Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Humperdinck's supremely ingratiating opera has an astoundingly starry recorded history. Its singable, easily learned roles have become sort of a drop-in-for-divas occasion (as in the recording by Christa Ludwig and Frederica von Stade, for example), often with extremely big names singing minor roles. This pre-stereo recording starring Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Elisabeth Grümmer in the titles roles with the youngish Herbert von Karajan would seem to be a forerunner to that, though, in fact, those starry names prove to be window dressing. All the secondary roles are sung by names not familiar to us now, but give us something the starrier casts don't: thoughtful characterizations rather than somewhat-indulgent star turns. Else Schurhoff not only sings the Witch pretty much as written but without mugging--and still manages to be funny. Anny Felbermayer's Sandman is an imaginative piece of vocal characterization that suggests what such an otherworldly creature might actually sound like. Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra supply all the orchestral color one could hope for in a mono recording, but without turning it into a showpiece. --David Patrick Stearns
Great Recordings Of The Century - Humperdinck: Hansel Und Gretel / Karajan, Schwarzkopf, Grummer, Metternich, et al, Music, Engelbert Humperdinck, Herbert von Karajan, Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra of London, Anny Felbermayer, Elisabeth Grummer, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Else Schurhoff, Josef Metternich, Maria von Ilosvay, Herbert von Karajan, Loughton Girls School Chorus, Bancroft School Boys' Choir, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Josef Metternich, Maria von Ilosvay, Else Schurhoff, Anny Felbermayer, Classical, Classical Music, German/Austrian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
Track Listings:
Track Listings
The String Quartet Tribute to Elliott Smith
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Stölzel: Concerto grosso
Soultrane (20 Bit Mastering) [Original recording remastered]
Baby It's Cold Outside (Christmas Album) [Import]
Beethoven: The Diabelli Variations
Afterlive: Live 1994-1997 [Live] [Original recording remastered]
Alfred Schnittke: Complete Violin Concertos (1-4) - Gidon Kremer / Christoph Eschenbach