Beethoven: Fidelio - Borkh, Beirer, Greindl, Neidlinger, Tappy; Ansermet. Geneva, 1964
$5.37
Listen to a Sample:
With a singer like Inge Borkh singing the title role in Fidelio, one would expect that she would probably excel in the declamatory sections and be somewhat lacking in the more lyrical sections. Upon listening to this recording I found the opposite to be true. She delivers a very smooth "Abscheulicher" particularly during the adagio section. Later in the opera she is a little uneven especially during the "Er sterbe!" trio. Hans Beirer asserts that he is more than just a serviceable heldentenor. His "Gott! Welch dunkel hier!" is sung with unflinching confidence. And we get to see the warmer side of Josef Greindl's black bass in the role of Rocco. The one true disappointment is the Marzelline of Elisabeth Schwarzenberg. The voice is uneven and not up to the level of her colleagues. The sound is good and I have included a stirring performance of Sir Thomas Beecham conducting Leonore 3 as a bonus.
BONUS:
Sir Thomas Beecham conducts the Leonore 3 overture
Buenos Aires, 1958
OD 10557-2
