Here we have a Tannhauser with three great divas, one in mid-career, two at the end of long and distinguished ones. Grob-Prandl retired soon after this performance, her voice still in very good shape. The top continues to ring out and can be heard even when she is obviously at the back of the stage for Venus' reappearance in Act Three. Rysanek has a very good evening, the "Dich teure Halle" exciting, the prayer beautifully sustained. Rysanek's middle had become steadier by this time and she had learned how to cope better with her rather unruly instrument. Heard as the Shepherd is Rita Streich, still in excellent shape after charming the world for a quarter of a century with her silvery soprano.Beirer's rather gargly tone is a bit of an acquired taste, but he knows how Tannhauser is supposed to go. His voice steadies out as the evening progresses, his cries of "Erbarm dich mein" very moving, his third act narration gripping. Wachter still sings a beautiful Evening Song though his voice had lost some luster by 1971. The other men are good, Nienstedt perhaps miscast as the Landgraf. Klobucar leads a good performance in what sounds like an amalgamation of the Dresden and Paris versions of this score.Sound is mediocre, but listenable. There is a painful moment in the second act when the pitch of the tape shifts on the chorus' final "Heil!" If you love any of the above divas, you're going to want this.

Beirer (for me at least) is great title hero, powerful in finale of first Act, funny in Song Contest and very moving in Romerzaehlung. The same goes for Rysanek. Grob-Prandl is good (in 1972 she retired). Waechter is very elegant and stylish Wolfram. Others good, also. Klobučar was great conductor for Wagner, music flows with ease and power.

Klobucar bon chef devrait etre réévalué