Myto is clearly surpassing itself,
especially with reference to
lesser-known operas
Greetings! ,
We begin with several of their most recent issues . . .
"Anny Schlemm joined the Berlin State Opera, where she remained until 1961, during which period her r�les included Susanna, Marenka, Donna Elvira, Desdemona, Manon Lescaut, Octavian, Arabella, etc. She also sang at the opera houses of Cologne, Hamburg, Dresden, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, and at the Bayreuth Festival, etc. She made guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House, the Glyndebourne Festival, the Paris Op�ra, the Holland Festival, etc. Later, as her voice darkened, she became a famous exponent of r�les such as Clytemnestra, Herodias, Kabanicha in K�TYA KABANOV�, and Kostelnicka in JENUFA, etc. A superb singing-actress and highly versatile artist, she was equally at home in comic and dramatic roles."
- G�NTHER VON SCHWARZBURG (in Italian) (Holzbauer), Live Performance, 27 June, 1960, w.de Fabritiis Cond. RAI Ensemble, Milano; Luigi Infantino, Raffaele Ari�, Anna Moffo, Giacinto Prandelli, Orietta Moscucci, etc. (E.U.) 2-Myto 00321. (OP2618)
"G�NTHER VON SCHWARZBURG is a Singspiel in three acts by Ignaz Holzbauer set to a German libretto by Anton Klein. Loosely based on events in the life of the 14th century German king, G�nther von Schwarzburg, the opera premiered on 5 January 1777 at the Hoftheater in the Mannheim Palace."
"Holzbauer's music is very beautiful, but the poetry is not worthy of such music. What surprises me the most is, that so old a man as Holzbauer [66 years] should still have so much spirit, for the opera is incredibly full of fire."
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 14 November, 1777
- DIE TOTE STADT (Korngold), Live Performance, 1952, w.Fritz Lehmann Cond. Bayerisches Rundfunks Ensemble, M�nchen; Maud Cunitz, Karl Friedrich, Benno Kusche, Renate Holm, Margot Guilleaume, Josef Traxel, etc. (E.U.) 2-Myto 00318. (OP2619)
"DIE TOTE STADT (The Dead City) is an opera in three acts by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The libretto is by a fictitious Paul Schott (actually a pseudonym for the true librettists, the composer and the composer's father Julius Korngold), and is based on BRUGES-LA-MORTE, a short novel by Georges Rodenbach.
When DIE TOTE STADT had its premi�re on 4 December, 1920, Korngold was just 23 years old with two short one-act operas, DER RING DES POLYKRATES and VIOLANTA, already to his name. The success of these earlier works was so great that DIE TOTE STADT was subject to a fierce competition among German theaters for the right to the world premi�re."
"ELIZA, ou Le voyage aux glaciers du Mont St Bernard (Eliza, or The Journey to the Glaciers of Mont St Bernard) is an op�ra-comique in two acts by Luigi Cherubini with a French libretto by Jacques-Antoine de Reveroni de Saint-Cyr. It was first performed at the Th��tre Feydeau, Paris on 13 December 1794.
Cherubini made great use of local colour in his music for ELIZA. Its setting in the Swiss Alps was probably inspired by the contemporary popularity of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The score includes a ranz des vaches, a traditional melody played by Swiss herdsmen. ELIZA marked an important stage in the development of French Romanticism and was also popular in Germany. Cherubini's musical evocation of nature (nightfall, the storm) influenced Carl Maria von Weber, who was particularly fond of the opera."
- DON GIOVANNI, Live Performance, 3 Aug., 1960, Vienna, w.von Karajan Cond. Eberhard W�chter, Walter Berry, Cesare Valletti, Leontyne Price, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Graziella Sciutti, Rolando Panerai, Nicola Zaccaria, etc. (E.U.) 3-Myto 00317. (OP2601)
- HARRIET COHEN: The Complete Solo Studio Recordings, incl. Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, Bath, Gibbons, Bax, Debussy, de Falla, Shostakovitch & Kabalevsky. (England) 3-Appian APR 7304, recorded 1924-48. Transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn. (P0898)
"APR's production leaves little to be desired. Harriet Cohen was one of the most photographed women of her generation, and the booklet does not disappoint us....this comprehensive collection of her solo and orchestral performances is particularly welcome. She was, through it all, a thoroughly serious and committed, if wayward, musician. Her waywardness was itself a commitment. While she performed conventional repertoire, Harriet Cohen was first and foremost a champion of pre-classical and contemporary music. About half of this collection consists of Bach, beginning with an acoustic recording of the first concerto made with Henry Wood in 1924 and continuing with her notable 1928 recording of the first book of the WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER-exotic items at the time."
