Customer Reviews

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Robert Merrill

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Of the Merrill CDs currently on offer, this one, with its 20 tracks, seems to offer most baritone for your buck. The sound quality is adequate but not great. The duet with Dorothy Kirsten is barely adequate, as Kirsten's light voice does not fare so well on early recordings. The packaging has a cheap feel to it, the insert notes being a couple of pages of biography in German, followed by an English translation. The track listing gives minimum information. The cover displays the singer's rather absurd matinee-idol good looks and announces, "Lebendige Vergangenheit", which is German for something or other (I think it means something like 'living past'). It is part of a very extensive series featuring historic recordings from famous singers of the past.

The first 12 tracks are from the classical repertoire, followed by 6 theatrical songs. The collection is rounded off with 2 spirituals. Merrill is completely at ease in all these genres.

The aria from Hamlet is stirring stuff, but for most listeners the largo from The Barber of Seville will remain their favorite. Merrill's rich baritone is in perfect control throughout.

By all accounts, Merrill was an indifferent actor at best and not the easiest person to get along with. But his voice is sheer pleasure. If you do not absolutely insist on remastered recordings, and if you would welcome a break from the current glut of tenors, you should add this CD to your collection.

This is the first volume in a series of the earliest commercial recordings by Robert Merrill. Some of the material is trite, but the voice - the instrument itself - is, of course magnificent. Merrill had a 40+ year career, and retired when he was still in fine vocal shape.
These early recordings show the youthful freshness in his voice, in excellent quality due to Preiser's superb restorations. Preiser, without exception, has ALWAYS done a masterful job restoring 78's. No gimmickry -just good clean sound. As it should be. Any restorations on the Preiser label are worth obtaining. They totally respect their subjects.

The CD was purchased for a very young aunt of 92 years. The CD is in good condition and my aunt has enjoyed it very much.