsen and others, we shall never see another Heldentenor quite like Melchior. He was one of a kind and well worth the price of getting this CD. When these two sing, it approaches magic."