Franz Ferdinand Music:

		List Price: $55.98		Label: Deutsche Grammophon Salesrank: 56528 Released: September 13, 2005
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		Media: Audio CD

The Art of Fritz Wunderlich [Box Set] Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1. Easter Oratorio (Oster-Oratorium: 'Kommt, eilet und laufet'), BWV 249 (BC D8): Duetto (tenor, bass) and Chorus: "Kommt, eilet und lau
2. Easter Oratorio (Oster-Oratorium: 'Kommt, eilet und laufet,' early version), BWV 249 (BC D8a): Aria (tenor): "Sanfte soll mein Todesk
3. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Recitative [and Chorale] (te
4. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Aria with Chorus (tenor, cho
5. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Recitiative (tenor): "Mein J
6. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Aria (tenor): "Geduld!" (exc
7. Magnificat, for 5 voices, 5-part chorus, orchestra & continuo in D major, BWV 243 (BC E14): Duet (contralto, tenor): "et misericordia
8. Magnificat, for 5 voices, 5-part chorus, orchestra & continuo in D major, BWV 243 (BC E14): Aria (tenor): "Deposuit potentes"
9. Cantata No. 31, 'Der Himmel lacht! die Erde jubilieret,' BWV 31 (BC A55): Recitative (tenor): "So stehe denn, du gottergeb'ne Seele"
10. Cantata No. 31, 'Der Himmel lacht! die Erde jubilieret,' BWV 31 (BC A55): Aria (tenor): "Adam muss in uns verwesen"
11. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Chorus: "Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage"
12. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Recitative [Evangelist] (tenor): "Es begab sich aber zu der
13. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Aria (tenor): "Frohe Hirten, eilt, act eilet"
14. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Aria (tenor): "Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben"
15. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Recitative [Evangelist] (tenor): "Und ließ versammeln alle H
16. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Terzetto (soprano, alto, tenor): "Ach! wann wird die Zeit er
17. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Recitative (tenor): "Und Gott befahl ihnen im Traum" - "Genu
18. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Aria (tenor): "Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken"

Disc 2:
1. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Overture
2. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Aria: "Hier soll ich dich denn sehen"
3. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Recitative and Aria: "Konstanze, dich wiederzusehen,
4. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Aria: "Wenn der Freude Tränen fließen"
5. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Quartet: "Ach! Belmonte! Ach, mein Leben!"
6. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Aria: "Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke"
7. Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384: Recitative and Aria: "Welch ein Geschick!" - "wie, Du
8. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Aria: "Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön"
9. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Act 1. Finale: "Zum Ziele führt dich diese Bahn"
10. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: "Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton"
11. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Act 2. Finale: "Der, Welcher wandert diese Straße voll Beschwerden"
12. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: "Tamino mein! O welch ein Glück!"

Disc 3:
1. Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera: Duet: "Strahlt auf mich der Blitz des Goldes" (All'idea di quel metallo)
2. La sonnambula, opera: Duet: "Hier nimm den Ring der Treue" (Prendi: I'anel ti dono)
3. Rigoletto, opera: Scene and Duet: "Ich denk ihn lieber mir von meinem Stande - Liebe ist Seligkeit, ist Licht und Leb
4. La Traviata, opera: Toast: "O Freunde, so leeret in vollen Zügen" (Libiamo ne' lieti calici)
5. La Traviata, opera: Duet: "Ich sah Euch lieblich und engelsschön" (Un di felice, eterea)
6. La Traviata, opera: Duet: "O, lass uns fliehen aus diesen Mauern" (Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo)
7. Don Carlo, opera: Scene nd Duet: "Er ist's! Carlos! Mein Prinz! - Gott, der entflammte der Liebe heiße Glut" (Le voil
8. La bohème, opera: Duet: "Infame Feder! Welch scheußlicher Pinsel - Ach, Geliebte! Nie kehrst du mir wieder!" (Che pen
9. Tosca, opera: Aria: "Und es blitzten die Sterne" (E lucevan le stelle)
10. Die schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman), opera, Op. 80 (TrV 265): Scene: "Nicht an mich, Geliebter, denke"
11. Die schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman), opera, Op. 80 (TrV 265): Duet: "Du süßester Engel, wie herrlich hast du geteufelt!"
12. Daphne, opera, Op. 82 (TrV 272): "Leukippos, du?"
13. Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24: Arioso: "Ja, ich lieb Sie, Olga" (Ya lyublyu vas)
14. Eugene Onegin, opera, Op. 24: Aria: "Wohin seid ihr entschwunden" (Kuda, kuda, kuda vi udalilis)

