Fritz Wunderlich Discography: Pfitzner - Palestrina / Heger 1964

Pfitzner: Palestrina

Directed by Hans Hotter. ORF recording of the premiere. Rec. at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna, 1964-12-16.

Cast: Fritz Wunderlich (Palestrina), Gottlob Frick (Pope Pius IV.), Walter Berry (Morone), Gerhard Stolze (Novagerio), Walter Kreppel (Madruscht), Otto Wiener (Borromeo), Ludwig Welter (Kardinal von Lothringen), Peter Klein (Abdisu), Harald Pröglhöf (Müglitz), Robert Kerns (Luna), Gerhard Unger (Bischof von Budoja), Erich Majkut (Theophilus), Alois Pernestorfer (Avosmediano), Sena Jurinac (Ighino), Christa Ludwig (Silla), Hans Braun (Severolus), Fritz Sperlbauer (Dandini), Kurt Equiluz (Bischof von Fiesole), Ljubomir Pantscheff (Bischof von Feltre), Dagmar Hermann (Doctor), Hans Christian (Spanish Bishop), Hildegard Rössel-Majdan (Lukrezia), Mimi Coertse, Lucia Popp, Gundula Janowitz (Angels' Voices), Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, cond. Robert Heger

Photograph of Fritz Wunderlich in the role of Palestrina.
Herbert Schneiber in "Kurier", 1964-12-16: "Fritz Wunderlich has fully adopted the part with his precious tenor voice. His sense and sensibility seal this property to such an extent that it seems virtually implausible that this performance was his role debut. But this is the case, and the audience, which was more enthusiastic than usual recently, was quite right to fête him particularly."
Karl Löbl in "Express", 1964-12-16: "Mr Wunderlich sang his first Palestrina, and he could not only stand against the memory of Patzak but also really convince in the part. Although he should be too young of age for this role, he has wonderfully adopted Palestrina's mood, resignation and unworldliness to such an extent that he really stands and sits on the stage like a tired old man, repelled by all the bustle around him. His gestures are terse and calm, and his singing is of a mild tranquillity, nearly Lieder-like simplicity, never operatically ariose, rather emerged from a quiet internal dialogue. A moving rendering of the difficult part."

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	MYTO 3 MCD 922.59 (+ Max Lorenz & Paul Schöffler in Palestrina Act I, rec. Salzburg 1955; 3 CD)
	The Golden Age of Opera EJS 521 (after Act I, there is a completely unrelated item from Schönberg's "Gurrelieder"; 3 LP)

Highlights on

RCA Red Seals 743211795982 (1 CD)