Search - Gioachino Rossini, Joseph Messner, Irmgard Seefried :: Rossini: Stabat Mater

Great performance from a bygone era

Rev. Ben Cox | Orlando, Florida | 08/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though the sources for this recording are dubious at best, the final product is really very good. I found the sound quality to be surprisingly good also. The tempi are variable and slow to my thinking, but the soloists seem to have enough breath. The chorus numbers are well done. This recording captures a young Irmgard Seefried, and we get real indicator of what her future will be. Rosette Anday had been with the Vienna opera, and sang Erda in Moralt's early "Ring" from Vienna. She has a big, beautiful alto voice. Lorenz Fehenberger, has a big luscious voice with plenty of breath and range to sing this music. The really great voice is Ferdinand Frantz, known to many of us as "Bass Frantz". This is a huge voice, here under tremendous control. He went on to record Wotan (I think he's the best) and Hans Sachs in Meistersinger. This recording comes from a pirated recording made of an Austrian radio broadcast, so it's a real historical sound document. Enjoy!"