Disc 4:
1. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Recitative and Arioso: "Holdes Laubgezweig, du schönes - Schattige Ruh, nie gab Natur sie mir" (Fon
2. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Aria: "Der Gedanke an die Flammen der Liebe" (Più che penso alle fiamme del core)
3. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Aria: "Bleibt ihhr treu dem, der euch so verachtet?" (Se bramate d'amar, chi vi sdegna)
4. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Aria: "Finstre Furien, ihr Geister der Hölle" (Crude furie degl'orridi abissi)
5. Iphigénie en Tauride, opera in 4 acts, Wq. 46: Aria: "Nur einen Wunsch, nur ein Verlangen" (Unis dès la plus tendre enfance)
6. Iphigénie en Tauride, opera in 4 acts, Wq. 46: Recitative and Duet: "O unverhofftes Glück - Das höre ich von dir, von meinem Freunde?
7. La favola d'Orfeo, opera, SV 318: "Ma se il nostro gioir - Alcun non sia"
8. La favola d'Orfeo, opera, SV 318: "Perché a lo sdegno - Padre cortese - Si non vedrò"
9. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Aria: "Erwacht in meinem Herzen" (Svegliatevi nel core)
10. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Duet: "Nur weinen lernte ich / Nur klagen lernte ich" (Sonata a lagrimar / Son nato a sospira
11. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Aria: "Keine Schlange lässt sich töten" (L'angue offeso mai riposa)
12. Les Dragons de Villars, opera in 3 acts: Romance: "O schweige still, o lasse dich erbitten" (Ne parle pas, Rose, je t'en supplie)
13. Das Nachtlager von Granada, opera: Trio: "Doch nun zu dir - Trenne nicht das Band der Liebe"
14. Der Waffenschmied, opera: Aria: "Man wird ja einmal nur geboren"
15. Zar und Zimmermann, opera: Song: "Lebe wohl, mein flandrisch Mädchen"
16. Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts: Recitative and Duet: "Du stehst wirklich vor mir - Der Tempel Brahmas strahlt" (C'est toi, t

Disc 5:
1. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
2. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 2. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen
3. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 3. Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
4. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 4. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh
5. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 5. Ich will meine Seele tauchen
6. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 6. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome
7. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 7. Ich grolle nicht
8. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 8. Und wüssten's die Blumen, die kleinen
9. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 9. Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
10. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 10. Hör ich das Liedchen klingen
11. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 11. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen
12. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 12. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
13. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 13. Ich hab im Traum geweinet
14. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 14. Allnächtlich im Traume seh ich dich
15. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 15. Aus alten Märchen winkt es
16. Dichterliebe, song cycle for voice & piano, Op. 48: 16. Die alten bösen Lieder
17. Zärtliche Liebe, song for voice & piano, WoO 123
18. Adelaide, song for voice & piano, Op. 46
19. Resignation ('Lisch aus, mein Licht'), song for voice & piano, WoO 149
20. Der Kuss (The Kiss), arietta for voice & piano, Op. 128
21. Gesang ('Was ist Sylvia,...'), song for voice & piano, ('An Sylvia'), D. 891 (Op. 106/4)
22. Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren ('Dioskuren, Zwillingssterne'), song for voice & piano, D. 360 (Op. 65/1)
23. Liebhaber in allen Gestalten ('Ich wollt', ich wär' ein Fisch'), song for voice & piano, D. 558
24. Der Einsame ('Wenn meine Grillen schwirren'), song for voice & piano, D. 800 (Op. 41)
25. Im Abendrot ('O, wie schön ist deine Welt'), song for voice & piano, D. 799
26. Ständchen ('Leise flehen meine Lieder'), song for voice & piano (Schwanengesang), D. 957/4
27. An die Laute ('Leiser, leiser, kleine Laute'), song for voice & piano, D. 905 (Op. 81/2)
28. Der Musensohn ('Durch Feld und Wald zu schweifen'), song for voice & piano, D. 764 (Op. 92/1)
29. An die Musik ('Du holde Kunst...'), song for voice & piano, D. 547 (Op. 88/4)

