Fritz Wunderlich - Operetta Arias (2017)

One of Fritz Wunderlich’s (1930–1966) most fascinating qualities was his incredible range of musical skills. He was probably Germany’s greatest tenor who could perform virtually anything in the repertoire for high male voice – from Schlager music to arias from J. S. Bach's Passions; from Mozart to music of the 20th century; from the greatest tenor hits of all times to unknown gems. His musicality and his seriousness as an artist turned everything he sang into something extraordinary.

The same can be said for his performances of operettas, lighter versions of grander opera. Operetta certainly enjoyed a heyday, and even today it still has its fans. Operettas have a high standard as far as the quality of entertainment is concerned, enjoying a higher standard than some opera seria of the Baroque period that were generally composed in a formulaic manner.

Operetta had its “Golden Age” in the second half of the 19th century, in Paris, where the Franco-German composer Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880) established “modern” operetta and took it to extremes in quite an intellectually stimulating and witty manner. Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) naturally became the king of operetta in Vienna.

This double-CD features recordings produced in the studio Kaiserslautern prior to November 1965. Although in the early days of his career Wunderlich's vocal skills had not yet been fully developed, his unique qualities are heard here at their best – the distinctive voice with the silver core and the golden gleam.

Tracklist:
CD 1
1 Der Zarewitsch: Allein, wieder allein by Fritz Wunderlich
2 Giuditta: Freunde, das Leben ist lebenswert by Fritz Wunderlich
3 Gräfin Mariza: Wenn es Abend wird (Grüß mir mein Wien) by Fritz Wunderlich
4 Kaiserin Josephine: Holdes berauschendes Bild (Liebe singt ihr Zauberlied) by Fritz Wunderlich
5 Kaiserin Josephine: Lied. Schön ist der Tag by Fritz Wunderlich
6 Kaiserin Josephine: Du bist die Frau by Annemarie Henning
7 Die Rose von Stambul: O Rose von Stambul by Fritz Wunderlich
8 Die keusche Susanne: Wenn die Füßchen sich heben by Fritz Wunderlich
9 Die keusche Susanne: Niemals kann Liebe ganz vergehn by Franziska Wachmann
10 Die keusche Susanne: Wer kann dafür by Franziska Wachmann
11 Das Weib in Purpur: Mädels gibt es auf der Welt by Franziska Wachmann
12 Uschi: Liebe und Glück kehrt nie zurück by Franziska Wachmann
13 Ein Lied geht um die Welt (From "Ein Lied geht um die Welt") by Fritz Wunderlich

CD 2
1 Ich küsse ihre Hand, Madame (From "Ich küsse ihre Hand, Madame") [Arr. H. Schreiter] by Fritz Wunderlich
2 Mädi: Mädi, mein kleines Mädi by Ilse Hübener
3 Mädi: Zum ersten Mal allein by Ilse Hübener
4 Prinzessin Ti-Ti-Pa (Das blaue Paradies): Einmal hat mir zur Frühlingszeit das Glück gelacht by Fritz Wunderlich
5 Venus in Seide: Erst hab ich ihr Komplimente gemacht by Fritz Wunderlich
6 Signorina: Arrivederci, bella Italia by Fritz Wunderlich
7 Signorina: Zwei sind verliebt by Hertha Assmann
8 Pfälzer Wein: Es gibt eine Frau, die mein Schicksal ist by Fritz Wunderlich
9 Pfälzer Wein: Der Zauber liegt nur ganz allein by Friederike Sailer
10 Pfälzer Wein: Medley (Arr. E. Kochan) by Friederike Sailer
11 Extrablätter: Wie tanzen dort die Paare by Fritz Wunderlich
12 Extrablätter: Es ist doch äußerst interessant by Hertha Assmann
13 Der Kurier der Königin: Ihr schönen Frauen, wer kann an euch vorübergeh'n (Arr. S. Merath) by Fritz Wunderlich
14 Der singende Traum: Du bist die Welt für mich (Arr. F. Mareczek) by Fritz Wunderlich
15 Arizona Lady: Kleiner Cowboy (Arr. E. Kochan) by Fritz Wunderlich
16 Wir reisen um die Welt (Der große Tenor): Wann kommt die eine by Fritz Wunderlich
17 Wir reisen um die Welt (Der große Tenor): Du allein schenkst mir das Leben by Hertha Assmann
18 Wir reisen um die Welt (Der große Tenor): Ich träume nur von Liebe by Hertha Assmann