{"title":"GREINDL, Josef","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"der-ring-des-nibelungen-bohm-1965","title":"Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Nilsson, Adam, Windgassen, Rysanek, King; Böhm.  Bayreuth, 1965","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDescription:\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the enormous achievement of the Solti \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e, Birgit Nilsson always maintained that she preferred her performance on the Böhm \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e issued by Phillips from the 1966 and 1967 seasons at Bayreuth. She felt that there was an excitement that came through in this live performance which was lost in the many takes that Solti, ever the perfectionist, insisted upon. Although I love the Solti \u003cem\u003eRing\u003c\/em\u003e, I have always agreed with Nilsson in her assessment that the Böhm's reading had a fire that Solti's technicolor \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e lacked. This performance comes from when the production was new and sports many of the same singers with a few interesting and welcome variations. Birgit Nilsson and Wolfgang Windgassen are simply brilliant as Brünnhilde and Siegfried. There was a chemistry that these two artists had together that created an electricity that was even greater than the sum of their combined artistry. Leonie Rysanek delivers a wild, passionate Sieglinde and she is joined by James King, who in my opinion, is one of the greatest Siegmund's to ever have walked the earth. Theo Adam takes on the younger Wotans while Josef Greindl sings the Wanderer in \u003cem\u003eSiegfried\u003c\/em\u003e. This practice has fallen out of favor somewhat, but it works well here since Adam's baritonal Wotan plays much younger than Josef Greindl avuncular yet world-weary bass (in the Phillips version Adam would sing all three Wotans). Other variations in casting from the Phillips release all add up to net gains. Lili Chookasian steps in as Erda and delivers rich earthy tones. Martti Talvela treats us to one of the most suave Hundings you are likely to hear anywhere and Kerstin Meyer takes the place of Martha Mödl as Waltraute. Despite my devotion to Mödl, Meyer's voice is much fresher than Mödl's. To go into depth on all the great singers who participated in this Cycle would take up more room than I permit myself in these blurbs, but additional kudos must go to Anja Silja as Freia, Thomas Stewart as one of the greatest Gunthers ever, Ludmila Dvorakova as Gutrune, and Martti Talvela's dignified Fasolt. Karl Böhm's fleet tempos give Wagner's massive orchestra a lightness that is difficult to achieve and whereas other conductors often get seduced by the lush colors of the orchestration, Böhm always lets the vocal line dictate the pacing, giving the singers a chance to sing the text with an organic quality more akin to the natural cadence of the German. 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The cast is almost identical with the very notable exception of Josef Greindl as the Wanderer. Greindl's voice could not have been more different than his colleague, Theo Adam, who would take over the role the following year. Greindl was a true bass and with a black color which made him a fantastic Hagen. Surprisingly he displays a softer side as the Elder Wotan and copes remarkably with the higher parts of this role. Wolfgang Windgassen takes the title role. Windgassen sounds as fresh as ever and creates a Siegfried that leans more towards inexperienced hero as opposed to spoiled brat. Birgit Nilsson is well worth the wait in her final scene. The voice seems to have endless power and security on top and she seems to relish holding the final C as long as possible.  It is also worth mentioning Lili Chookasian whose brief appearence as Erda in Act III is quite memorable.  (She was not featured on the Phillips release.)  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Birgit Nilsson is an unstoppable force of nature as Brünnhilde whose vocal power is only matched by the beauty of her voice (a rare pairing in Wagner.) Although Wolfgang Windgassen, by his own admission, was never a true heldentenor, his solid technique and intelligence carry him a long way, and if at times we miss the ringing tones of someone like Lauritz Melchior, he more than makes up for it with the youthful quality he brings to the role. Josef Greindl's black bass delivers a formidable, yet almost reptilian, Hagen. Thomas Stewart's Gunther is a true luxury. So often this part is overlooked by great baritones, perhaps given the unsympathetic nature of the character, but in the hands of a great singer one sees that there are many opportunities to shine and Stewart does just that. Likewise for the Gutrune of Ludmila Dvorakova, a fine Brünnhilde herself, whose attractive slavic sound makes the character come across as a legitimate threat to Brünnhilde and Siegfried's union irrespective of any love potions. In an interesting variation from the Phillips set, we are treated to Kerstin Meyer's Waltraute in place of Martha Mödl. Although you will never hear me say a bad thing about Mödl's artistry, it is no secret that by 1967 the voice was pretty much in tatters. And although Meyer doesn't achieve the magnetic quality that Mödl brought to every character she did, her vocal achievements are very much welcome. 