Search - Hans Hermann Nissen, Richard [Classical] Wagner, Carl Leonhardt :: Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer

Remarkable performance by first-rank artists

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 03/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This performance of Wagner's FLIEGENDE HOLLAENDER is one of the finest presentations of the work on compact disc. Although an historical issue dating from 1936 (a radio transcription prepared by German Radio), it boasts entirely acceptible sound; but most importantly, it offers us some of the greatest Wagnerian artists of the period--or for that matter, ANY period--at the heighth of their powers: Hans Herman Nissen, Ludwig Weber, and Torsten Ralf. Nissen's Dutchman rivals in interpretation and sheer majesty Hans Hotter's various creations (including another, later performance from wartime Germany, also available on Preiser)and the famed Fischer-Dieskau recording made 25 years later. Weber was Germany's pre-eminent basso--his Gurnemanz is well known as unsurpassed; here his Daland simply is the finest on disc. Torsten Ralf's Eric is equally impressive. And Margarethe Teschemacher is fine as Senta. All in all a superb performance, perhaps not a first choice for those who need a libretto (Preiser doesn't provide one), or spectacular modern sound (go with Decca or EMI for that), but to really "hear" the Dutchman, you can do no better!"