The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote)

Rate It! Avg: 2.5 (9 ratings)
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Total Tracks: 27   Total Length: 181:31

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Florence Foster Jenkins

hairybaroque

I could just about believe the comments below, but of course being incredulous by nature I had to try for myself. This set is ABSOLUTELY terrible, with only one redeeming feature that I can see. It is an archive recording of a live performance before 1940 (I think) and as such is useful to music historians. Otherwise, it distorts so badly that it reminds me of my days living in the Pennines when the only way to hear the Third Programme was to go into a darkened room and try to listen so hard that it all made sense! (Try 'Waiting for Godot' that way one day.) This could be a very annoying experience indeed to someone just saying 'Oo look, a period recording of 'Die Zauberflote' must have that!'; and downloading all 3 scribbly CD's worth of it. I regret to say you would be just as well off with Florence Foster Jenkins' 'Holle Rache'; at least you can hear it clearly. Poor Wilma Lipp - to have this as your memorial!

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Not Magic

vonClaynstein

I recently downloaded a Wilhelm Fürtwangler conducted performance of Die Zauber Flöte. (the Magic Flute) I expected more from it. What I got was an inadequately miked live recording that sounded as though it were recorded in a huge bathroom for do-wop singers. The muddy highs, shallow lows, garnished with sonic distortion belie the normal tonal dynamic of an orchestra. I would not settle for this recording on vinyl. Why do I have it now on reliable electronic playback equipment? Where I was born there is an expression that extends to many sensory experiences. "Wie Eingeschlafene Füsse" Translated this is the answer to: How did you like it? "Like feet that have fallen asleep." I, feel as though I have been robbed. The only thing I can say about this recording honestly, is that it is a recording of one of my favorite feel good operas. I could add that parts of the singing reminded me of Peter Schickele's pet Bach during his 'pęriod saussęe'.

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Love the work...

DJ-DV8

love the composer, love everything about it... Except the for quality of this recording. It is positively TERRIBLE. I've heard better sounding rock concert bootlegs captured on people's cell phones. This sounds like it's in mono and has as much static and vinyl pops as it does music. I don't know who paid off Emusic to get them to recommend this as a "pick." They should have chosen another version with better recording. Rest assured I will be previewing everything before downloading in the future.

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