Disc 6:
1. Granada, for voice & orchestra (with chorus ad lib)
2. Mattinata ('L'aurora di bianco vestita'), song for voice & piano (or orchestra)
3. Funiculì Funiculà, for voice & orchestra (& chorus ad lib)
4. O sole mio, for voice & piano (or orchestra)
5. Vergiss Mein Nicht
6. Ein Lied geht um die Welt (My Song Goes Round the World) (used in the film)
7. Der singende Traum (The Singing Dream), operetta: Du bist die Welt für mich
8. Ich küsse ihre Hand, Madame
9. Caro mio ben
10. Ave Maria, for voice & piano (after Bach's Prelude No. 1 from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1)
11. Plaisir d'amour, for voice & piano (or orchestra)
12. La danza. Tarantella Napolitana ('Già la luna è in mezzo al mare'), for voice & piano (Soirées musicales)
13. Serenade for voice & piano or orchestra (Rimpianto) No 1, Op 6
14. Be My Love, for voice & orchestra (from 'The Toast of New Orleans')
15. Santa Lucia, Neapolitan song
16. Tiritomba, Sicilian folk song
17. Heute Nacht oder nie (Tonight or Never), song (as used in the film 'Das Lied einer Nacht')

The Art of Fritz Wunderlich [Box Set] Reviews:
Correction
2006-12-12 - Now folks, both of what the two other reviewers wrote about the tragical death of Fritz Wunderlich is wrong. Wunderlich died in hospital at September 17 1966. He had broken his skull, when he fell down the stairs in the hunting-house of a friend. Late in the evening of September 16, Wunderlich, as usual when not at home, had phoned his wife in Munich. He was very tired from strolling through the forest the whole day, making out the ideal locations for the hunt, which should start early in the next morning (Wunderlich was a passionate hunter). After he had wished his wife a good night, he went to the staircase in order to go down to his bedroom at the first floor. He still wore his heavy hunting boots - with open shoestrings! As walking downstairs, Wunderlich struggled over the open shoestrings and grabbed for the banisters, which was not more than a rope, fixed to the wall. The banisters teared out, and Wunderlich fell down the whole stairs. Fritz Wunderlich died in hospital the next day. It was only short before his 36'th birthday. An exceptional singing career had come to an untimely end. Some people believe that Wunderlich was drunken at the time of accident. If this is true can't be proven any more. But still this is not what his close friends said, regarding his accident and his death. In my opinion Wunderlich was the last of the really great tenors of the last century. All the tenors which came to fame after him (sorry folks, even such maestros as Pavarotti and Domingo) lack a certain quality in singing. It's the ease of breath flow, or singing on the breath without pushing the voice, it's the overtones, the legato, the mezza voce, the messa di voce and many more things - in short: the overall beauty of the voice through both registers. Wunderlich was the last tenor who had all this. Other examples are Caruso, McCormack, Gigli (despite the sobbing in his later recordings) and of course the wonderful Jussi Björling. But these are only some few names. If you listen for example to the cd's in the box "Famous tenors of the past" you will find that there were many very good and outstanding tenors in the first half of the 20'th century and - as we can only assume - in the time before the invention of the grammophone. Take a close look at todays famous tenors (I know, there are some quite good and promising ones) but what are they in comparison to those tenors (or better to say, to their voices and singing) I just mentioned before?

Please make your own decision.

Fritz Wunderlich can do no wrong....
2006-05-04 - ... okay, maybe. It's just that I've never heard a recording I didn't love. And I prefer that he sing everything in German even when that means not using original language.

This is a bit strange because I'm most often bugged by Don Carlos and Vepres in Italian (just a personal quirk). Of course, I'm also bugged by dropping the "s" in Don Carlos, which is always incorrect. The man's name IS Carlos whether in Italian or French.

I tried to write Mr. Avila a personal note, but could not, so let me say that Fritz Wunderlich did not die of cancer, but a dreadful accident in Scotland (I'll not go into the whys and wherefores, I just wanted to set PART of the record straight.)



