Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel ~ Karajan [Live]

Bruna Ronchini (Artist), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Artist), Rita Streich (Artist), Rolando Panerai (Artist), Sena Jurinac (Artist), Vittoria Palombini (Artist), Engelbert [Classical] Humperdinck (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), RIAS Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: RIAS Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
• Composer: Engelbert [Classical] Humperdinck
• Audio CD (July 2, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Opera D'oro
• ASIN: B000068FV5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,980 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humperdinck in Italian? Absolutely!!!, July 25, 2002

By 

William S. Levison (Valdosta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel ~ Karajan (Audio CD)

This live (Milan) performance is a wonderful companion to the EMI classic version, which was recorded the same year (if I'm not mistaken--1954). The two versions share the dynamic conducting of Karajan and the exquisite Gretel of Schwarzkopf. Jurinac is a wonderful Hansel, and the rest of the cast is as good as it gets, with the unfamiliar (to me) Vittoria Palombini as hammy a Witch as any German hexe but a much better singer than most. How does it sound in Italian? Unfamiliar, of course, but ultimately just fine--certainly better than in English. The sound is clean mono with virtually no audience noise--the attendees were obviously even more enchanted than I. In summary, this issue illustrates what Opera d'Oro can do best: present a unique, historic recording at an unbeatable price.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great H & G, relaxing in sunny Italy, February 20, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel ~ Karajan (Audio CD)

In the early Fifties Karajan had a relationship with Italian Radio that produced remarkable studio broadcasts of the Magic Flute (with Schwarzkopf singing her only Pamina on record) and this Hansel und Gretel, both sung in Italian. There's also a Stravinsky Oedipus Rex that I've not heard. The RIAS orchestra doesn't compete with the Philharmonia on Karajan's famed commerical EMI recording from 1953, but he keeps them together and produces excellent results.

The 1954 radio mono sound is good enough, and the singers are in fine form. On the EMi recording both lead roles were sopranos (Schwarzkopf and Grummer), while here the Hansel is the darker-voiced mezzo Sena Jurinac, who sometimes is listed as a soprano. I find that the leads are less coy than on the comemrical recording, which is all to the good given the sugar overload we are in for. Karajan takes the music seriously, which is also to my taste. All the supporting roles are taken by better singers than on the EMI set, in particular Rita Streich as the Sandman. As a bargain set, this Opera d'Oro issue is impossible to pass up. I'm tempted to call it the best performance I've ever heard.