FLAC tracks | Classical | 51:59 | 234 MbThe Donna Elvira at these performances was Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (born in 1915), who was singled out in reviews for the warmest and most consistent praise of all.

This was the year in which her name became an international property.

She was 31 and already a singer of considerable experience.

Her operatic debut dated back to 1938 with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where for long she was confined to small or soubrette parts which, she was advised, would continue to be her lot unless she signed up to the party membership requirements that were statutory under the Nazis.

The decision was a hard one, but her father, though antipathetic to the regime, advised her to accept.

Her career advanced, but was disrupted by a severe bout of tuberculosis.

After her recovery, she was engaged by Karl Böhm for the Vienna Opera, making her debut there in 1944.

Tracklist:01. Tannhäuser, Act II: Elisabeth’s Greeting. “Dich, teure Halle, grüss’ ich wieder”02. Tannhäuser, Act III: Elisabeth’s Prayer. “Allmächt’ge Jungfrau, hör mein Flehen”03. Der Freischutz, Op. 77, J. 277, Act II: “Wie nahte mir der Schlummer” – Aria. “Leise, leise, frommer Weise”04. Der Freischütz, Op. 77, J. 277, Act III: “Und ob die Wolke”05. Lohengrin, Act I: Elsa’s Dream. “Einsam in trüben Tagen”06. Lohengrin, Act III: “Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen”