JULIUS BITTNER (1874-1939): Der Musikant.

Description: Mainly self-taught, this Austrian composer practically fell into oblivion after World War I except for a couple of ill-starred premieres in Weimar Germany. He wrote his own librettos for almost all of his 15 operas and one early work was praised by Mahler while Bruno Walter premiered at least two, including this one from 1909 about which all we can tell you is that its subject is a fictional 19th century Austrian composer. Such are the vicissitudes of super-budget priced live CD reissues. Acceptable sound. No libretto. 2 CDs. Günther Treptow (tenor), Ester Rethy, Friedl Riegler (sopranos), Karl Schmitt-Walter (baritone), Large Vienna Radio Orchestra; Felix Prohaska (Rec. 1949).