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His willingness to set aside past choices in favor of new insights—whether prompted by different casts, staging concepts, or his own artistic curiosity—results in a reading that feels deeply organic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"878\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"406\" data-end=\"429\"\u003eWolfgang Windgassen\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong data-start=\"434\" data-end=\"449\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eMartha Mödl\u003c\/strong\u003e bring a youthful vitality to Parsifal and Kundry, with Mödl delivering a near-flawless performance, embracing the demanding high notes that would challenge her in later years. \u003cstrong data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"643\"\u003eJosef Greindl\u003c\/strong\u003e’s Gurnemanz is warm and approachable, while \u003cstrong data-start=\"688\" data-end=\"703\"\u003eHans Hotter\u003c\/strong\u003e imbues Amfortas with the appropriate anguish yet retains a sense of youth and virility. 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The cast also boasts standout performances from \u003cstrong\u003eJosef Greindl\u003c\/strong\u003e as a noble Veit Pogner and, in a true luxury, \u003cstrong\u003eDietrich Fischer-Dieskau\u003c\/strong\u003e as Fritz Kothner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAndré Cluytens\u003c\/strong\u003e deserves to be counted among the great Wagner conductors of his era. He shapes the opera’s massive ensembles with the kind of care and nuance usually reserved for chamber music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sound is excellent, though there is occasional static.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBONUS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHans Hotter sings \u003cem\u003e\"Tatest du's wirklich?\"\u003c\/em\u003e from \u003cem\u003eTristan und Isolde.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOsaka, 1969\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10492-4\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292645638280,"sku":"10492-4","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099190916,"sku":"MP3 10492-4","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"FLAC","offer_id":50260140720449,"sku":"FLAC 10492-4","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/10492-4front.jpg?v=1751036892"},{"product_id":"verdi-rigoletto-schlusnus-rosvaenge-berger-klose-greindl-hager","title":"Verdi: Rigoletto (In German) - Schlusnus, Rosvaenge, Berger, Klose, Greindl; Heger.  Berlin, 1944","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDescription:\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your ideal \u003ci\u003eRigoletto\u003c\/i\u003e leans toward traditional Italian style, this recording may not fully satisfy. But if you’re drawn to sheer vocal brilliance, there’s plenty here to admire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHelge Rosvaenge\u003c\/b\u003e takes on the Duke, and the results are astonishing. The sheer size and masculine weight of his voice make his ease in the role’s demanding tessitura almost doubly surprising. His Act II duet features a thrillingly secure C-sharp, a testament to both his technical command and fearlessness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeinrich Schlusnus\u003c\/b\u003e, as Rigoletto, brings a sense of assuredness to his performance. He avoids the rough-edged approach that many baritones favor in this role, instead offering a smoother, more refined sound. The result is a Rigoletto with an unexpected vulnerability — a choice that lends the character unusual poignancy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eErna Berger\u003c\/b\u003e’s Gilda is technically impressive, but her voice — bright, fluttery, and almost too bird-like — may not be to every taste. There’s also reason to wonder how well she would project over the storm scene’s orchestral fury in a live setting without the help of microphones. Still, for those who appreciate dazzling vocal pyrotechnics, her Gilda delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe supporting cast adds further weight, with \u003cb\u003eMargarete Klose\u003c\/b\u003e as a richly-voiced Magdalena and \u003cb\u003eJosef Greindl\u003c\/b\u003e bringing authority to Sparafucile. \u003cb\u003eRobert Heger\u003c\/b\u003e’s conducting is both carefully detailed and surprisingly idiomatic, offering more Italianate flair than one might expect from a German team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll told, this is a \u003ci\u003eRigoletto\u003c\/i\u003e that values vocal personality over stylistic orthodoxy — and for many listeners, that will be more than enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNEW MASTER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Pitch corrected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10525-2\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292644655240,"sku":"10525-2","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099146820,"sku":"MP3 10525-2","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"FLAC","offer_id":50251018010945,"sku":"FLAC 10525-2","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/10525-2front.jpg?v=1751036858"},{"product_id":"wagner-die-walkure-nilsson-svanholm-greindl","title":"Wagner: Die Walküre (Act I) - Nilsson, Svanholm, Greindl; Schmidt-Isserstedt.  