Furtwaengler and Flagstad at La Scala
rating: 5
This is Wilhelm Furtwaengler conducting at La Scala in the early 1950s. While the band is not up to the standards of Bayreuth or Berlin, it serves well enough for the purposes at hand.With one exception, the cast is good -- probably better than anything that could be assembled today -- but they are not quite the very best that could have been assembled at the time. The exception, of course, is the magnificent Kirsten Flagstad, who sings wonderfully. The 1950s live mono sound is about what you might expect. For those of you who are primarily concerned with the mere mechanics of sound reproduction, go elsewhere. For those who care for the overall conception of a brilliant conductor and the performance of a unique artist, give this a try. Furtwaengler and Flagstad = five stars.
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