[10/7/2011] Preview: Sneaking up on "Tannhäuser" (continued)

Poster for the premiere of the revised Paris version of Tannhäuser

I'm not sure that there's really any more to say. As promised, we're going to hear the Liszt piano arrangement of the Overture to Tannhäuser in a not exactly scintillating performance, and then we're going to hear two performances of the Overture and "Venusberg Music" -- the first, by Arturo Toscanini, in actual stereo (of a sort). We've actually already heard the Tannhäuser Overture, conducted by Mariss Jansons and Otto Klemperer. Now we'll hear the "Venusberg Music" added.

ABOUT THE "AUDIO LINKS" (NEW! NEW! NEW!)

If the audio clips play OK, you don't have to pay any attention to these links. They're just a backup in case you have problems with a clip. With the link, it's at least possible that you'll be able to hear it onsite. (Let me add that I can't promise I'll always get the links right. Basically, I see this as another laborious piece of business and a new opportunity to screw stuff up. But you never know, it might help. Let's give it a shot.)

WAGNER (arr. Liszt): Overture to Tannhäuser

Jorge Bolet, piano. RCA/BMG, recorded July 16, 1973 [audio link]

Now we hear the real thing.

WAGNER: Tannhäuser: Overture and Venusberg Music

NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini, cond. Live performance, Apr. 4, 1954 (stereo) [audio link]
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter, cond. Columbia/CBS/Sony, recorded 1959 [audio link]


IN THIS WEEK'S SUNDAY CLASSICS POST

We jump straight to Act II of Tannhäuser and the Song Contest at the Wartburg, to give the opera its proper title -- to, in fact, the song contest itself!


RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE POST

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