classical music: Bernd Weikl

classical music: Bernd Weikl

classical music:

Bernd Weikl

Carl Maria von Weber, Carlos Kleiber, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 1998

Kleiber's genius is the key here
For most listeners, taking on faith that this legendary recording really is great, there's nothing to be disappointed by. Before Carlos Kleiber came to the score, Der Freischutz was a comfortable staple in German opera houses, to be absorbed along with strudel and beer ...

Orff: Carmina Burana

Bernd Weikl, Carl Orff, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 1990

Medieval and modern bash heads beautifully ...
Carl Orff may not have attained "household name" status, but the dazzling "Carmina Burana" has become a staple in the modern classical music repertory. The work has appeared in so many concert halls, recordings, movies, television spots, rock concerts, and ...

R. Strauss - Salome

Teresa Stratas, Astrid Varnay

Deutsche Grammophon, 2007

Brilliant Stratas
I saw this production on TV many years ago and thought then that it was really good, I have now changed my mind, it is brilliant, although Teresa Stratas probably could not have sung the role on stage she excels here, her acting, dancing and singing is superb, is there ...

Wagner - Parsifal / Levine, Weikl, Mazura, Metropolitan Opera

Bernd Weikl, Jan-Hendrik Rootering

Deutsche Grammophon, 2002

A tremendous experience
Levine's 1993 Met performance and Horst Stein's 1981 audience-free Bayreuth production are the only traditional "Parsifals" on DVD, so a comparison seems in order. The Bayreuth "Parsifal" has very fine singing but is marred by less than involved acting and occasional ...

Johann Strauss - Die Fledermaus / Popp, Gruberova, Fassbaender, Weikl, Berry, Hopferwieser, Kunz, ...

Lucia Popp, Edita Gruberova

Tdk DVD Video, 2005

Delightful
This performance of Die Fledermaus operetta is really a delight. The performance is outstanding. I always knew that Gruberova has a wonderful voice and her parts in a variety of operas are outstanding, but in this particular one she comes out as an outstanding ...

Wagner - Tannhauser (remastered)

Richard Cassilly, Eva Marton

Deutsche Grammophon, 2006

Wonderful
Wagner the way he would have wanted it done. Great singing, fantastic stagecraft and Levine is in top form.

Tannhauser

Heinz Feldhoff, Gwyneth Jones

Deutsche Grammophon, 2008

Captures the spirit of Bayreuth
There are many videos of Bayreuth performances, but this was the first. For that reason alone, it's worth watching; fortunately it isn't the only reason. Unlike later recordings, this one includes curtain calls. I think this was an excellent decision, since it ...

Wagner - Parsifal

Siegfried Jerusalem, Bernd Weikl

Deutsche Grammophon, 2007

Enthralling
It's not hard to imagine more subtle sets and costumes. Yet these, despite their obviousness, are never less than effective. The performance is all one could wish. I've never arrived at a convincing interpretation of this mysterious work. It's the most magical and ...

Strauss: Arabella

Gundula Janowitz, Bernd Weikl

Decca, 2008

Beautifully filmed and performed late Strauss
Richard Strauss, like Igor Stravinsky with The Rite of Spring, seemed frightened by what he had composed with the dissonant modern operas Elektra and Salome, retreating, as did Stravinsky, into a more conventional music of the past. It remained for Arnold Schoenberg to ...

Brahms: A German Requiem

Bernd Weikl, Johannes Brahms, ...

Deutsche Grammophon, 2005

Excellent!
The brilliant lineup, consisting of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Georg Solti, Kiri Te Kanawa and Brend Weikl, delivers an excellent performance of Brahms's German Requiem. And all this at the ridiculous price of less than $8... Buy immediately...!

Leoncavallo: La Bohème

Alan Titus, Bernd Weikl, ...

Orfeo, 1992

Si, mi chiamano La Boheme (II)
Puccini's "La Boheme" was produced in Turin on February 1, 1896. Although Leoncavallo seems to have begun writing first, his opera followed in Venice on May 6, 1897. "Since that time," wrote Silvia Camerini in an essay that accompanied another recorded version of this ...

Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy - My Favorite Love Duets

Leo Nucci, Gaetano Donizetti, ...

Decca, 1994

Excellent value
This is a great CD of popular operatic love duets, my favorites being the last duet from Traviata and the magnificent extended duet from Tosca. I love this CD so much that I am very tempted to get to know most of the operas featured in more detail. Very enjoyable!!

Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Richard Wagner, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, ...

EMI Classics, 1990

Karajan VS Furtwangler?
This recording of Tristan & Isolde used to be the 1st choice in Pengiun guide. I'd been puzzled by divided reviews. When I listened to it, I was deeply moved by the performance. Some reviewers point out the lack of drama, but I disagree. Compared to Furtwangler's ...

Classical Destinations: An Armchair Guide to Classical Music

Bernd Weikl, Johann Sebastian Bach, ...

Angel Records, 2007

Back Again on Create TV: Classical Destinations
This 2 disc set contains audio selections from the popular TV series, new appearing on PBS Digital Channel 3 (Create TV). The series opens with an original violin concert piece composed by Paul Terracini, played by Niki Vasilakis. It is a haunting theme.

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Richard Wagner, Georg Solti, ...

Decca, 2005

Solti's 1st Meistersinger
This recording is Sir Georg Solti's first recording of Meistersinger from 1976 with the Vienna Philharmonic. It had been out of print for a long time, but Decca finally released it in their "Classic Opera" series . This recording is much better than Solti's second ...