- David Radcliffe, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE,
Sept./Oct., 2012
- MORIZ ROSENTHAL: The Complete Recordings, incl. Chopin, Alb�niz, Debussy, Handel, Liadov, Liszt, Schubert, & Rosenthal. (England) 5-Appian APR 7503, recorded 1928-42, Edison, Victor, Lindstr�m, Ultraphon, Gramophone, BBC & NBC, partially unpublished, partially Live Performances. Transfers by Ward Marston. (P0897)
"What a fine thing this is! APR has gathered these together, both issued and unissued, supplemented with alternate 'takes' and off-the-air performances, effectively doubling the available recordings, all in meticulously restored sound from the best available sources-sometimes very good indeed. The 104 items consist mostly of Chopin-single sides usually, but also the Piano Concerto recorded for Odeon in 1930-31 and an unpublished third piano sonata made for Victor in 1939. There are also two recordings of Debussy's 'Reflets dans l'eau', works by Alb�niz and Liadov, Handel's 'Harmonious Blacksmith', Liszt's second Hungarian Rhapsody, and several delirious performances of Rosenthal's arrangements of Johann Strauss.
In the palmy days of the 19th Century piano virtuoso there was less separation between highbrow and popular music than would be the case after classical music became 'classical'. Rosenthal's virtuosity was of that older, less innocent school; he does things with waltzes and mazurkas that might bring blushes to a sailor. Jaw-dropping improvisational things. It is all quite authentic: such outrageousness once won Rosenthal the approval of Brahms and Liszt. As heard on records the by-then-elderly pianist's inventiveness and displays of shameless virtuosity are of a kind to send erotic shivers down an antiquary's spine. But there is more here than the mere shock of authenticity-Rosenthal's playing transcends circumstances and a listener's knowledge of history. Uncork this unassuming bottle and its concealed genie will sweep you away on golden wings of imagination."
- David Radcliffe, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE,
July/Aug., 2012
- THE CETRA LEGACY OF DIVAS, incl.Giuseppina Arnaldi, Onelia Fineschi, Margherita Benetti, Maria Antonietta Castelli, Gianna Pederzini, Maria Minazzi, Elena Nicolai, Maria Pedrini, Pia Tassinari, Elena Rizzieri, Graziella Valle, Nora de Rosa, Lidia Cremona, Winifred Cecil, Adriana Guerrini, Maria Luisa Gemelli, Lina Pagliughi, Rosetta Pampanini & Ebe Stignani. (England) The Record Collector 2-TRC 36. Booklet offers full discographical information, plus brief biographies by Alan Bilgora. Extremely Limited Edition! (V2057)
- G�TTERD�MMERUNG - Act Two, Live Performance, 1938, w.Wilhelm Furtw�ngler Cond. Royal Opera House Ensemble; Frida Leider, Lauritz Melchior, Herbert Janssen, Ludwig Weber [with a brief alternate, Wilhelm Schirp], Alois Pernerstorfer & Maria Nezadal; Frida Leider: Interview; Songs by Schumann - recorded 1941; Arias from Armide & Fidelio - recorded 1928. (Canada) Immortal Performances 1022. Transfers by Richard Caniell. (OP2614)
"Parts of the 1938 Covent Garden G�TTERD�MMERUNG have been issued before, but never in sound this good. . .This is as fine an example of treating historic material with respect and integrity as I've encountered, and frankly most listeners will be shocked at how good this sounds...."
- Henry Fogel, FANFARE, Nov./Dec., 2012
- A�DA, Live Performance, 6 Feb., 1937 (replete with Milton Cross' commentaries), w. Panizza Cond. Gina Cigna (d�but), Giovanni Martinelli, Bruna Castagna, Carlo Morelli, Ezio Pinza, etc.; Martinelli discusses A�da and Otello, BIRS, 1962; Martinelli, w.Heller Cond.: A�DA - Se quel guerrier; Celeste A�da FAUST - Prison Scene - both recorded 1926 by Vitaphone; Martinelli, w.Dino Formichini; Beecham Cond. Royal Opera House Orch.: OTELLO - Desdemona rea! - Live Performance, 19 April, 1937 (the sole known surviving portion of the opening performance of Covent Garden's Coronation Season). (Canada) 3-Immortal Performances 1020. Transfers by Richard Caniell. Elaborate Edition features numerous lovely photos. (OP2599)
"This is a release of extraordinary importance to opera lovers with an interest in the history of opera singing in the 20th century. For many years this performance has had iconic status among collectors of historic vocal material. It has been issued on many labels in the LP and CD format. But Richard Caniell and his Immortal Performances label have improved significantly on all prior versions, and probably given us the performance in the best sonic environment we are likely to get."
