Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Wilhelm Furtwängler, La Scala Theater Orchestra :: Wagner: Götterdämmerung

Furtwaengler and Flagstad at La Scala

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 01/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a live recording of Wilhelm Furtwaengler conducting at La Scala in the early 1950s. The house band is not up to the standards of Bayreuth or Berlin but serves well enough.With one exception, the cast is serviceable -- and probably better than anything likely to be assembled today. The Siegfried, Max Lorenz, is adequate (no small praise) but not especially memorable. The exception, of course, is the great Kirsten Flagstad, who here sings wonderfully well.The sound of the 1950s live mono recording is is about what you might expect. If mere reproduction is the most important thing for you, go elsewhere. If a brilliant conductor and a unique artist in one of her signature roles interests you, give this a try.Furtwaengler and Flagstad = five stars."