The Wonder of Wunderlich
2005-11-22 - Deutsche Grammophone does it again! This is an extensive 3-cd compilation album featuring the artistry of the great German tenor Fritz Wunderlich in a variety of vocal repertoire - Baroque cantata/oratorio, opera and Lieder. Like the other critic pointed out, I first heard Fritz sinigng a superb Tamino in the Karl Bohm Magic Flute, although I have also heard him sing Lieder opposite the mezzo soprano Christa Ludwig and baritone Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, who were his contemporaries and colleagues. Wunderlich died tragically in 1966 of cancer. He inspired a generation of purely lyric tenors or "tenors di grazie" whose charming voice would never roughen and lack grace. His Germanic style earned him popularity in World War II Europe and he was the leading exponent of Lieder in the 50's. His tenor voice is glorious, as close to a male angel as possible. On this recording, we are treated to sumptuous arias from Bach's Christmas/Easter Oratorios, and movements from 2 cantatas. Also noteworthy are the unsurpassed performances of Mozart tenor heroes- such as Belmonte from "Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail" (Abduction from the Seraglio) and his unbeatable Tamino from Die Zauberflote The Magic Flute. He sings bel canto opera arias fo tenor, from master composers Rossinni, Bellini and Verdi. While I don't much like that he is singing Italian arias in German, one must remember that at this time, in the LP Era of World War II Germany and Austria, German-born opera singers sang Italian opera in German translation/revisions. While many German singers could indeed sing in Italian, they were mostly trained to sing it in German because of excessive national pride and because Germans viewed Italian opera as course and un-melodic. Still, there have been superb German singers who sang in Italian like Wagner diva Birgit Nilsson,baritone Dietrich Fischer Dieskau, tenor Peter Schreier, soprano Edda Moser, baritone Walter Berry, tenor Herman Pretty, all post-Wunderlich sensations. Wunderlich sings Lieder in one CD with great and unrivaled musicianship. Especially impressive are the Viennese pieces. Further to the cd's this album is equipped with photos of Wunderlich and his family and a detailed profile biography.





I wish I could give this release more than 5 stars: it's terrific!!!
2005-10-28 - I knew little about the German tenor Fritz Wunderlich (1930-1966), except reading the accolades given to his recordings and performances by reviewers in "American Record Guide" over the past 13 years. I knew Wunderlich recorded the role of Tamino in the famous DG recording of Mozart's "Die Zauberflote", with Karl Bohm/Berlin Philharmonic (Now on DG Originals CDs), but was not aware of what a wide range of repertoire he had until hearing this release.

This release has a wide variety of Wunderlich's discography, including Bach arias from his Christmas and Easter Oratorios, and movements from 2 cantatas; his Mozart roles in "Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail" (Eugen Jochum/Bavarian Radio Orchestra) and "Die Zauberflote" (Karl Bohm/Berlin Philharmonic); a variety of arias and duets by Rossini, Bellini, Verdi, Richard Strauss, mostly sung in German, and with Hermann Prey, baritone and Erika Koth, soprano in many of the duets; Baroque arias by Handel, from "Xerxes" (including the famous "Ombre mai fu" sung in German) and "Julius Caesar", selections from Monteverdi's "Orfeo" (an early track from 1955 sung in Italian); Schumann's "Dichterliebe", 4 Beethoven Lieder, including "Adelaide" and "Der Kuss"; and 9 Schubert lieder, including "An der Musik," and "Der Musensohn", all with Hubert Giesen, piano; Popular songs such as "Granada" and Viennese songs, with chamber orchestra accompaniment. There are no texts for the songs, but you may have text booklets with other CD releases, so don't really need them when you hear Wunderlich's beautiful voice.

There is a booklet with articles about Wunderlich's career, including a preface by his widow, Eva Wunderlich, photos of Wunderlich as a boy and young man, with his wife Eva in 1965, and children Constanze, Wolfgang, and Barbara. I enjoy reading and looking at the booklet, even apart from listening to the beautiful recordings.

Wunderlich was a genius, and his voice sounds great in every track, mono (some, but not a majority) and stereo (most of the tracks in the 7 discs are stereo) alike. If you love great music, and opera, but like me aren't often of a mind to sit still for 3 hours to listen to one, get this. It's a great release, and reasonably priced to boot. I'm thankful to God for great music, for the ability to hear and feel, and for Fritz Wunderlich and his service to music lovers everywhere.