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The entire opera unfolds as an accompagnato recitativo, meticulously crafted to mirror the natural inflection of speech and convey the text’s emotional nuances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis recording brings all these features to life through the exceptional performances of its singing actors. \u003cstrong\u003eTheo Adam\u003c\/strong\u003e delivers a virile, youthful Wotan, striking a perfect balance between brashness and elegance. \u003cstrong\u003eJanis Martin\u003c\/strong\u003e lends her attractive and slender voice to Fricka, \u003cstrong\u003eHelga Dernesch\u003c\/strong\u003e embodies a winsome and voluptuous Freia, and \u003cstrong\u003eJosef Greindl\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eKarl Ridderbusch\u003c\/strong\u003e form an excellent pair of lumbering yet deeply sympathetic giants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe standout performance, however, comes from \u003cstrong\u003eWolfgang Windgassen\u003c\/strong\u003e as Loge. 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The musical direction by Lorin Maazel is simply first rate both for his support of the singers and the overall pacing of the drama, making this one of my favorite live \u003cem\u003eRing Cycles\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10844-12\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292630499464,"sku":"10844-12","price":99.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099173700,"sku":"MP3 10844-12","price":51.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/products\/10844-12front.jpeg?v=1751036427"},{"product_id":"wagner-tristan-und-isolde-modl-vinay-malaniuk-neidlinger-greindl-leitner","title":"Wagner: Tristan und Isolde - Mödl, Vinay, Malaniuk, Neidlinger, Greindl; Leitner.  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The result is much more than a performance of perfectly placed high notes that many of her colleagues may have delivered, it is a performance in which drastic leaps above the staff have a dramatic context and come from a raw and deep part within the psyche of the character. Her Liebestod is particularly beautifully sung complete with a pianissimo f sharp at the end, admirable more for the rapture conveyed, than vocal purity. In the end, this kind of commitment proves so much more compelling than a bravura display of vocal technique. Ramón Vinay's voice is in better shape than Mödl's although it does seem darker and heavier than it had in earlier years. Still, his burnished tone makes him an ideal Tristan. Ira Malaniuk is a sturdy Brangäne, although the quality of her voice can seem on the harsh side at times. Josef Greindl is a regal and very sympathetic Marke without coming across as wimpy. Ferdinand Leitner leads a sweeping and beautiful performance. The sound is excellent and there are some cuts made in the performance even in addition to the standard ones. One last thought: It is possible that Mödl and Vinay knew that this would be their last \u003cem\u003eTristan\u003c\/em\u003e together and they just wanted to give one of the finest performances they could. They come very close…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10868-3\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292629975176,"sku":"10868-3","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099260036,"sku":"MP3 10868-3","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/10868-3front_26ef627a-7f11-4a57-adec-a31ab1642dd6.jpg?v=1751036409"},{"product_id":"wagner-das-rheingold-frantz-fischer-windgassen-schock-greindl-schuchter","title":"Wagner: Das Rheingold - Frantz, Fischer, Windgassen, Schock, Greindl, Frick; Schüchter.  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The sound is very good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10905-2\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292628074632,"sku":"10905-2","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099157956,"sku":"MP3 10905-2","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/10905-2front.jpg?v=1751036367"},{"product_id":"wagner-ring-excerpts-nilsson-windgassen-adam-stewart-talvela-greindl-bohm","title":"Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen EXCERPTS - Nilsson, Windgassen, Adam, Rysanek, King, Talvela; Böhm.  Bayreuth, 1965","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDescription:\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the enormous achievement of the Solti \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e, Birgit Nilsson always maintained that she preferred her performance on the Böhm \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e issued by Phillips from the 1966 and 1967 seasons at Bayreuth. She felt that there was an excitement that came through in this live performance which was lost in the many takes that Solti, ever the perfectionist, insisted upon. Although I love the Solti \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e, I have always agreed with Nilsson in her assessment that the Böhm's reading had a fire that Solti's technicolor \u003cem\u003eRing Cycle\u003c\/em\u003e lacked. This performance comes from when the