The recordings on this album are live recordings made between 1966 and 1992 at various venues in Munich, including the Kongreßsaal des Deutschen Museums, Prinzregententheater, and Herkulessaal der Residenz.
Performer Biography
Hermann Prey, the singer on this album, believed he was an "EU singer" – a term he coined to describe himself as neither a classical ('E' for 'Ernst') nor a pop ('U' for 'Unterhaltung') singer, but rather a performer who bridged both worlds.
Performer Biography
Wolfgang Sawallisch, the pianist on tracks 11-16, described his partnership with Hermann Prey as extraordinary, noting their shared musical language and Prey's ability to convey deep melancholy and tragedy even in seemingly light songs.
Performer Biography
Hermann Prey was often accused of pandering to popular taste by performing folk repertoire on television, but he countered this by emphasizing his extensive work as a Lieder singer, including an encyclopaedic Lieder edition and numerous recitals.
Interpretation
Hermann Prey's interpretation of Papageno's aria from Mozart's 'Magic Flute' aimed for simplicity and humanity, moving away from a comic characterization, and he intentionally avoided a Viennese dialect despite being able to imitate it.
Historical Context
The Münchner Rundfunkorchester, founded in 1952, has evolved to perform a wide range of music, from operatic concerts with international stars to sacred music, children's concerts, and film scores.
Performer Biography
Hermann Prey found a deep personal connection to Beethoven's song cycle 'An die ferne Geliebte', relating the pain of separation and loneliness expressed in the music to his own experiences of being apart from his wife.
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