From Mozart to Leoncavallo: three hours of opera's greatest hits in rhythmically buoyant, highly enjoyable East-German recordings. Taped between 1959 (Wagner's Der fliegende HollÃ¤nder) and 1993 (Die Fledermaus), a collection of overtures gets this operatic compilation off to a (literally) flying start. Suitner in particular directs deliciously sprung performances of Humperdinck (Hansel und Gretel), Smetana (The Bartered Bride) and SuppÃ© (Dichter und Bauer / Poet and Peasant and Leichte Kavallerie / Light Cavalry). The Austro-Germanic angle of the first half of the release is widened on the second half by a selection of opera choruses that represents some of the most powerful moments of 19th-century Italian opera. There is the triumphant hymn in praise of Egypt from the second act of Aida as well as the sublime song of pride and defiance, 'Va pensiero', that crowns Nabucco and became before long the unofficial anthem of the Risorgimento and the struggle for Italian unification. Verismo choruses are here too, taken from that evergreen pairing of Pagliacci and Cavelleria rusticana. Favourite German operatic choruses include the Chorus of Guests in Wagner's TannhÃ¤user as well as the hymn of the priests in Mozart's Die ZauberflÃ¶te. Suitner directs all these: a compilation album made in Berlin in 1978. He also exercises a subtle guiding hand over the Staatskapelle Dresden for a compilation of tenor/baritone opera duets recorded in 1972 with the two foremost East-German male singers of their generation, Peter Schreier and Theo Adam. 'Expectably' commented Fanfare, 'the results are echt Deutsch' - even if the repertoire itself again covers Smetana, Gounod and Verdi as well as Mozart and Lortzing, with all the numbers sung in German and 'performed with zest'.

Tracklist:

Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor/The Merry Wives Of Windsor
Die Verkaufte Braut/The Bartered Bride, Jb 1:100: Die Verkaufte Braut/The Bartered Bride, Jb 1:100
Hänsel Und Gretel
Der Fliegende Höllander/The Flying Dutchman, Wwv 63
La Traviata 3. Akt/Act 3
Donna Diana
Dichter Und Bauer/Poet And Peasant
Leichte Kavallerie/Light Cavalry
Die Fledermaus/The Bat
Otello - Fuoco Di Gioia/Fire Of Rejoicing
Carmen - Les Voci La Quadrille!/There She Comes, They're Dancing The Quadrille
Der Fliegende Höllander - Summ Und Brumm, Du Gutes Rädchen/Humm, Humm, Spin My Little Wheel. Wwv 63
Cavalleria Rusticana - Ah! Gli Arancio Lezzano/The Green Meadows Are Fragrant With Oranges
Pagliacci - Don Din Dan/Dong-Dong Calls The Bell From Yonder
Lohengrin - Treulich Geführt Ziehet Dahin/Faithfully Guided, Come To This Place, Wwv 75
Die Zauberflöte - O Isis Und Osiris, K. 260
Die Lustigen Weiber Von Windsor - O Süßer Mond/Oh Lovely Moon
Martha - Mädchen Brav Und Treu/Maidens Good And True
Aida - Gloria All'egitto/Glory To Egypt
Margarete: I. Vin Au Bière/Wine And Beer
Margarete: II. Gloire Immortelle/Eternal Glory
Der Freischütz - Was Gleicht Wohl Auf Erden Dem Jägervergnügen/What Pleasure On Earth Can Compare With The Hunter
Don Pasquale - Che Interminabile Andirivieni/What An Interminable Coming And Going
Tannhäuser - Freudig Begrüßen Wir Die Edle Halle/Joyfully We Greet The Noble Hall, Wwv 70
Nabucco - Va, Pensiero, Sull' Ali Dorate/Fly Away, Free Thought, On The Wings Of Yearning
Die Verkaufte Braut - Komm, Mein Söhnen, Auf Ein Wort/Wer In Lieb Entbrannt, Jb 1:100
Margarete: III. Ich Bin Da! Was Soll Das Estaunen?
Die Perlenfischer - Am Abend War's/Der Tempel Brahmas Strahlt
Die Macht Des Schicksals - Die Stunde Is Heilig
Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail - Vivat Bacchus, Bacchus Lebe, K. 384
Undine: I. Ich War In Meinen Jungen Jahren/Im Wein Ist Wahrheit
Undine: II. Was Seh' Ich? Ihr Seid Glücklich Wider Da/O Wie Köstlich Ist Das Reisen
Die Zauberföte, K. 260: I. Die Weisheitslehre Dieser Knaben
Die Zauberföte, K. 260: II. Bewahret Euch Vor Weibertücken
Die Zauberföte, K. 260: III. Pamina, Wo Bist Du

UPC: 5028421954141
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 4.5.19
Format: CD

Bizet / Staatskapelle Berlin - Opera Overtures / Choruses & Duets (CD)