production was new and sports many of the same singers with a few interesting and welcome variations. Birgit Nilsson and Wolfgang Windgassen are simply brilliant as Brünnhilde and Siegfried. There was a chemistry that these two artists had together that created an electricity that was even greater than the sum of their combined artistry. Leonie Rysanek delivers a wild, passionate Sieglinde and she is joined by James King, who in my opinion, is one of the greatest Siegmund's to ever have walked the earth. Theo Adam takes on the younger Wotan while Josef Greindl sings the Wanderer in Siegfried. This practice has fallen out of favor somewhat, but it works well here since Adam's baritonal Wotan plays much younger than Josef Greindl avuncular yet world-weary bass (in the Phillips version Adam would sing all three Wotans). Other variations in casting from the Phillips release all add up to net gains. Lili Chookasian steps in as Erda and delivers rich earthy tones.   Karl Böhm's fleet tempos give Wagner's massive orchestra a lightness that is difficult to achieve and whereas other conductors often get seduced by the lush colors of the orchestration, Böhm always lets the vocal line dictate the pacing, giving the singers a chance to sing the text with an organic quality more akin to the natural cadence of the German. The sound is excellent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 10911-1\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292627910792,"sku":"10911-1","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099242244,"sku":"MP3 10911-1","price":5.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/10911-1front.jpg?v=1751036362"},{"product_id":"wagner-die-meistersinger-von-nurnberg-herrmann-suthaus-greindl-karl-bohm","title":"Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg - Herrmann, Suthaus, Trötschel, Greindl, Krebs, Haefliger; Böhm.  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Josef Greindl is in fine voice as Veit Pogner and if you listen carefully you will be able to pick out the distinguished tenor of Ernst Haefliger as Kunz Vogelgesang. Karl Böhm brings an unfussy yet deeply felt touch to the score. The sound is variable with long stretches that are clear and others that are marred by static.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth of the Preludes and a few small sections in Act III are missing. For continuity I have replaced the preludes with another performance conducted by Böhm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 11095-4\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292622176392,"sku":"11095-4","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099189764,"sku":"MP3 11095-4","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/11095-4front.jpg?v=1751036196"},{"product_id":"wagner-die-walkure-grob-prandl-suthaus-lemnitz-karl-bohm-nilsson-rysanek","title":"Wagner: Die Walküre (excerpts) - Grob-Prandl, Lemnitz, Suthaus, Hermann, Greindl, Böhm. Buenos Aires, 1950","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDescription:\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis recording offers a brief but tantalizing glimpse of some great artists whose careers just missed the proliferation of recordings. Ludwig Suthaus, possibly the most recorded of the main singers, was a tenor whose voice was equally admirable for its power as its lyricism (traits that can often seem at odds with one another.) Unfortunately, in the excerpts on this recording, we never get to hear Tiana Lemnitz’s slender, shimmering soprano tackle Sieglinde’s most passionate music, but her few utterances in the opening scene, suggest that she is a Sieglinde to be reckoned with. Gertrude Grob-Prandl also regrettably has very little music besides a portion of her impassioned Act III plea to Wotan to encircle the rock with fire which, although short, is worth the price of the set. Josef Hermann, fortunately, treats us to the entire final scene. The whole thing is brilliantly conducted by Karl Böhm who brings a fire to the pacing that must have been very refreshing in an era where Knappertsbusch and Furtwängler dominated. As a bonus I have included substantial excerpts from a 1965 performance of \u003cem\u003eDie Walküre\u003c\/em\u003e conducted by Karl Böhm and featuring Birgit Nilsson, Theo Adam, Leonie Rysanek and James King. The sound is very good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBONUS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcerpts from \u003cem\u003eDie Walküre\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBayreuth, 1965\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 11141-1\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292619948168,"sku":"11141-1","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099202244,"sku":"MP3 11141-1","price":5.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/11141-1front.jpg?v=1751036140"},{"product_id":"wagner-die-walkure-m-dl-hotter-windgassen-brouwenstijn-greindl-keilberth-barcelona-bayreuth-on-tour-1955","title":"Wagner: Die Walküre - Mödl, Hotter, Windgassen, Brouwenstijn, Greindl; Keilberth. 