Favorite

The Schubert lieder sung by Schnabel's wife (with Schnabel on the piano) quickly rose to the top of the list for me. I am aware of two other favorites: Toepper's Magnificat and Shura Gehrman's Winterreise. What are some of the 'lesser' known gems in this genre?

I doubt she'd been flattered by your reference

As a substitute for a standup comedian ?!?

Florence Foster-Jenkins.

I have a collection of party discs. Here's a few:

Joan Sutherland - Talking Pictures. Joan's unfortunate attempt at crossover, including 'When You Wish Upon a Star' (for fans getting read to visit Walt Disney Land, I suppose).

Jose Carreras - Love is. Jose sings (among others) Love is a Many Spendored Thing, As Time Goes By, not to mention a My Way that ranks behind Frank, but ahead of Elvis and Sid Vicious. Actually, Carreras isn't bad in this repertoire, but he simply cannot do justice to the language.

Jessye Norman - With A Song in My Heart - This disc perhaps should have been called 'With a Foot in My Mouth'. Deliciously overblown arrangements by John Williams, however.

Simon Estes - Spirituals - As an industry friend once described this disc, 'Gospel Under Glass'. Terrible sounding recording.

Yes, Giorgio - As the sticker on the album read, features the 'hit', If We Were In Love (or as Pavarotti pronounced the word, Luf). You didn't know that song had become a hit? Also features Luciano doing most of (but not all of ) 'I Left My Heart in SF'. The soundtrack from the food fight between himself and Kathryn Harrold did not make it on the LP. I don't think we'll ever see this one on CD, at least so long as Luciano is still alive...

The Anna Russell Album - I haven't heard the Ring analysis in a couple of years, or the G&S parody, but it always brings a smile to the face of knowledgable visitors.

Fritz Wunderlich - On a more positive note, I quite enjoy taking out Disc 5 of the anthology that DG released in the 90s, to demonstrate some (IMHO) truly wonderful singing in lighter repertoire. Even with the cheesy arrangement, the most compelling Mattinata I have ever heard. Also features some great singing on O Sole Mio, Granada, Vienna of My Dreams, and some more operetta rep. I guess the good do die young.

Kiri Te Kanawa - The Young Kiri - If you ever wondered how Kiri would sing Havana Nagila (I hope I spelled it correctly), this is your album. Also features chestnuts like Puccini's 'Love and Music', which is better known as Visse d'arte, but sung in English.

Karajan Fledermaus Gala - His Decca recording, featuring a star-studded Gala sequence, highlighted by Birgit Nilsson's 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and a number of other high-spirited, fun gala items, including the famous 'Anything You Can Sing I Can Sing Louder' (sic) duet with Simionato & (I think) DiStefano.

Saturday Nacht Fever - This truly turgid affair was my introduction to the classical music business, as then Vox-Turnabout/MMG head Ira Moss attempted to capitalize on the John Revolta/Saturday Night Fever craze. Produced and arranged by the legendary (in his own mind, I suppose) Buggs Bower, and performed by the Eine Kleine Disco Band. Featured such colorful cuts as 'Love in Turkish Bath' (which started life as the Turkish March). I doubt we'll ever see this one on CD...

Matt C

Steve Reich - 'It's gonna rain' is always a hit here.

Dave

I'll answer even though you insist on bashing Cousin Hertha. ;

That's it. Very little else comes even remotely close, though in the classical field I have three others:

1. Mary Schneider Yodels the Classics 2. Toolbox Classics 3. and (never on CD to the best of my knowledge) 'Sunrise' from Also Sprach Zarathustra played by the Temple University Kazoo Choir.

Dave Hurwitz

You're high by a vocal category on Simionato's partner. It was Ettore Bastianini (soon to fall out of favor with the conductor). A charming duet. Those two had also sung Eboli and Rodrigo for Herbie in his Salzburg _Carlo_.

Inge Borkh's cabaret album, in which she recounts her opera career ('Ach, ich war so hochdramatisch' is not similar to the above, but still not to be missed. It's rolling-on-the-floor hilarious if you can understand sung German.

On 11 Jun 2003 03:18:16 GMT, 'Matthew B. Tepper (posts from uswest.net

That whole record

Miliza Korjus, 'The Viking Nightingale' (an LP, Venus 969S), Side 2 especially. The ruins of a probably once great voice sings with the accompaniment of

Or how about that silly temperance song, where Canino joins in singing the chorus?

If not BMG, then somebody else. ASAP.