- Henry Fogel, FANFARE, Nov./Dec., 2012
- RIGOLETTO, Live Performance, 17 June, 1952 with commentary in Spanish), M�xico City, (w.Mugnai Cond. Palacio de Bellas Artes Ensemble; Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Piero Campolonghi, Teresa Garcia, etc. (Canada) 2-Immortal Performances 1021. Transfers, with performance mishaps corrected, by Richard Caniell. (OP2598)
- (GERALDINE FARRAR) ELIZABETH NASH. Geraldine Farrar, Opera's Charismatic Innovator, 2nd Edition. Jefferson, NC, McFarland Press, 2012. 186pp. Index; Bibliography; Extensive notes & critical quotes; Operatic r�les; Silent Films - dates & full casts; Select Radio Broadcasts; Extensive chapter on Farrar's proget�e Camilla Williams; Photos. (Pictorial thick paper covers) (B0742)
"Long overdue, this fascinating and well-written book offers many thoroughly documented commentaries and reviews of Farrar and other vocal luminaries of fin-de-si�cle 19th century well into the early 20th century, including Capoul, Maurel, Jean de Reszk�, Caruso, Chaliapin, Patti, Melba, Eames, Sembrich, Nordica, Garden, plus Toscanini, Gatti-Casazza, Sarah Bernhardt, David Belasco, Cecil B. DeMille, and more. Exhaustive quotes by Henderson, Aldrich, van Vechten, Krehbiel, Finck, Hale, Parker, and so many more, are duly revealing and informative. They alone make for most compelling reading!"
- J. R. Peters
- KATHLEEN FERRIER: Songs by Schubert, Schumann, Wolf & Jensen; Arias from Mattheus-Passion, Rodelinda, Serse, Elijah, Orfeo ed Euridice, The Fairy Queen, Atalanta & Admeto. (Germany) Naxos 8.112071, recorded 1946-50. Transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn. (V2058)
- PIER MIRANDA FERRARO: Arias from Guglielmo Tell, Il Pirata, Norma, Ernani, I Vispri Siciliani, Forza, A�da, Otello, Samson et Dalila, Fanciulla, Cavalleria, Tosca, Pagliacci & Isabeau. (Italy) Bongiovanni 1225, Live Performances, 1957-69. (V2054)
- FRITZ KREISLER: The Complete Recordings, Vol. IV, incl. Brandl, Granados, Kreisler, Dvor�k, Brahms, Massenet, Stephen Foster, Smetana, Tchaikovsky, Boccherini, Bizet, Spencer, Hubbell, Schubert, Winternitz, Paderewski, Rameau, Earl, Krakauerr & Valdez. (Germany) Naxos 8.111384, recorded 1916-19. Transfers by Ward Marston. (S0534)
- JASCHA HEIFETZ, w.Brooks Smith & Emanuel Bay (Pfs.): Encores, Vol. I, incl. Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, de Falla, Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, Medtner, Bennett, Shulman, Kroll, Stravinsky, Paganini, Sgambati, Dinicu & Castelnuovo-Tedesco. (Germany) Naxos 8.112072,recorded 1946-56. Transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn. (S0533)
- WOMEN AT THE PIANO, An Anthology of Historic Performances, Vol.V, incl. Etelka Freund, Johana Harris, Emma Contestabile, Denise Lassimonne, Dorothea Winand-Mendelssohn, Tatiana Nikolayeva, Felicitas Karrer, Eva Wollman, Lenore Engdahl, Denise Herbrecht (w.Lucien Petijean), Carmen-Marie-Lucie Guilbert, Madeleine Grovlez, Jean Melville, Ida-Marie-Louise P�rin, Grete Scherzer, Cornelia Rider-Possart & Annette Haas-Hamburger. (Germany) Naxos 8.111219, recorded 1923-55. Transfers by Victor & Marina Ledin. (P0895)
Furthermore . . .
Welcome to our new bookshop & list of Original Cast LPs, www.norpete.com where you will see a vast array of excellent, used out-of-print books. You're sure to find many books of interest which may have long eluded you, so now is your opportunity to fill in missing gaps. Our online bookshop includes composer and performer autobiographies and biographies. Soon we will include musical criticism, theory and history, plus histories of symphony orchestras, opera houses and festivals. In addition, we shall offer quite an array of vocal scores, many of which are most rare and unusual.
Take a look at our exciting array of Broadway & Off-Broadway Original Cast and London Original Cast LPs, all in superb condition.
Please note: we have now eliminated our old email address. Please adjust your email address book to:
norbeckpetersford@gmail.com
We continue our special CD & DVD 'sale' . . . this week with many more DVDs added . . .
Please click on the DVD image on the left, above, and you will see our entire inventory of DVDs. Our overstock listings of CDs follow the DVDs, beginning with the most recent additions. When these titles are gone, they will not be replaced since our inventory has become far too large!
From this time forward, all Walhall and Myto titles will be offered at 40% discount from their original prices.
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We carry fine CD offerings from Marston, Immortal Performances(Canada), Malibran, VRCS, The Record Collector, Aquarius, Melodiya, Cheyne, Walhall, Bongiovanni, Bluebell, Clama and many other labels.
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