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This performance of \u003cem\u003eDie Walküre\u003c\/em\u003e, however, captures Mödl on a day when her voice was in fine form, offering not only her signature magnetism but also some truly remarkable vocal moments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe is joined by \u003cstrong\u003eHans Hotter\u003c\/strong\u003e as Wotan, who sounds as majestic as ever, delivering a deeply poignant farewell. \u003cstrong\u003eWolfgang Windgassen\u003c\/strong\u003e, as Siegmund, brings a slightly darker hue to his voice than in later years, while \u003cstrong\u003eGré Brouwenstijn\u003c\/strong\u003e portrays an impassioned and heartfelt Sieglinde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoseph Keilberth\u003c\/strong\u003e conducts with a slightly slower pace, highlighting the subtle intricacies of Wagner’s richly detailed orchestration. 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His Dutchman is as tortured, brooding and angst-ridden as the roles’ greatest interpreters, but \u003cb\u003eGreindl's\u003c\/b\u003e voice brings the part an undercurrent of fitful rage... he is less beaten down by his eternal wandering as he is driven by it. His Senta, \u003cb\u003eGladys Kuchta\u003c\/b\u003e, is a little more conventional, delivering her ballad with a big, wild sound and tightly controlled intensity. \u003cb\u003eHans Beirer\u003c\/b\u003e is a very good Eric, impassioned but lacking in spark, and \u003cb\u003eDonald Grobe\u003c\/b\u003e is an impeccably plaintive steersman. \u003cb\u003eLorin Maazel\u003c\/b\u003e is more at home in the expansive love duet than in the \u003cem\u003eSturm und Drang\u003c\/em\u003e, but he drives the opera forward unrelentingly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 11198-2\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292615229576,"sku":"11198-2","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099163460,"sku":"MP3 11198-2","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/products\/11198-2front.jpeg?v=1751036070"},{"product_id":"wagner-parsifal-regina-resnik-jess-thomas-josef-greindl-andre-cluytens","title":"Wagner: Parsifal (Excerpts) - Thomas, Resnik, Greindl, Neidlinger; Cluytens. 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This \u003cem\u003eParsifal\u003c\/em\u003e from 1953 is one such performance. \u003cb\u003eRamón Vinay\u003c\/b\u003e's burnished tenor manages to convey both the strength and youth of Parsifal, creating an alluring presence during the Flower Maiden scene and a credible spiritual leader during the Good Friday scene. It’s clear why \u003cb\u003eMartha Mödl\u003c\/b\u003e was often referred to as the “German Callas.” Mödl becomes completely possessed by Kundry without letting the character devolve into empty histrionics, and her voice shows almost none of the wear and tear that would mar her performances just a few years later. \u003cb\u003eLudwig Weber\u003c\/b\u003e is a noble Gurnemanz, and \u003cb\u003eGeorge London\u003c\/b\u003e delivers pristine vocalism and stoic anguish in portraying Amfortas’ plight. \u003cb\u003eClemens Krauss\u003c\/b\u003e deftly balances the transparent, opulent, and dramatic colors of Wagner’s delicate score. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 11271-4\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292609462408,"sku":"11271-4","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099232580,"sku":"MP3 11271-4","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/11271-4front.jpg?v=1751035969"},{"product_id":"wagner-tannhauser-de-los-angeles-grace-bumbry-schwarze-venus-wolfgang-windgassen-fischer-dieskau-greindl-sawallisch","title":"Wagner: Tannhäuser - Windgassen, de los Ángeles, Bumbry; Sawallisch. 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Bumbry’s opulent voice is almost luxury casting in this crucial role, and she is more than up to the challenge of leaving an impact in a very brief span of time. \u003cb\u003eVictoria de los Angeles\u003c\/b\u003e is a brilliant Elisabeth, unleashing the full power of her beautiful soprano. \u003cb\u003eWolfgang Windgassen\u003c\/b\u003e seems to tire a bit in Act I, but he pulls out all the stops in a devastating Rome Narration in Act III, producing anguished sounds that can barely be called “singing” to heart-stopping effect. \u003cb\u003eDietrich Fischer-Dieskau\u003c\/b\u003e is a noble, elegant Wolfram (by far the best of his Wagnerian roles) and the lineup of minor characters features turns from \u003cb\u003eTheo Adam\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eFranz Crass\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eGerhard Stolze\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cb\u003eWolfgang Sawallisch\u003c\/b\u003e lets the lengthy overture whip into a frenzy before settling in for a highly effective reading of the score.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mono\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOD 11276-3\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Opera Depot","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":31292609265800,"sku":"11276-3","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MP3","offer_id":14099252676,"sku":"MP3 11276-3","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/9583\/files\/11276-3front.jpg?v=1751035965"},{"product_id":"wagner-der-fliegende-hollander-nedezda-kniplova-josef-greindl-hans-beirer-lorin-maazel","title":"Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer - Greindl, Kniplová, Beirer; Maazel. 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