| Label: DECCA
Catalog: 4145512
Format: CD Norman Bailey, Janis Martin, Rene Kollo, Martti Talvela, Isola Jones, Werner Krenn, Georg SoltiOriginal CD release with complete libretto booklet.
The Flying Dutchman is one of the most accessible of Wagner's works, and though it is the first of his operas that earned a permanent place in the repertory, it still possesses many aspects of conventional operatic practice, as well as a Weberian leitmotiv structure much simpler than that exhibited in Wagner's music after Tristan. Surprisingly, despite its accessibility, recordings of the work that are not deficient on technical or vocal or musical grounds seem to be in comparatively short supply. An exception is this classic CSO-Solti effort dating from the late '70s, where the sound is reasonably up to date, and the casting ranges from good to excellent. Of all recordings of this Wagnerian milestone, Solti's interpertation of this score still seems most authoritative. --Christian C. Rix |
Price: $45.98