Erich Wolfgang Korngold finally receives his due....

[Kevin]

Good to know! I had heard this was Korngold's La Rondine.

[brendangcarroll]

Kevin - that's a very appropriate description!

[Kevin]

Thanks. Whew... and I've heard it also like Lehar's Giuditta! Have to listen this.

[Alan Howe]

Unfortunately the cpo recording of Die Kathrin is spoilt by the widely acknowledged dreadful singing of tenor David Rendall, wide vibrato and all. This lovely work badly needs a better recording.

I'm very glad to hear about the multiple planned performances of K's earlier operas. I don't find them second-rate or unworthy of being performed. But that doesn't mean I have to accord them 'masterpiece status'. They're somewhere in between - IMHO, of course.

[brendangcarroll]

The CPO recording of Die Kathrin was taken straight from the BBC broadcast performance (no retakes - just exactly as it went out, live). It was a huge problem at the time for many reasons; the orchestral materials (not used or examined since 1950!) were a complete mess (missing pages, errors galore etc) , the original record company withdrew at the last minute and casting was a nightmare once adequate funding vanished with the record company.

The BBC and CPO stepped in and saved it from being cancelled altogether. Poor David Randall was a last minute replacement and had a terrible head cold the night it was recorded. He had no time to learn the role and if I recall, there were just 2 full rehearsals. Given all that, it was astonishing that it came together at all.

Without these people, we would have no recording at all so we must make allowances. I also hope that one day, it will be done again under happier circumstances and with the full resources it deserves.

[Alan Howe]

I'm sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the recording of Die Kathrin. What a shame. It'd be great to have another recording.