Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau op. 80 Wunderlich's Salzburg debut part and first co-operation with Hermann Prey. Salzburger Festspiele production. Directed by Günther Rennert. ORF live mono recording, rec. at Festspielhaus Salzburg, 1959-08-06.

• Cast: Fritz Wunderlich (Henry Morosus), Hans Hotter (Sir Morosus), Georgine von Milinkovic (Haushälterin), Hermann Prey (Barbier), Hilde Güden (Aminta, Henry's wife), Pierette Alaire (Isotta), Hetty Plümacher (Carlotta), Josef Knapp (Morbio), Karl Dönch (Vanuzzi), Alois Pernerstorfer (Farfallo), Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Philharmoniker, cond. Karl Böhm

• "Hermes Opernlexikon": "Hotter, Prey, Wunderlich, Güden and Böhm - one does not know where to fall into raptures first..."
• Heinrich Kralik in "Die Presse", Vienna, 1959-08-11: "An ideal Spieltenor, with a pleasing, supple voice and a highly sympathetic vocal manner."
• Alan Blyth in "Gramophone", 11/1994: "Hotter is again one of the stars of the 1959 Schweigsame Frau, an opera of which Bohm gave the premiere in 1936 under inauspicious circumstances (here he conducts it lightly, engagingly). As the noise-hating Sir Morosus, Hotter shows his amazing versatility (at this time he was also tackling Gurnemanz) and his ability to cope with the detail of Zweig's brilliant libretto, the wittiest and most amusing Strauss ever set. Hotter finds a calm, warm legato for the quiet solos that end Acts 2 and 3 and for the plaintive love duet with Aminta, so soon to make Morosus's life an obstreperous hell on earth, and the power for his outbursts of incontinent outrage. As Sir Henry, Morosus's equivocal nephew, Fritz Wunderlich discloses, for the first time at Salzburg, his sappy tone and immaculate style. His Aminta is the delightful Hilde Gueden, who sings the Norina-like part with charm and brilliance. Altogether we learn here why Strauss had such a deep affection for this piece."

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	DG 445 335-2 Festspieldokumente / Strauss Opera Edition (2 CD)
	DG 445 491-2GX21 (part of "Strauss Opera Edition", 21 CD)
	Melodram MEL 27071 (2 CD)
	Melodram MEL 105 (3 LP)
	The Golden Age of Opera EJS 365 (3 LP)

Excerpts on

Verona 28044/45 ("Du süßester Engel" on "FW Recital - Opera Arias & Songs", 2 CD)

Fritz Wunderlich Discography