SIX GREAT RECORDINGS : SIX GREAT SONGS AND ARIAS (3) 2023 RESTORATIONS : COLOUR PHOTOS

The recordings on the video are as follows ;
0:00 Beniamino Gigli : Ah! non mi ridestar (Werther) (Massenet) Rec 1946
2:59 Kirsten Flagstad : Ombra mai fu (Serse) (Handel) Rec 1949
7:24 Fritz Wunderlich : Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön (The magic flute)
(Mozart) Radio broadcast Rec1957?
11:24 Mario Del Monaco : Da voi lontan (Lohengrin) (Wagner) Rec 1948
15:52 Titta Ruffo : Marechiere (Tosti) Rec 1923
18:34 Luciano Pavarotti : Nessun dorma (Puccini) (Turandot) Rec 1973
I have restored/remastered the older mono recordings but the Pavarotti recording is the original 1973 stereo issue. Just for effect, at the beginning and end I have added applause.
I've created a playlist of the "Great Recordings" videos that I hope to steadily add to and if you wanted to listen to them all the link to the playlist is • Great Recordings
I think that what follows is a translation of the Mario Del Monaco recording.
Far and away, unapproachable to your steps
There is a castle called Montsalvat;
In the middle there stands a luminous temple,
As precious as nothing else on earth is known.
A vessel of miracoulos blessing
Is guarded inside as supreme sanctuary.
It has been brought down by a host of angels,
To be cared for by the purest human beings.
Annually a dove from above approaches
To reinforce its miraculous power;
Its name is Sangrail, and it grants blissfully purest believe
To its knighthood.
Who is predestined to serve the Sangrail
It prepares with supernal power;14
Every evil's deception is lost to him,
When he sees it, death's power vanishes;
Even to him who is sent by it to alien lands,
Appointed as fighter for virtue's justice,
His holy power will not be taken away,
If he goes unrecognized there as its knight.
May the Sangrail's blessing be ever of so noble cast,
It must flee the layman's eyes when it is unveiled.
Therefore you shall not doubt the knight,
If you recognize him - he has to leave you.
Now listen, how I reward the forbidden question:
By the Sangrail I was sent to you:26
My father Parzival wears its crown,
His knight, I - am called Lohengrin.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

0:00 Beniamino Gigli : Ah! non mi ridestar 2:59 Kirsten Flagstad : Ombra mai fu 7:24 Fritz Wunderlich : Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 11:24 Mario Del Monaco : Da voi lontan 15:52 Titta Ruffo : Marechiere 18:34 Luciano Pavarotti : Nessun dorma I've created a playlist of the "Great Recordings" videos that I hope to steadily add to and if you wanted to listen to them all the link to the playlist is kzbin.info/aero/PLwIuFmWuGenqvDYORPncxOSyn7Y6Vy_Zc

[@YonaHaber]

wonderfull restorations. legendary singers. beautiful arias. thanks 😴

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Yona, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the selection. Thanks also for mentioning the restorations.

[@elenajha4357]

Thank you so much, dear Michael! Nice selection, nice voices. You have made my Sunday morning 🌹

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Elena, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed it.☘

[@barbaraprest783]

Such a wonderful start to my day

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Barbara, I'm glad that you like it.

[@mariantaylor7109]

Perfect - lovely selection of music and artistes . I don’t think l have heard Kirsten Flagstad before -what a voice ! Thank you again .

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

My pleasure as always Marian, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. A listener to one of my other videos mentioned this Kirsten Flagstad recording and I was very impressed by it.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

As you said this recording is great. Thank you for including Wunderlich.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Chang, I'm glad that you like the video, I know that Fritz Wunderlich is one of your favourites, he was a wonderful singer. I often think of him when I'm tying my shoe laces. I'll catch up on your videos later, enjoy the rest of the day.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Flagstad's voice is fantastic and gorgeous. Her "Ombra..." I love it.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@MountainwalkwithMusic I've just been watching your latest video with it's lovely varied selection of hydrangea blooms. They all look so fresh, as if they had just come into flower. Nice music as well, especially good old Greensleeves. Somebody who had watched my Ombra mai fu compilation video recommended Kirsten Flagstad's recording so I had a listen and was very impressed, she's not somebody that I've really listened to before, I tend to stick to my old favourites most of the time. Time for you to get your batteries charged and get up one of your mountains!!

