The Unreleased Masters
Decca, 2023
10/10
Listen to The Unreleased Masters
A collection of never before heard masters from 1989-1998, we’re treated to Jessye Norman performing multiple roles in Tristan und Isolde across this 3 disc box set of unparalleled and emotional singing.
Disc 1 hosts Richard Wagner’s Tristan un Isolde excerpts, where Thomas Moser as Tristan and a young Ian Bostridge as the Seamann allows for Norman’s stunning range to shine amid the expressive storytelling and booming versus calm musicianship.
The middle disc belongs to Richard Strauss’ “Vier letzte Lieder” and Wagner’s “Wesendonck-Lieder”, which soars with dense string texturing and animated, powerful singing from Norman.
The last disc is a live recording from 1994, where Norman is with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the interaction between the players is nothing short of sublime, stirring and heartfelt in a way that no one else could emulate.
There’s 6 previously unreleased recordings here, and everything is restored and remastered from the original tapes, which further cements Norman as one of the most revered opera singers and recitalists in the world. Not so surprisingly, she was able to extend her art outside the realm of classical music that had her performing at multiple president’s inaugurations, picking up many Grammy Awards and making fans wherever she went.
Travels well with: Renée Fleming- Greatest Moments At The Met; Richard Wagner- The Golden Ring