Richard Wagner – Tannhäuser (Giuseppe Sinopoli, Philharmonia Orchestra, 3 Compact Discs)

UPC: 028942762527 

MPN: 427 625-2 GH3 

Brand Name: Deutsche Grammophon

Overview

This Deutsche Grammophon digital stereo recording (DDD) of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser presents the “Paris Version” (Pariser Fassung) of the opera — the revised edition created by Wagner for the 1861 Paris performance. Conducted by the renowned Giuseppe Sinopoli and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, this 1989 digital recording is widely praised for its clarity, dramatic intensity, and lyrical beauty.

At the heart of this performance is Plácido Domingo, whose commanding portrayal of Tannhäuser captures the torment of the artist torn between sacred and sensual love. He is joined by a stellar cast of internationally acclaimed singers:

• Cheryl Studer as Elisabeth
• Agnes Baltsa as Venus
• Matti Salminen as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
• Andreas Schmidt as Wolfram von Eschenbach
• Barbara Bonney as Ein junger Hirt

This 3-CD set offers a complete digital stereo recording of Wagner’s operatic masterpiece, a work that bridges the romantic ideals of love, art, and redemption through music of grandeur and emotional power.

Product Features

• Format: 3 Compact Discs (Digital Stereo, DDD)
• Genre: Classical / Opera
• Style: German Romantic Opera
• Language: German (Paris Version, 1861)
• Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
• Chorus: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Chorus Master: Norbert Balatsch)
• Recording Year: 1989
• Recording Type: Digital Recording (DDD)
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• Made in: West Germany
• Catalog Number: 427 625-2 GH3

Interesting Facts

• Paris Version (1861): This is Wagner’s rarely performed “Paris” version, featuring significant revisions, including the expanded Venusberg scene and ballet sequences, reflecting Wagner’s attempt to appeal to French tastes while preserving his visionary musical drama.

• Star Cast: Plácido Domingo delivers one of his most iconic Wagnerian roles, combining heroic vocal power with poetic phrasing. Cheryl Studer and Agnes Baltsa create an unforgettable contrast between spiritual purity and sensual allure.

• Sinopoli’s Approach: Conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli—a noted Wagnerian and musicologist—emphasizes the psychological depth and harmonic richness of the score, resulting in a performance both intellectual and emotionally charged.

• Royal Opera House Chorus: Under Norbert Balatsch, the chorus achieves both precision and grandeur, lending monumental strength to the opera’s great ensembles and pilgrim choruses.

• Technical Excellence: A full digital (DDD) production by Deutsche Grammophon, recorded with exceptional clarity and balance, representing the label’s late-1980s commitment to audiophile sound quality.

Publishers

© 1989 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg Printed and made in West Germany by Josef Grütter, Hannover

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