Lehar: The Merry Widow [Die Lustige Witwe] (Great Recordings of the Century) [Original recording remastered]

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Artist), Eberhard Wächter (Artist), Nicolai Gedda (Artist), Hanny Steffek (Artist), Peter Knapp (Artist), Doreen Murray (Artist), Franz Lehár (Composer), Lovro von Matacic (Conductor), Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra
• Conductor: Lovro von Matacic
• Composer: Franz Lehár
• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00004VVZF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,328 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Philharmonia Orch/Lovro Von Matacic/Kurt Equiluz/Philharmonia Chor/Reinhold Schmid/Josef Knapp

2. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Hans Strohbauer/Kurt Equiluz/Hanny Steffek/Nicolai Gedda

3. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Hanny Steffek/Nicolai Gedda

4. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Hanny Steffek/Nicolai Gedda

5. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Franz Boheim/Kurt Equiluz/Hans Strohbauer

6. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Kurt Equiluz/Hans Strohbauer/Philharmonia Chor/Reinhold Schmid

7. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Nicolai Gedda/Hanny Steffek/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Hans Strohbauer/Kurt Equiluz...

8. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Eberhard Wachter

9. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Eberhard Wachter/Franz Boheim

10. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Hans Strohbauer/Kurt Equiluz/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Eberhard Wachter

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Philharmonia Orch/Lovro Von Matacic/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

2. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Philharmonia Chor/Reinhold Schmid

3. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Philharmonia Chor/Reinhold Schmid

4. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Franz Boheim

5. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Hanny Steffek/Eilidh McNab/Doreen Murray/Christine Parker/Rosemary Phillips/Noreen Willett...

6. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Eberhard Wachter

7. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Eberhard Wachter/Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

8. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Josef Knapp/Eberhard Wachter/Hanny Steffek/Franz Boheim

9. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Josef Knapp/Eberhard Wachter/Nicolai Gedda/Hanny Steffek/Hans Strohbauer...

10. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PURE JOY FROM START TO FINISH, August 19, 2000

By 

"lesismore26" (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lehar: The Merry Widow [Die Lustige Witwe] (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

I'll make this short and sweet. This 1962 EMI "Merry Widow" is arguably the greatest recording ever made of an operetta. It was acclaimed with critical superlatives upon the time of its original release, and in light of subsequent versions, it shines more brilliantly than ever before. The stereo sound, already good to begin with, has been remastered with precision and care, furnishing us with a musical document that could have been recorded yesterday. Lovro von Matacic has shaped the score into a fantastic theatrical experience, evoking the Viennese spirit at every turn. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was born to perform this charming and beautiful role, and expectedly, creates a Hanna Glawari that leaves all others at the starting gate ---- including Joan Sutherland, Cheryl Studer, and Beverly Sills. Nicolai Gedda's Camille Rosillon is a vocal paragon, producing sound that conjures the illusion of honey being poured into the ear. There may be a few reservations about Eberhard Waechter's blustery and gruff Danilo, but this is but a very minor flaw in light of the beauty of the entire production. The supporting cast is excellent. If one owns no other operetta recording, this one is an absolute must. In keeping with EMI's logo, here very apt, this "Merry Widow" is truly one of the great recordings of the century. Acquire it without delay.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT'S "ABRIDGED', BUT WHAT A PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!!, August 3, 2006

By 

L. Mitnick (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lehar: The Merry Widow [Die Lustige Witwe] (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

I've heard more recordings of "The Merry Widow" than I can count, and many of them are enjoyable. None, however, has the infectious charm and elegance of this 1962 EMI version. True, the performance could probably have been accommodated on a single CD (with very few seconds to spare!), and yes, there are some cuts, but what is presented here constitutes something so special, so illuminating, and so magical that it hardly matters. Von Matacic shapes this cream puff of an operetta with even more verve that Otto Ackermann did on the previous 1953 EMI recording (also with Schwarzkopf), and one can almost "feel" the fizz of the champagne throughout the entire performance. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was born to sing the title role, and in my humble opinion, no other soprano comes within miles of what she accomplishes here. Her idiomatic dialogue, her vocal shadings, and her musical instincts are balm to the ear. She easily surpasses her previous monophonic EMI performance of nine years earlier (and that was a great one!). Nicolai Gedda also surpasses his earlier work on that legendary 1953 recording, offering singing of very great lyricism and beauty. Eberhart Wachter was a very fine baritone, and made some wonderful recordings. His singing here, however, seems to me to be a little gruff, a little crude, and peppered with too much "speak singing", especially when heard in close proximity to Schwarzkopf and Gedda. Still, this was/is one of the greatest recordings EMI ever made, (truly a worthy entry to the "Great Recordings of the Century" series), and it showcases the artistry of Schwarzkopf magnificently. This would definitely be one of my "desert-island" recordings.

With the announcement this morning that Elisabeth Schwarzkopf passed away, this recording becomes even more legendary. It's a beautiful memorial to one of the greatest sopranos of the last century.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Champagne all around--a great recording, September 23, 2005

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lehar: The Merry Widow [Die Lustige Witwe] (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

This classic recording doesn't need any more accolades, but I wanted to say how much joy it has brought me over the years. I have bought several modern Widows, too, but thrown them all away. This gem will be remembered as long as the work itself, and it's all the more amazing since Schwarzkopf never performed in a staged operetta of any kind.

P.S. - I came late to Schwarzkopf's mono Merry Widow under Otto Ackermann, from the early Fifties, which finds her in even more ecstatic voice. Many listeners may prefer Erich Kunz, whose Danilo is mellower and less fiercely temperamental than that of Wachter in the later set. No one should miss either recording, given the shortfall of joy these days.