Sarastro........................................... Wilhelm Strienz, Bass
Tamino................................................ Helge Roswaenge, Tenor
Speaker / Second Armed Man..................... Walter Grossman, Bass
Second Priest............................................. Ernst Fabbry, Tenor
Queen of the Night......................................... Erna Berger, Soprano
Pamina (her daughter)....................................... Tiana Lemnitz, Soprano
First Lady.......................................................... Hilde Scheppan, Soprano
Second Lady.......................................................... Elfride Marherr, Soprano
Third Lady / Third Boy.............................................. Rut Berglund, Contralto
Papageno................................................................... Gerhard Husch, Baritone
An Old Woman, Papagena / First Boy................................... Irma Beilke, Soprano
Monostatos, a Moor / First Armed Man................................... Heinrich Tessmer, Tenor
Second Boy......................................................................... Carla Spletter, Soprano
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra & Favres Soloisten Vereinigung conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.
EMI World Records SH 158-160. Circa 1970 LP transfers /c.1980 pressings. Matrices: 2XEA 630-35 -3G /-4 /-4G /-3G /-3G /-4G
Overture, Act One / Act Two 3 files zip FLAC Mega Download 1938 HMV Libretto frontispiece >>> Re-edited: April 2023
Recorded: Beethovensaal, Berlin - 8-10, 12/13, 15 November 1937 (except 'O zittre nicht' : 2 March 1938 - Berlin Staatsoper Orchestra - Bruno Seidler-Winkler).
Published April 1938 as HMV DB.3465-83 (Matrices: 2RA 2416-39 & 2RA 2447-59). First LP issue: 1955 - as HMV ALP 1273-5. 1955 transfer from metalwork by Anthony Griffith.Overture, Act One / Act Two 3 files zip FLAC Mega Download 1938 HMV Libretto frontispiece >>> Re-edited: April 2023
Thank you very much indeed for this excellent transfer!
ReplyDeleteI own the EMI CD-box set too: it has a clean sound but is obviously overmastered. I have many solo CDs of Huesch, Roswaenge, Lemnitz and Strienz: all of them sound on the EMI CD-box thinner and higher than usual.
On your transfer I recognize Huesch's normal timbre and his beautiful overtones: he sounds as a baritone, not as a tenor. And Strienz sounds like a low bass should (this is probably not his best role, but it is a different story).
Do you have the pre-war Covent Garden broadcast of the Walkuere with Wilhelm Furtwaengler/Rudolf Bockelmann, Maria Mueller?
Hello. Glad you liked this 'unsophisticated' EMI transfer. I only have 'half' the 78 set (one album, inc. libretto/notes by Walter Legge). I rarely have broadcasts (other than those I recorded) - but was thinking of adding the Knappertsbusch/VPO/George London Wagner recital from an early stereo mastering (also Schoeffler's Decca - mono) - and do have Husch's Winterreise/Mullerin on World Records from 1979/80 (also An Die Ferne Geliebte on 78s) which I may upload here - but am aware much/most material has appeared on CD (sometimes very cheap..) - so hesitate to 'bother' transferring from LP - and not all LP transfers from 78 are at all good - so will likely do some from 78s; ie - a Verdi collection (mainly HMV/Victor) - but would steer clear of 78 Opera sets - unless I was to upload, say, the World Records Heger/Rosenkavelier - then my 78 set 'raw' for folks to 'tweak' to their taste. But there won't be anything more here for a month, at least, as am taking a break!!!
ReplyDeleteYou surely deserve a break after posting these fine transfers!!
ReplyDeleteI have Husch's Muellerin on Preiser and on Pearl: Pearl has a weaker, but trustworthy sound.
The Furtwaengler 'Walkuere', Act III, I referred to, was recorded 26.5.1937 in London. Bockelmann is a tremendous Wotan, but his mighty bass-baritone is less dark than usual. I guess there are pitch problems on the Myto CD I have (Myto MCD 914.43).
In fact the Zauberflote took very little time as the original transfer/LPs were so 'quiet'. Only 'needed' to remove some repeated notes towards the end of Act Two due to a bad tape-edit, extended the gap after the Overture..that sort of thing.. A Mengelberg/Beethoven Symphony usually takes longer!
ReplyDeleteHave Walkure Act I & II in pre-war HMV albums and only know Furtwangler/Walkure as the EMI Big LP Box version (+ the ALP's..but with a Kempe/Meistersinger in one sleeve! :~((.
Might do the Gigli 'Tosca' as, possibly, the 1953 HMV ALP's were also A.C. Griffith transfers? Not heard that for some 20years, but recall it as sounding OK.