GREAT CONDUCTORS AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA

Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera

Fritz Busch - Wagner

Lohengrin, Act I - 1945

Sir Thomas Beecham - Wagner

Tristan & Isolde, Act II - 1943

George Szell - Wagner

Die Meistersinger, Act II - 1945

Also: Beecham Rare Broadcasts - Wesendonck Lieder with Kirsten Flagstad

Premiere performances on disc of the work of three celebrated conductors whose art glorified Metropolitan Opera productions during the 1940s. The album opens with the debut of Fritz Busch conducting Act I of Lohengrin. This also offers the MET debut of Torsten Ralf who sings with Traubel and Janssen. Act III excerpts are included. The second CD offers Beecham's way with Tristan, in Act II with Melchior, Traubel and Thorborg, rich with the poetry and the clarity for which Beecham was noted. The Wesendonck Lieder sung by Flagstad is also conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. The final CD offers Act II of Meistersinger conducted by George Szell with Herbert Janssen's honored Hans Sachs, the lovely Eva of the young Eleanor Steber and the stalwart Walther of Charles Kullman. The CD is filled out with the Footstool Scene through to the end of the quintet from Act III. As usual, there are notes on the performances and pictorials.