Despite the album's credo of releasing historical recordings with the best possible sound, the world premiere recording of Strauss's "Four Last Songs" is included despite bad sound due to its historical importance.
Recording & Production
The source tapes for the world premiere recording of Strauss's "Four Last Songs" were damaged and crackled, and are assumed to be lost, so only private sets could be used for this release.
Performer Biography
Kirsten Flagstad, the soprano on this album, made her debut at age eighteen in Eugen d'Albert's "Tiefland" at the National Theatre of Oslo.
Composition History
The recording includes the world premiere performance of Richard Strauss's "Four Last Songs" by Kirsten Flagstad with Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting in London on May 22, 1950.
Performer Biography
Kirsten Flagstad, the soprano, made a spectacular debut as Sieglinde at the Met in 1935, leading to a flourishing international career as a Wagner interpreter.
Performer Biography
Kirsten Flagstad's success as Isolde in Oslo in 1932 led to her being summoned to Bayreuth, a major festival for Wagner's operas.
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