Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72
Christa Ludwig (Leonore), Jon Vickers (Florestan), Walter Berry (Don Pizarro), Gottlob Frick (Rocco), Ingeborg Hallstein (Marzelline), Gerhard Unger (Jaquino), Franz Crass (Don Fernando)
Philharmonia Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Awards:
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Presto Favourites, Christa Ludwig - Our Top 10 Recordings
Whilst I love the dramatic energy of Karajan’s (thrilling but rough-round-the-edges) 1962 Fidelio, Ludwig sounds more secure in terms of diction and intonation on this studio recording from...
Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72
Christa Ludwig (Leonore), Jon Vickers (Florestan), Walter Berry (Don Pizarro), Gottlob Frick (Rocco), Ingeborg Hallstein (Marzelline), Gerhard Unger (Jaquino), Franz Crass (Don Fernando)
Philharmonia Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Presto Favourites, Christa Ludwig - Our Top 10 Recordings
Whilst I love the dramatic energy of Karajan’s (thrilling but rough-round-the-edges) 1962 Fidelio, Ludwig sounds more secure in terms of diction and intonation on this studio recording from...
About
“One of the glories of recording history,” was how this Fidelio was hailed on its initial release in 1962. The intervening years have repeatedly affirmed its towering status. Otto Klemperer’s readings of Beethoven are proverbial for their grandeur and humanity, while the Leonore of Christa Ludwig and Florestan of Jon Vickers remain unsurpassed.
Contents and tracklist
- Gottlob Frick (bass), Gerhard Unger (tenor), Jon Vickers (tenor), Walter Berry (bass-baritone), Ingeborg Hallstein (soprano), Christa Ludwig (soprano), Kurt Wehofschitz (tenor), Franz Crass (lead vocals), Raymond Wolansky (bass-baritone), Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano)
- Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus, Wilhelm Pitz
- Otto Klemperer
- Recorded: 1962-03-07
- Recording Venue: 6-10, 12-15-17, 19 February & 7 March 1962: Kingsway Hall, London & No.1 Studio, Abbey Road
- Philharmonia Orchestra
- Otto Klemperer
- Recorded: 1963-11-05
- Recording Venue: 4 & 5 November 1963 / Kingsway Hall, London
Spotlight on this release
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Christa Ludwig at 90
16th Mar 2018
Katherine celebrates the great German mezzo's ninetieth birthday by picking out ten favourite recordings from her long and varied career.
Awards and reviews
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Presto FavouritesChrista Ludwig - Our Top 10 Recordings
16th March 2018
Whilst I love the dramatic energy of Karajan’s (thrilling but rough-round-the-edges) 1962 Fidelio, Ludwig sounds more secure in terms of diction and intonation on this studio recording from the same year – her ability to sustain the long lines of ‘Komm, hoffnung’ at Klemperer’s spacious tempo is a marvel, and she matches Vickers for sheer horse-power in the high-lying manic ecstasy of ‘O namenlose Freude!’.
