Thomas Boyce wrote:
>I am going to buy a CD of Wagner overtures for a friend. Any
>recommendations for great performances? Thank you.
After a very long "forced lurk" (forced by the fact that I was actually
WORKING again!) I tip-toe back into these welcome waters...
My introduction to Wagner's orchestral music was conducted by Hans
Knappersbusch. He was a master of the Romantic idiom. I don't know of a
Wagner Overtures recording by him... but you could kill 2 birds with one
stone and introduce your friend to Bruckner as well with:
BRUCKNER - SYMPHONY 8 // WAGNER - Preludes, Siegfried Idyll - Munich P.O.
- Knappersbusch - MCAD2-80089
or some great singing as well:
WAGNER - KNAPPERSBUSCH CONDUCTS WAGNER - Vienna Philharmonic - LONDON
414625-2 (may be out of print)
I am also an ardent Bruno Walter fan and would recommend:
WAGNER - OVERTURES - Walter - CBS mk 42050 (this may have been re-released
on the SONY 20-bit re-mastering, but I haven't seen it).
Good luck, and thanks for spreading the gospel of music!
Miguel Muelle
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Hommage to Jacqueline du Pre: http://mmuelle.home.mindspring.com/dupre