Search - Great Opera Singers / Gundula Janowitz, Rita Streich, Tito Gobbi, Boris Christoff on DVD

A Real Treasure Trove

James S. Eisenberg | 09/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is hard to imagine a better combination of performances. Some of the greatest singers of the 60's in sometimes grainy black and white, but all of them singing their hearts out. From the charm of Janowitz and Streich to the intensity of Gobbi and Christoff, this is an amazing program.

From ORTF and BBC sources, this DVD is an all around winner. Gobbi does wonderful things with the words and Christoff is gut wrenching in a staged version of the death Scene from BORIS GODUNOV.

The singing of Janowitz is beautifully poised, and Streich has near perfect coloratura tecnique and winning presence. (She also surprises with a fine lyrical performance of 'The Song To The Moon' from RUSALKA in the original Czech.)

The main program is truly wonderful, but the two bonuses almost upstage the rest of it. A sensational version of the great scene between Elsa and Ortrud from LOHENGRIN by a radiant Elisabeth Grummer and a suitably dramatic Isabel Strauss, followed by three intense scenes from PARSIFAL with Wolfgang Windgassen and Gottlob Frick.

The pictures may be grainy, but the mono sound is clear and excellent."