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Die Walküre & Siegfried – Excerpts
When I had a collection of orphaned Wagner excerpts with no clear purpose, I decided to create a disc from them. The Walküre excerpts showcase a remarkable period at the Bavarian State Opera, when singers like Ingrid Bjoner and Claire Watson were part of the ensemble, and such performances were a regular occurrence. James King lends his considerable talents as Siegmund. The Siegfried excerpts were taken late in the run of the inaugural season of the Chéreau/Boulez Ring Cycle, featuring Roberta Knie stepping in for Gwyneth Jones. Although Knie's career sadly didn't reach its full potential, this early glimpse shows remarkable promise. René Kollo adds his voice to the performance, attempting a less-than-successful high C at the end of the night. While it's easy to forgive that misstep, his singing otherwise demonstrates admirable security and beauty of tone.
Track List
Die Walküre – München, 1972
1. Siegmund! Sieh auf mich!
2. So grüße mir Walhall
3. Soll um die Flucht dir Maid ich nicht fluchen
4. Fort denn eile, nach Osten gewandt!
5. Ihm nur zu dienen konnt' ich noch denken
6. In festen Schlaf verschließ' ich dich
2. So grüße mir Walhall
3. Soll um die Flucht dir Maid ich nicht fluchen
4. Fort denn eile, nach Osten gewandt!
5. Ihm nur zu dienen konnt' ich noch denken
6. In festen Schlaf verschließ' ich dich
Siegfried – Bayreuth, 1976
7. Ich bin ohne Schutz und Schirm
8. Ewig war ich
9. Dann bist du mir, was bang du mir warst und wirst!
8. Ewig war ich
9. Dann bist du mir, was bang du mir warst und wirst!
BONUS: Wesendonck Lieder
10. Der Engel
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
11. Schmerzen
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
12. Träume
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
11. Schmerzen
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
12. Träume
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Customer Reviews
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4.0
Based on 1 review
✓ Top Reviewer
United States
An Enjoyable Wagner Pot-Pourri!
As Andy acknowledges above, this is a pot-pourri or (as my mother might have said) "Ein grosses Mishmash" of Wagner excerpts. Bjoner can be heard as the complete Walkure Brunnhilde under Sawallisch from a few years later. Some enterprising fan recorded her in the Todesverkundigung with James King and a few moments of Act Three. The sound on these excerpts is very good, better in fact than the same moments in the later recording which makes me wish her battle-cry had also been recorded. She is a beautiful Brunnhilde and her scene with King is very well done. The Siegfried excerpt is that rarity, a Bayreuth in-house captured late in the run of the first Chereau cycle in which Roberta Knie replaced Gwyneth Jones. Knie was a worthy replacement and I wouldn't have felt cheated if I had seen her instead of Jones. Given the fact that there is so little of Knie's singing available this is a real find. She has no trouble with the high notes and partners Kollo well. He tries to join her on the final top C, touches it, then drops it. The voices are recessed, but reasonably clear.Nilsson's three Wesendonck lieder are good, but not distinguished (she is heard in the 1st, 4th, and 5th songs.) What happened to the other two songs is anyone's guess. Not an essential disc, but for those interested in the singers a worthwhile one!
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