Christel Goltz / Mattia Battistini / Peter Anders / Elina Garanca <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> </head> <body bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> <table width="95%" border="0"> <table width="95%" border="0"> <tr> <td><div align="center"><img src="mbcg1.jpg" width="140" height="126"></div></td> <td><div align="center"><img src="mbcg2.jpg" width="140" height="138"></div></td> <td><div align="center"><img src="mbcg3.jpg" width="140" height="138"></div></td> <td><div align="center"><img src="mbcg4.jpg" width="140" height="136"></div></td> </tr> </table> <table width="95%" border="0"> <tr> <td>Arias from Alceste, Fidelio, Oberon, Tannhaüser, Tristan und Isolde, Der Widerspenstiugen Zahmung, Aida, Salome, Elektra, Cavalleria rusticana, Romeo und Julia, and Die Kluge Christel Goltz, soprano; various orch/cond. PREISER 93455 (2 disks) TT: 77:47 & 79:41<a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-1302743-10274126?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arkivmusic.com%2Fclassical%2Falbum.jsp%3Falbum_id%3D217980&cjsku=212840" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.arkivmusic.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;"> BUY NOW FROM ARKIVMUSIC</a><img src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-1302743-10274126" width="1" height="1" border="0"/> Arias from Il re di Labore, Ruy Blas, Don Carlo, Tannhäuser, Ernani, Rigoletto, La gioconda, Maria di Rohan, La favorita, La forza del destino, Maria di Rudenz, Un ballo in maschera, Le nozze di Figaro, Paride ed Elena, Il Guarany, and Don Giovanni. ALVAREZ: La Partida Mattia Battistini, baritone; various orch/cond. PREISER 89725 TT: 77:30<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-1302743-10274126?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arkivmusic.com%2Fclassical%2Falbum.jsp%3Falbum_id%3D217977&cjsku=212837" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.arkivmusic.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;"> BUY NOW FROM ARKIVMUSIC</a><img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-1302743-10274126" width="1" height="1" border="0"/> Music from Friederike, Gräfin Mariza, Die verkaufte Braut, Der Zigeunerbaron, Eine Nacht in Venedig, and Andrea Chénier. STRAUSS: Seven Lieder. VERDI: Scenes from La traviata/Otello Peter Anders, tenor/various orch/cond. AUDITE 23.419 (2 disks) TT: 78:50 & 64:17<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-1302743-10274126?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arkivmusic.com%2Fclassical%2Falbum.jsp%3Falbum_id%3D225216&cjsku=219527" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.arkivmusic.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;"> BUY NOW FROM ARKIVMUSIC</a><img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-1302743-10274126" width="1" height="1" border="0"/> Arias from Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, L'assedio di Calais,Roberto Devereaux, Dom Sébastian and Maria Stuarda. BELLINI: Arias from Adelson e Salvini and I Capuleti e i Montecchi. ROSSINI: Arias from Tancredi and Maometto II Elina Garanca, mezzo-soprano; Teatro Comunale di Bologna Chorus and Orch/Roberto Abbado, cond. DGG B0012818 TT: 64:36<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-1302743-10274126?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arkivmusic.com%2Fclassical%2Falbum.jsp%3Falbum_id%3D213292&cjsku=208359" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.arkivmusic.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;"> BUY NOW FROM ARKIVMUSIC</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-1302743-10274126" width="1" height="1" border="0"/> Many recordings by soprano Christel Goltz have been mentioned on this site including her famous 1954 Salome with Clemens Krauss conducting <a href="carl.html">(REVIEW)</a>. The dynamic, versatile soprano died in November 2008 at the age of 90. Goltz had a huge repertory, and her histrionic ability compensated for a voice that could hardly be called beautiful. Now, thanks to Preiser, we have this twin-CD set (which sells for the price of one disk) which contains many of her finest roles. One of her most famous interpretations, Marie in Wozzeck, is not heard on this set, but there is a live performance recorded in Vienna in 1956. Here we have the expected Wagner, Beethoven, and Weber as well a venture into Verdi, Mascagni, Orff, and a forgotten opera by Swiss composer Heinrich Sutermeister. This is a valuable compilation for collectors. While Goltz's voice was not her prime asset, legendary baritone Mattia Battistini's voice was. He is considered to be among the greatest singers of the century, a master of bel canto with a career that lasted almost a half-century. He sang in most of the major opera houses of the world and was a particular favorite in Russia where he sang for 23 seasons. Surprisingly he never appeared at the Met—apparently he did not like long sea trips. Battistini sang more than 80 roles. Preiser's CD contains his last operatic recordings in chronological order, from May 5, 1921 to February 27, 1924, the last being a previously unpublished La Partida by Alvarez. This is another important release for vocal collectors. Tenor Emil Anders was born July 1, 1908 in Essen, and changed his name to Peter Anders in 1934. His vocal career began in 1931 with a Berlin performance of Offenbach's Die Schöne Helena. His operatic debut was as Jacquino in Fidelio at Heidelberg., after which his career soared. He sang in the premiere of Strauss's Friedenstag conducted by Clemens Krauss, as well as contemporary works by Fried Walter and Othmar Schoeck. Two of German's finest tenors came to tragic ends. Anders died in 1954 at the age of 46 from a careless driving accident—he ran into a telegraph pole in Hamburg while driving his open-top convertible Mercedes. 12 years later, Fritz Wunderlich died at the age of 36 from falling down some stairs at a hunting lodge. Ardite's issue contains studio recordings made 1949-1951 in many of which he is joined by other singers. Throughout, Ander's superb voice is assured and unstrained, except in the excerpts from Otello, a role too demanding for him at the time. The seven Richard Strauss songs, with piano accompaniment do not duplicate the four he recorded in 1942 with Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmonic. The mono sound is excellent. Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca's second solo disk for DGG is this collection called Bel Canto. Her rich voice is perfect for this repertory: Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. Although Garanca is a superb singer, it seems strange that she sings only one verse of Orsini's big aria from Lucrezia Borgia—don't expect the vocal fireworks of Ernestine Schumann Heink (which cannot be matched by anyone). Perhaps Garanca is underplaying this music on purpose? Nor will you hear the dazzling virtuosity of Marilyn Horne in" Di tanti palpiti" from Tancredi. DG has spared no expense in this release: the mezzo is joined by Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and other singers as well as the Teatro Comunale chorus, with Roberto Abbado on the podium. Audio is first-rate. You might wish to investigate DGG's video called The Opera Gala that features Garanca and Anna Netrebko in music from Norma as well as solo performances. <a href="DVDVIDEO169.html">(REVIEW)</a> R.E.B. (September 2009) </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>