Wagner / Windgassen / Sawallisch - Tannhauser - Music & Performance - CD

Obviously because of Grace Bumbry's debut role at Bayreuth as Venus, this is an amazing performance and it comes through the recording. All other performers especially Victoria de los Angeles and Windgassen sound fantastic. I prefer this recording of Tannhauser over the more known recording of the following year with Anja Silvia (sic) as Elsa, but I think de los Angeles sounds more beautiful, and it was rare for her to do this role, and Windgassen more gripping. The only quarrel I have is with the sound quality of the label/CD, which is unbalanced at times, the scream from the cast upon curtain raise sounded at first to me like background hecklers (Grace Bumbry cast as Venus caused a scandal) and I also ordered the recording on the Orfeo label and this is much better. Still given that this a live recording, and of course there is also annoying coughing from the audience, even with the subpar overall sound quality the excitement still comes through, so it's still tremendously enjoyable, Windgassen's Rom Monologue during this performance especially.