[Recording information]

Disc1-2
Beethoven: Opera "Fidelio" Op.72 All songs

Senna Jurinacci (Soprano/Leonore)
Jan Pierce (Tenor/Florestin)
Desjou Ernster (Bass/Rocco)
Maria Stader (Soprano/Marzelline)
Murray Dickey ( Tenor/Yaquino)
Gustav Knightlinger (bass/Don Pizarro)
Frederic Guitry (baritone/Don Fernando) and others
Bavarian State Opera Chorus Bavarian
State Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor) , Munich (stereo)

A famous recording made by Knappertsbusch in his later years for the Westminster label. "Fidelio" has a Wagner-like sense of time, but depending on the scene, it also shows unexpectedly agile parts, and it is also a performance content that fully suggests that Knappertsbusch was fond of picking up during this period.
Attention is Yurinatchi of the leading role. Nine months before this recording, Jurinacchi had sung "Fidelio" in London under the direction of Klemperer and achieved great success. (HMV)

Disc3
Wagner: From "Tristan and Isolde"
1. Prelude to act 1
2. Love's death
3. "Oh, my God!"

Birgit Nilsson (soprano/Isolde: 2,3)
Grace Hoffmann (mezzo-soprano/Brangane: 3) Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor)

Recording: September 1959, Vienna (stereo)

Disc4
Wagner: "Walkure" Act 1

Kirsten Fragstadt (Soprano/Sieglinde) Set Svanholm (Tenor/Siegmund)
Arnold Van Mil (Bass/Hunding)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (Conductor )

Recording: October 1957, Vienna (Stereo)

Speaking of Kirsten Flagstadt [1895-1962], it is a legendary existence known for having the highest fame among all Wagner singers. In the mid-1930s, Fragtat, who was already a world-famous singer, retired from the opera stage in 1953. Fortunately, Decca persuaded her, who had just retired, to preserve her great voice in good quality using stereo recording technology, which had just started at the time. They succeeded.
For historical fans, I'm very happy that the very unique tone of the Vienna Philharmonic in 1957 was recorded with Decca's clear sound, and this is amazing, such as Flagstart, Svanholm, and Van Mill. It's irresistible because the voice singers are involved. The first act is overwhelmingly dominated by Hans Knappertsbusch's compellingly huge scale and unique tranquility. Flagstart's Sieglinde is noble and full of affection, and its beauty gives a deep impression to the listener. (HMV)

Disc5-8
Wagner: "Nuremberg Meistersinger" All songs

Paul Schaeffler (Baritone/Hans Sack)
Otto Edelmann (Bass/Porgner)
Karl Denhi (Bass/Beckmesser)
Alfred Pell (Baritone/Courtner)
Gunther?Treptow (baritone/Stolzing)
Anton Dermota (tenor/Dafit)
Hilde Guden (soprano/Eva)
Else Schulhoff (mezzo-soprano/Magdalene), etc.
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Knapperts Bush (conductor)

recording: September 1951, Vienna (monaural)

Session recording by Decca at Musikvereinsaal in Vienna in the latter half of the monaural period. At that time, Decca's recordings were monaural, but they were already of high quality. can. Schaeffler, Guden, Denhi, and other famous Viennese singers are also spectacular. Due to the depth of gouging, the performance has a different charm from the same Kuna's Bayreuth (1952/1960) and Bavarian's Meistersinger (1955). (HMV)

Disc9-12
Wagner: "Parsifal"

Wolfgang Windgassen (tenor/Parsifal)
Arnold Van Mil (bass/Titurell)
Ludwig Weber (bass/Gurnemanz)
George London (baritone/Amfortas)
Hermann Uhde (baritone/ Kringsor)
Martha Medl (Soprano/Kundry), Bayreuth Festival Orchestra & Choir Hans Knappertsbusch
(Conductor ) Years later, in July 1951, the Bayreuth Festival, which had been under the spell of Nazi Germany, was dramatically reopened with the 9th Orchestra conducted by Furtwangler. It will be the first time for Bayreuth to replace Furtwangler in conducting a musical theater, with Karajan (Meistersinger, Ring (CD Rheingold and Valkyrie Act 3, Siegfried only)) and Knappertsbusch. (Ring (CD: Twilight of the Gods only), Parsifal, conducting Meistersinger).


