Operetta Arias

The "Golden Age" was followed in Vienna by the Silver Age, but one no less brilliant. The period from 1900 to about 1920 has come to be known as such, as numerous theaters were converted into temples of operetta or built entirely anew. This era is represented by names such as Franz Lehár (1870–1948), Leo Fall (1873–1925), Emmerich Kálmán (1882–1953), Robert Stolz (1880–1975), and, as a German outpost, Jean Gilbert (actually Max Winterfeld; 1879–1942)—names that appear several times on this double CD as well. Even during his rise to the operatic pantheon, Fritz Wunderlich always found time to sing operetta. In doing so, he also paid tribute to one of the greats of the opera and operetta world: Richard Tauber (1891–1948) had once set the standard for sonorous, flattering, or plaintive tenor tones in both Mozart operas and Lehár operettas. When Wunderlich sang Du bist die Welt für mich in November 1963, he was already on the threshold of international fame. This double CD contains recordings up to November 1965. The voice with its silvery core and golden radiance is now fully developed; compared to the earlier, sometimes more reserved vocal performances in the first recordings, it now shines in full bloom.