1936 OLYMPICS Live BAYREUTH PICTURE LABEL FRANZ VOELKER Maria Mueller Record 78
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Description
WEEK 1 of two weeks of great auctions ending May 11.
IF you are a non-US buyer or if buy multiple records, pls do not use EBAY check out.
Send me an invoice request (click on MORE ACTIONS to the right of the item), I can probably get you better shipping rate.
I am happy to hold your records and combine you winnings in one economic parcel after May 11.
Due to the volume of sales, invoicing and shipping may take up to 48 hours.
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I am currently selling a series of great Richard Wagner and classic European 78 rpm orchestral recordings on all the great European labels:
Part of the 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS campaign to present Nazi Germany as a cultured and welcoming nation:
After you saw the Berlin Olympics, why not continue to Bayreuth to see the great Wagner Festival in the Festival Theater.
This is a special Picture Label record of a series live recordings from the 1936 Bayreuth festival issued by Telefunken. Two version were available: the present one (one may think for foreign visitors) and a "domestic" issue with a swastika superimposed over the Festival theater.
FRANZ VOELKER Maria Mueller in extended scene
Winterstuerme Wichen Dem Wonnemond 1/2
Hans Tietjen - Goehring's general director of all Prussian Theaters - conducts the Bayreuth orchestra
12" 78 rpm record:
Condition: EXCELLENT minus, part 1 has light graininess. Sleeve has old tape repair
Franz Völker: A Great And Most Versatile Tenor
Franz Völker was born in Neu-Isenburg in 1899, and began his vocal studies fairly early in life, in Frankfurt. He was only 27 when he made his debut in that city as Florestan in Beethoven's Fidelio. His vocal stamina, along with the particular quality of his voice, made him a natural, in the eyes of most, for dramatic work and most especially as a Wagnerian. It is perhaps not entirely certain that he would have made that immediate impression today, because Völker's voice, from the beginning, was a singularly adaptive instrument, usable and convincing over a very wide range of musical genres. It may well have been the color of his voice, more than anything else, that suggested the heroic tenor label. In any case, that was the initial impression he made, as a young man, and his rise was rapid. He was a superb singer, and engagements followed in quick succession, as is so often the case when a truly remarkable talent appears on the scene. He went on to Salzburg, Bayreuth (particularly) and Covent Garden. His most outstanding roles, for which he was instantly applauded, were Lohengrin,Freischutz, and Walküre.He made many recordings, which is most fortunate, because his career was exclusively European, and seldom outside Germany. Having made his career during Germany's darkest hour was necessarily limiting, as far as travel was concerned. He did, however, have a major career in Germany, and his many recordings testify to his remarkable versatility; in grand opera, operetta, and Lieder. He excelled in all three fields.
His first great impression was made as a Wagnerian, and so it seems appropriate to begin with his superb rendition of "Walter's Prize Song," from Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, an opera so difficult for the tenor that Melchior, to take but one example, would not sing it. The "Prize Song" is hard enough in itself, but it is repeated in choral fashion, always featuring Walter, in seemingly endless iterations toward the end of the opera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzK1hcubdiI&feature=player_embedded
This is a markedly common-sense presentation, and it is a joy to hear the studio orchestra minimalized. Would that most conductors would do the same in the opera house! The smoothness of Völker's voice, all the way up and down the scale, is a beautiful thing to hear. His top was good, and the high A, which climaxes a series of progressively ascending phrases— and has been the downfall of many heldentenors who make the fatal mistake of starting the aria too intensely and too loud—is not a problem at all for Völker, who manages it smoothly and in line. All in all, a magisterial rendition of a difficult aria.
Many famous German opera singers have historically crossed back and forth across the line separating opera from operetta, and Völker was no exception. Here is the famous and ever-popular "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz," from Lehár's "Land of Smiles":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Zr7G4Z-dQ&feature=player_embedded
Isn't that just perfect! It is hard to imagine it sung better. A wonderful voice, excellently trained, with great dramatic operatic range and intensity, harnessed into submission for a classic show tune! I have always found Völker's extreme flexibility as a singer to be nothing short of astonishing. And admirable! For one thing, it is a sure sign of superbly trained voice. People often complain that German singing teachers just don't know how to train a tenor voice, but when the tenor is an intelligent man with strong artistic instincts, wonders can be done, especially if the tenor sings exclusively in German.
Finally, here is a beautiful example of yet a third category in which Völker excelled—German Lieder. This is much less common; many good German opera and operetta singers also try to sing Lieder or even popular music (which Völker also did) but the results are less predictable. Völker, however, like Leo Slezak, managed it very nicely indeed. Here is Schubert's lovely "Du bist die Ruh":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVnR6yDeFzo
What can I say. Absolutely beautiful! Opera, operetta, Lieder; all beautifully done. What on Broadway would be called a triple-threat performer. This was not only a great German tenor, but a German tenor for the ages!
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Quick note on grading:
The Grade (Excellent to Fair, I don't give Mint) refers to the WEAR of the record. Any other defects, like cracks, chips and scratches, are stated separately
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"SUPERQUIET" is basically noiseless, like a vinyl pressing.
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I am happy to hold your items and bill you at the end of the auction cycle. Pls send me a note if you would like me to hold records
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Records will be packed safely between corrugated cardboard in a sturdy box with plenty of padding for safe shipment.
Shipment is usually Media Mail, unless another service is requested. Shipping is at your risk.
If you are in the San Francisco area, I encourage pick-up in person.
US Domestic Shipping:
Here is a guideline for US Media Mail Shipping:
Prices below are for regular 78 rpm records. Up to about 5 records, I will ship Edison Discs for the same rates. Albums from Album Sets count as 1 record. Above that and for international shipments, it will be actual weight plus a small packing charge (1-3$ depending on size of shipment)
1 record: 4.50$
2 records: 5.50$
5 records: 7.50$
10 records: 9.50$
MANY MORE RECORDS: Don't worry. I safely ship 40 - 50 pounds of records double boxed in moving boxes, and even then Media Mail will probably not exceed 30$.
Please send me a message if you would like to lower your shipping rates!
International Buyers:
All'attenzione degli acquirenti italiani:
ATTENTION TO ITALIAN BUYERS:
Due to rare problems with delivery in ITALY, I will NOT GUARANTEE delivery of parcels sent by US Postal Service First Class and Priority Mail. If you prefer secure delivery, I will be happy to quote you either Registered Mail or shipment by FEDEX
I am very happy to ship records worldwide.
The US POSTAL SERVICE has increased international shipping rates in 2013.
A single record ships for around 25$ worldwide, depending on the weight.
There are some great options available for shipping multiple records at excellent rates.
Pls contact me if you plan to buy multiple records, and I will be happy to give you an estimate for best rates on USPS or Fedex. Pls let me know your country, home town and postal code for an estimate
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