Richard Wagner: Les Maitres Chanteurs de Nuremberg (Extraits) / LP Vinyl UPC 19 047Product Features:Recording Label: Deutsche Grammophon GesellschaftRelease Year: 1960Format: Vinyl (33 RPM)Duration: 33 minutes (approx.)Country of Release: GermanyOverviewRichard Wagner's "Les Maitres Chanteurs de Nuremberg"is one of the most beloved works in his repertoire. Renowned for its blend of musical complexity and rich character development, this opera showcases Wagner's ability to balance tradition and innovation, capturing a piece of German cultural history while introducing new harmonic ideas. The opera's accessibility and its exploration of themes such as artistic integrity and the tension between tradition and innovation have made it a cornerstone of the Wagnerian canon.This album features a selection of key excerpts from the opera, showcasing the extraordinary talents of some of the finest opera singers of the 20th century. Under the expert direction ofFerdinand Leitnerwith theBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, this recording brings together stellar performances byWolfgang Windgassen,Josef Herrmann,Annelies Kupper, andHerta Toepper. The recording captures the essence of Wagner's work, from the dynamic choral moments to the intimate monologues of key characters like Hans Sachs.The album includes highlights such as the "Hymne au Printemps" and Sachs' famous monologues, offering a vivid representation of the opera's intricate musical and thematic layers.Track ListingSide OnePrlude -Ferdinand Leitner, Orchestre National du WurttembergHymne au Printemps ("Fanget an!") -Wolfgang Windgassen,Ferdinand Leitner, Orchestre Philharmonique de MunichMonologue de Sachs ("Wie duftet doch der Flieder") -Josef Herrmann,Ferdinand Leitner, Orchestre Philharmonique de MunichMonologue de Sachs ("Wahn, Wahn, berall Wahn") -Josef Herrmann,Ferdinand Leitner, Orchestre Philharmonique de MunichQuintette (Selig wie die Sonne) -Annelies Kupper(soprano),Herta Toepper(mezzo-soprano),Richard Holm(tenor),Josef Herrmann(baritone),Wolfgang Windgassen(tenor)Chur ("Wach auf") - Chur de la Radiodiffusion BavaroiseSide TwoAirs du Concours ("Morgenlich leuchtend") -Wolfgang Windgassen(tenor), Orchestre Philharmonique de MunichMonologue final de Sachs ("Verachtet mich die Meister nicht") -Josef Herrmann, Orchestre Philharmonique de MunichChur de la Radiodiffusion BavaroiseKey CreditsComposer: Richard WagnerConductor: Ferdinand LeitnerOrchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Munich, Orchestre National du WurttembergSingers: Wolfgang Windgassen, Josef Herrmann, Annelies Kupper, Herta Toepper, Richard HolmChorus: Chur de la Radiodiffusion BavaroiseLabel: Deutsche Grammophon GesellschaftProduction: Recorded in the early 1960sBox #150