Description:

This recording is a tantalizing glimpse of the great Hans Hotter singing his namesake role in his prime.  One cannot imagine a more tender and human Hans Sachs.  “Was duftet doch der Flieder” in particular is a lesson intimate communication.  Not an aria, but a midsummer’s night reverie.  Elisabeth Grümmer’s voice has just the perfect amount of bloom and innocence to make the perfect Evchen.  Peter Anders voice, although slightly monochromatic, handles the tessitura of Walther with grace almost turning Wagner into Mozart.  Sir Thomas Beecham leads a clean and brisk performance.  The sounds can be a little scratchy at times, and please note that the third act is missing.

OD 10447-2