RETHBERG, Elisabeth: Complete Brunswick Recordings 1924-1929

Proclaimed by Arturo Toscanini as ‘the greatest living soprano’, Elisabeth Rethberg (1894–1976) was renowned for her impeccable technique and style. She was a member of the Dresden Court Opera from 1915–22, and made a number of successful appearances in the opera houses of Berlin and Vienna, as well as Covent Garden. She made her American début (in Aida) at the Met in 1922, and was a member of that company for twenty years. Much admired by Richard Strauss, she premièred the composer’s Die ägyptische Helena. This 2-CD set contains Rethberg’s complete recordings made for the Brunswick Company. It includes arias from operas by Handel, Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and Giordano, and Lieder by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Tchaikovsky and Grieg, as well as a number of popular songs. In addition to all the published recordings, this set contains several previously unpublished items.

Tracklist

Disc 1
Verdi, Giuseppe
Ghislanzoni, Antonio - Lyricist
1Aida, Act I: Ritorna vincitor04:11
2Aida, Act III: O patria mia04:34
Puccini, Giacomo
Giacosa, Giuseppe - Lyricist
Illica, Luigi - Lyricist
3La bohème, Act I: Si. Mi chiamano Mimi04:31
Puccini, Giacomo
Illica, Luigi - Lyricist
Giacosa, Giuseppe - Lyricist
4Tosca, Act II: Vissi d'arte03:16
Puccini, Giacomo
Giacosa, Giuseppe - Lyricist
Illica, Luigi - Lyricist
5Madama Butterfly, Act II: Un bel di vedremo04:18
Giordano, Umberto
Illica, Luigi - Lyricist
6Andrea chenier, Act III: La mamma morta04:12
Schubert, Franz
7Wiegenlied, Op. 98, No. 2, D. 49802:52
Schubert, Franz
Rellstab, Ludwig - Lyricist
Heine, Heinrich - Lyricist
Seidl, Johann Gabriel - Lyricist
8Schwanengesang, D. 957: No. 4. Standchen02:42
Schubert, Franz
Scott, Walter - Lyricist
Storck, Philip Adam - Lyricist
9Ellens Gesang III (Ave Maria!), Op. 52, No. 6, D. 839, "Hymne an die Jungfrau" (arr. for voice, violin and harp)02:36
Mendelssohn, Felix
Heine, Heinrich - Lyricist
106 Gesänge, Op. 34: No. 2. Auf Flugeln des Gesänges02:37
Loewe, Carl
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von - Lyricist
11Canzonette02:32
Grieg, Edvard
Andersen, Hans Christian - Lyricist
12Hjertets melodier (Melodies of the Heart), Op. 5: No. 3. Ich liebe dich (Jeg elsker dig)02:38
Grieg, Edvard
Ibsen, Henrik - Lyricist
13Peer Gynt, Op. 23, Act IV: Solveig's Song02:51
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich
Mey, Lev Alexandrovich - Lyricist
146 Romances, Op. 6: No. 6. Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, "None But the Lonely Heart"03:10
Gounod, Charles-François
Barbier, Jules - Lyricist
15Au printemps02:10
Massenet, Jules
Gallet, Louis - Lyricist
16Élégie03:08
Braga, Gaetano
Marcello, Marco Marcelliano - Lyricist
17The Angel's Serenade, "Leggenda valacca", "La Serenata"03:19
Korschat
18Verlassen (Forsaken)02:38
Hildach, Eugen
19Der Spielmann, Op. 15, No. 103:04
Schubert, Franz
Storck, Philip Adam - Lyricist
Scott, Walter - Lyricist
20Ellens Gesang III (Ave Maria!), Op. 52, No. 6, D. 839, "Hymne an die Jungfrau" (arr. for voice, violin and piano)02:46
Schumann, Robert
Mosen, Julius - Lyricist
21Myrthen, Op. 25: No. 3. Der Nussbaum02:53
Taubert, Wilhelm
22Es steht ein Baum in jenem Tal02:56
Jensen, Adolf
Heyse, Paul - Lyricist
237 Gesänge aus dem Spanischen Liederbuch, Op. 21: No. 4. Murmelndes Luftchen02:32
Rubinstein, Anton
Heine, Heinrich - Lyricist
246 Songs, Op. 32: No. 5. Du bist wie eine Blume03:07
Lassen, Eduard
Lassen, Eduard - Lyricist
25It was a Dream (Es war ein Traum)02:26
Disc 2
Handel, George Frideric
Salvi, Antonio - Lyricist
1Sosarme, re di Media, HWV 30, Act I: Rend'il sereno al ciglio04:15
Handel, George Frideric
Minato, Nicolò - Lyricist
2Serse, HWV 40, Act I: Ombra mai fu04:05
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Da Ponte, Lorenzo - Lyricist
3Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act IV: Deh vieni, non tardar03:13
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Schikaneder, Emanuel - Lyricist
4Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K. 620, Act II: Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden (Pamina)03:35
Weber, Carl Maria von
Kind, Johann Friedrich - Lyricist
5Der Freischutz, J. 277, Act II: Leise, leise, fromme Weise04:10
Wagner, Richard
Wagner, Richard - Lyricist
6Lohengrin, Act I: Einsam in truben Tagen, "Elsa's Dream"04:14
7Lohengrin, Act II: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen03:30
8Tannhauser, Act II: Dich, teure Halle, "Elisabeth's Greeting"03:29
9Tannhauser, Act III: Allmacht'ge Jungfrau, "Elisabeth's Prayer"04:30
Verdi, Giuseppe
Ghislanzoni, Antonio - Lyricist
10Aida, Act I: Ritorna vincitor04:12
11Aida, Act III: O patria mia04:38
Verdi, Giuseppe
Boito, Arrigo - Lyricist
12Otello, Act IV: Ave Maria, piena di grazia04:25
Massenet, Jules
Gallet, Louis - Lyricist
13Élégie03:07
Braga, Gaetano
Marcello, Marco Marcelliano - Lyricist
14The Angel's Serenade, "Leggenda valacca", "La Serenata"03:24
Griffes, Charles Tomlinson
Lenau, Nikolaus - Lyricist
15By a Lonely Forest Pathway (Auf geheimem Waldespfade)02:56
Densmore
16A Spring Fancy02:33
Cadman, Charles Wakefield
Rethberg, Elisabeth (soprano)
Studio orchestra (Orchestra)
17Moonlight Song, Op. 42, No. 202:24
Rethberg, Elisabeth (soprano)
Studio orchestra (Orchestra)
Bishop, Henry
Payne, John Howard - Lyricist
18Clari, the Maid of Milan: Home, Sweet Home03:03
Traditional
19Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms03:11
20The Snowy-breasted Pearl04:19
21Londonderry Air (arr. Hinkson and Fisher)04:05

Total Playing Time: 02:35:17