One of the greatest soprano legends of all time, Nilsson’s 1963 Decca recital with Edward Downes of popular opera arias by Wagner, Weber, Beethoven, et.al. has never been fully issued. Here it is on CD – issued complete for the first time and in the fabled sumptuous Decca sound – coupled with her rare ‘Ah, perfido’ (issued only on a 45rpm record) together with four beautiful Christmas songs.
RICHARD WAGNER:Tannhauser: Dich, teure Halle, grüβ ich weider
CARL MARIA VON WEBER: Oberon: Ozean! Du Ungeheuer!
RICHARD WAGNER:
Die Walküre: Der Männer Sippe saβ hier im Saal
Die Walküre: Du bist der Lenz
Lohengrin: Einsam in trüben Tagen
CARL MARIA VON WEBER: Der Freischütz: Leise, leise
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN:
Fidelio: Abscheulicher!
Ah, perfido
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Edward Downes
ADOLPHE ADAM: O holy night
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH/GOUNOD
Ave Maria: CESAR FRANCK
XAVER: Panis angelicus
FRANZ GRUBER: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Birgit Nilsson, soprano
Åke Levén, organ
Recording producer: Ray Minshull (Arias, Ah, perfido)
Recording engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson (Arias, Ah, perfido)
Recording locations: Kingsway Hall, London, United Kingdom, May 1963 (Arias); June 1963 (Ah, perfido); Stockholm, Sweden, August 1963 (Sacred Songs)