Elisabeth Grümmer is one of my top favorite sopranos and I bought this live recording mainly for her. Pamina is a role to which she is eminently suited and yet never recorded complete commercially (only excerpts for Electrola - the German branch of EMI). She proves to be virtually ideal in the role - youthful, radiant, noble, and what a treat to hear her in a live performance in this role when she was still in the fullest bloom of her vocal prime. The rest of the cast feature the best that could be found at that time for the respective roles. Among them Dermota and Kunz are well-known quantities and they don't disappoint. Solti has often been criticised for being hard-driven. He certainly isn't an affectionate Mozartian, but here he is at least considerate to the singers, while effectively ensuring the forward momentum of the drama. The sound is typical for a broadcast recording of the period. The voices are at least forward and clear.

No opera has longer connection between Solti and Salzburg. He played the celesta under Toscanini in the 1930, and conducted die Zauberflöte in the 1950 and the 1990. The 1955 performance has a rather slow pace, but such tension as you can expect from Sir Georg. The cast now is glorious past with rather old fashioned style in the dialogues (with strong exception of the brillant comedian Kunz) but remarkable well sung parts. Nearly vibratoless Grümmer is outstanding, but there is Dermotas beautiful tone and the dark timbred rock of Frick. Among the others you can find even Christa Ludwig and Schöffler with healthy voice much better than in later stages of his career.Historically of immense interest.