This is a very fine performance of excerpts of the Dutchman. Reiner leads a musical and exciting live performance from 1937. Janssen is a strong Dutchman and of course Flagstad is Flagstad. The sound is very good for live 1937. This is a worthy acquisition to anyone's library.

Many opera lovers will look at the 1937 date of this recording and say a quick "No thanks!" Don't be one of those!While certainly not stereo the sound is very good here. These extended excerpts were recorded for possible commercial release and then, for whatever reason, that didn't happen. The singing is breathtaking in its beauty and solidity. Flagstad may not have Varney's intensity, but her voice sounds so spectacular you won't care. From top to bottom Flagstad has no trouble with any of Wagner's demands. Janssen displays a beautiful legato and tone with no wobble or woofiness. Maybe the lowest notes are weak, but that could be said of many Dutchmen. Weber is also great; he makes it sound so easy. Lorenz never had the most attractive sound yet he brings Erik's desperation to life. The Mary and Steersman are also very good. The excerpts focus on the principals and their scenes together, but all the big moments are here (no overture though).The filler gives us quite a bit of Isolde's part from Act One of Tristan. Where these were recorded I don't know. Flagstad is again magnificent, the top B's easily within her range. Lorenz is a little melodramatic, Cavelti good if pressed by the high tessitura.Any Wagner fan should have this set!

My expectations were not high for the sound quality but were high for the artists. Not surprisingly, the singers were superlative but, in addition, the sound was quite good, comparable to many mono recordings made a decade later. Now I must confess to having old ears, so perhaps what sounded good to me was simply the result of what some would call "excessive filtering." Regardless, the voices came through clearly. It was not only Fladstad's show; Janseen, Weber, and Lorenz were in good form as well. The added bonus of Kna and Flagstad in excerpts from T & I cruelly wetted my appetite for the complete performance. One caveat - the overture is missing.

Marvellous to hear this recording

I thought I would never hear Flagstad as Senta, and here she is in almost the complete role, so I am delighted.