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Her range is soprano, but her tone is that of a contralto. So it seems that her repertoire was almost limited to Wagner. Hydrangeas bloom here and there in Busan in June and July. These days, it is so hot that it is hard to climb the mountain, so I am into hydrangeas. Good night Michael!!

[@dennisj.3439]

Wunderlich is one of the great lyrics of all time!

[@Situnadei]

WONDERFUL , many thanks, Flagstad and Wunderlich are WUNDERLICH und Himmlich schön !

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Beautiful, beautiful… great selections, well chosen… ⭐️⭐️⭐️ There‘s a brilliant Fritz Wunderlich in the role he became so closely identified with… the incomparable Gigli with an aria in which he‘s able to show off all his strengths, including his peerless mezza voce… wonderful soprano Kirsten Flagstad impressively proving that she was not „only“ an outstanding Wagner specialist… not overly subtle but kind of monumental Mario Del Monaco unexpectedly singing Wagner and tearing down walls with the volume of his powerful voice… the great Tita Ruffo dwelling on the beauty of the charming Neapolitan neighborhood of Marechiaro - and the girl he loves… and finally famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti with one Puccini‘s brightest-shining operatic gems… I‘m thrilled - - by the gorgeous music and by the lovely photos you provided! Thank you for another amazing video, Michael! 🙏🍀

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Harriet I'm glad that you like the selection. They are not all my favourites but I'm trying more of a variety to include singers that others listeners have suggested. Thanks again for listening, i know it's not easy to fit everything in, my "watch later" list just gets longer and longer. ☘☘☘☘

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Speaking of time and „watch later“ lists, why should you be better off than the rest of us, Michael? 😉 All of us have our favourites, but life would be rather poor if we tended only to these, bereaving ourselves of the pleasure of diversity and - maybe - new discoveries! In my opinion you‘ve found exactly the right mixture of everybody‘s favourites, some people‘s favourites and possible favourites-to-be… Please continue to do so! And thanks for the lovely Irish clover! ☘️ It seems you‘re really into emojis right now… 😜

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@hrbooksmusic7878 You are right as usual Harriet and I think I'm becoming something of an emoji expert (just joking)😁

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Oh, how I love the sweet sound of flattery in my ears… „right as usual…“ Now I‘m the one who‘s just kidding… or joking… kidding is more American, isn‘t it? Never mind, I always knew you hide unfathomable secrets beneath your adorably old-fashioned surface, Michael… An emoji lover and expert! Who would have guessed?! 🤪

[@dallasbono]

So nice to hear the Del Monaco in improved sound! Those 1948 recordings are my favorite!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Dallas, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@lilianikolova7685]

Спасибо! Благодаря! I really appreciate it 🎉when the translation appears , so that we can understand the lyric better.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Lilia, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you find the translations useful even though they are in English.

[@isaiahjohnston823]

Brilliant work michael👍. Know them all. Was kirsten flagstad in a movie? I can't remember. Thanks again Michael McGrail for this excellent batch of terrific Tenors and sopranos.👍👏👏👏👏👏👏🇮🇪...

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure as always Isaiah, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. I don't know of a movie with Kirsten Flagstad but it's possible.

[@Rosangela161]

Welcome!!! So wonderful gift... Adorable selection of melodies and interpreters. Exquisite art work. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. Warm regards and much success in everything you undertake. 15:56 Special applause to Titta Ruffo. Adorable always.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Lovely to have you back Rosa, thank you for listening and for your kind words, I'm glad that you like the video,

[@Rosangela161]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Warm regards dear friend.