Karajan, who was on the rise to become a star as a standard-bearer of a new era, and Knappertsbusch, who has devoted himself to the performance of Wagner's works, consistently fervently praising Wagner ever since he set his sights on music. (who had been obsessed with the work since he was young enough to make Parsifal's Kundry the subject of his graduation thesis) provides a striking contrast. The music created by both musicians left a lasting impression on the hearts of Wagnerians who were hungry for sound and made pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Windgassen (Parsifal), Medl (Kundry), Weber (Gurnemanz), London (Amfortas), Uhde (Klingsor), and other famous singers who shine brilliantly in the history of Wagner's performances are overwhelming with their tense singing because it is a special performance. Showing presence and in great shape. At a total of 4 hours and 32 minutes, the tempo is much slower than the recordings of later years, but the performance is of a high standard, with attention to detail and attention to detail. I can only say that there is nothing wrong with it.
The recording by John Culshaw (& Kenneth Wilkinson), who will later be called an apostle of Wagner, still shines after more than 70 years. (HMV)

Disc13-16
Wagner: "Parsifal" complete

Jess Thomas (tenor/Parsifal)
Martti Talvera (bass/Titurell)
Hans Hotter (bass/Gurnemanz)
George London (baritone/Amfortas)
Gustav Knightlinger (baritone/Kringsor) )
Irene Dalis (soprano/kundry), etc.
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra & Choir
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor)

Recording: August 1962, Bayreuth (stereo/live)

1962 stereo recording. A wonderful performance that symbolizes the era when Bayreuth was legendary. Perhaps because of the nature of the work, there is an amazing contrast between the mystical atmosphere here, the richness of the religious character such as the desire for the sublime, and the contrasting drama. It is the power of Knapparts Bush that gives you a sense of unity and unity. Almost 60 years have already passed, but as far as this work is concerned, the atmosphere of the performance here is so unique that any other conductor's performance sounds like a superficial drama. (HMV)

Disc17
Wagner:
1. Wesendonk Song Collection (Angel / Tomare / At the Greenhouse / Trouble / Dream)
2. Elsa's Dream from "Lohengrin" "Days of Lonely Sadness"
3. "Children" from "Parsifal"
4. From "Walkure" "All the men in the mansion were gathered in this room" 5. From "Walkure "
"In cold winter days"

Kirsten Flagstadt (Soprano)
Vienna? Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor)

Recording: May 1956, Vienna (stereo)

Disc18
Wagner:
1. "Time has expired" from "The Flying Dutchman"
2. "How soft and strong is the lilac flower" from "Nuremberg Meistersinger"
3. "I'm lost," from "Nuremberg Meistersinger" I'm lost! 4. " Farewell
, Brave and Shining Child" from "Valkyrie"

George London (bass-baritone) Vienna
Philharmonic Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor)

Recording: June 1958, Vienna (stereo)

Disc19
1. R. Strauss: "Kann mich auch an ein Madel erinnern" from "Rose Knight"
2. R. Strauss: "Heut' oder morgen oder den ubernachsten Tag" from "Rose Knight"
3. Wagner: "Tannhauser" 4. Wagner
: Elisabeth's Prayer from Tannhauser
5. Wagner: From "Meistersinger of Nuremberg" Strongly... Gut'n Abend, Meister!"
6. Wagner: From "Nuremberg Meistersinger" "How soft and strong the lilac flowers are" 7.
Wagner: "Gut'n Abend, Meister" from "Nuremberg Meistersinger" Maria

Reining (soprano: 1-4, 5, 7)
Paul Schaeffler (baritone: 5-7)
Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
Hans Knappertsbusch (conductor)

Recording: June 1949 (1-4, 5,7), June 1947 (6), Zurich (monaural)