Playlist - The Decca Boys

John Culshaw's project  of a complete Ring with the Vienna Philharmonic under Georg Solti hung fire for several years in the early 1960s because of a world shortage of helden (heroic) tenors. But meanwhile  the Decca Boys were coping with the titanic presence in the Sofiensaal of Europe's conducting colossus, Herbert von Karajan. We hear about his impact on the team, who were not overawed by his reputation but relished the technical challenge of Aida and Also sprach Zarathustra .  Long-standing  Decca artists are recalled, among them Curzon and Ansermet, and Culshaw's most prestigious new signing, Joan Sutherland, is heard in bel canto Bellini as well as the tiny role of the Woodbird in Wagner's Siegfried. The Ring cycle finally got back on track in 1962 even though the dream of casting  a brand-new tenor to sing Siegfried had to be abandoned in favour of the ever-reliable veteran Wolfgang Windgassen.

Decca's links with Benjamin Britten reached a new height with their recording of his War Requiem. We hear a revealing passage of the control room conversation between Britten and Pears and learn about  the upset with the temperamental Russian diva, Galina Vishnevskaya, who clearly  did not want to sing with the chorus. The programme ends with another great diva in full flight. That's Birgit Nilsson, the Swedish Brunnhilde, riding into the flames at the end of Twilight of the Gods. The Decca Boys thoughtfully provided a real horse, causing much mirth at the final recording session of what had been, to quote narrator Humphrey Burton, 'an epic venture in the history of classical recording'.

WAGNER
Siegfried
Haha! Da hätte mein Lied mir was Liebes erblasen! (Act 2, Scene 2)
Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 564-2
CD3 Tk.3
 
WAGNER
Das Rheingold
Rheingold! Rheingold!Reines Gold! Wie lauter und hell (Scene 4)
Oda Balsborg (Woglinde)
Hetty Plümacher (Wellgunde)
Ira Malaniuk (Flosshilde)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 556-2
CD2 Tk.15
 
STRAUSS
Also sprach Zarathustra
Introduction
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
DECCA 417 720-2
Tk.3
 
VERDI
Aida
Se quell guerrier io fossi! (Act 1, Scene 1)
Carlo Bergonzi (Radamès)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
DECCA 414 087-2
CD1 Tk.3
 
VERDI
Aida
Marcia (Act 2, Scene 2)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
DECCA 414 087-2
CD2 Tk.5
 
VERDI
Aida
End of triumphal scene (Act 2, Scene 2)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
DECCA 414 087-2
CD2 Tk.12
 
BELLINI
I Puritani
Son vergin vezzosa
Joan Sutherland (Elvira)
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (conductor)
DECCA 452 298-2
CD1 Tk.4
 
WAGNER
Siegfried
Zur Kunde taugt kein Toter (Act 2, Scene 2)
The Dragon-fight (Act 2, Scene 2)
Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 564-2
CD3 Tk.5
 
BRITTEN
War Requiem
Lacrimosa
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano)
The Bach Choir & London Symphony Chorus
Melos Ensemble
London SO conducted by the composer
DECCA 414 383-2
CD1 Tk.5
 
BRITTEN
War Requiem
Agnus Dei
Peter Pears (tenor)
The Bach Choir & London Symphony Chorus
Melos Ensemble
London SO conducted by the composer
DECCA 414 383-2
CD2 Tk.1
 
WAGNER
Götterdämmerung
Welches Unholds List liegt hier verholen (Act 2 Scene 4)
Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 572-2
CD3 Tk.12
 
WAGNER
Götterdämmerung
Auf, Gunther, elder Gibichung! (Act 2 Scene 5)
Gottlob Frick (Hagen)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 572-2
CD3 Tk.14
 
WAGNER
Götterdämmerung
Altgewohntes Geräusch (Act 2 Scene 5)
Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 571-2
CD2 Tk.5
 
WAGNER
Götterdämmerung
Brünnhild'! Ein Freier kam
Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 571-2
CD2 Tk.9
 
WAGNER
Götterdämmerung
Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!
Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde)
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)
DECCA 455 573-2
CD4 Tk.18