Otto Klemperer - Wagner The Flying Dutchman - Japan 2 SACD Hybrid Digipak Limited Edition

Credits:

Otto Klemperer

Description:

A rigorous, profound, and majestic performance by Klemperer in his later years! The renowned performances by Ania Celia and Theo Adam are also a must-hear. This historic masterpiece has been newly remastered from the original analog master tapes specifically for this release. Includes new liner notes and a bilingual lyric booklet. Limited edition of 800 sets, each with a serial number. Recorded in 1968, this performance has long been regarded as a peerless interpretation from Klemperer’s later years—rigorous, profound, and majestic—standing as a counterpart to Böhm’s Bayreuth recording, yet equally exceptional. Its uncompromising structural precision, unique sense of weighty tempo, and intensely compelling performance further emphasize the dramatic power inherent in the work. The robust singing of a young Ania Cielia and the masterful performance by Theo Adam, who fully embodies Klemperer’s artistic vision, are also exquisite. Given the historical significance of this unparalleled masterpiece, we aimed for the finest possible mastering. For this release, we have traced the source back to the original master in Germany and present a reissue that has undergone the latest mastering as the final version of the package. For this release, we used a master digitized at 192kHz/24bit from the original analog master tapes in Germany, and mastered the SACD and CD layers separately. Includes new liner notes and a bilingual lyric guide. A must-have for your permanent collection. An unparalleled masterpiece by Klemperer, who was 82 years old at the time of recording! This is a great legacy—a gift to listeners worldwide—made possible by a proposal from Peter Andrey, the EMI producer at the time, who judged that the opportunity to record Wagner’s monumental work would be difficult for the elderly Klemperer. The details of how this recording came to be are outlined in Mr. Kawase’s essay in the liner notes, but his achievement in persuading even EMI’s top management to make this recording a reality is truly significant. Klemperer himself was reportedly delighted to record this work and actively worked toward its realization, which speaks to the passion of the production team. Klemperer, who had a deep personal connection to the work, reportedly fell in love with the singing of the twenty-something Cecilia, who was performing the role of Elisabeth in “Tannhäuser” at Bayreuth, and changed the cast accordingly. Looking at Cecilia’s subsequent career, one can clearly see the depth of his discernment. The budget allocated for the recording was apparently substantial; with a total of 13 recording sessions scheduled, this project was considered massive even by the standards of the time. The result is a performance that has been preserved as both profound and magnificent, and it became the definitive recording of this work on the EMI label during the analog era. For this release, we have obtained a new digital source directly from the original analog master tapes in the UK and performed the mastering from scratch, so we are using a different master than the previous release. Since a reissue that evokes the atmosphere and ambience of the era using the latest technology is in demand, we approached this reissue with a musical perspective. Please look forward to this reissue, which stands apart from the previous version. (1/2)