FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847): Die erste Walpurgisnacht for Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 60, Infelice! Ah, ritorna, età felice for Soprano and Orchestra, Op. 94 (Edda Moser [soprano], Overture in C, Op. 101, Das Märchen von der schönen Melusine, Op. 32, Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt, Op. 27.

Description: This 30-minute oratorio from 1832 really should be much more popular than it is (even the eight-minute overture is almost never performed). In a performance of vim and vigor like this, its operatic qualities are quite winning - as is the equally obscure eight-minute concert aria from 1834. If you don’t know this music yet, it’ll never get cheaper to do so! No texts. Annelies Burmeister (contralto), Eberhard Büchner (tenor), Siegfried Lorenz (baritone), Siegfried Vogel (bass), Leipzig Radio Choir, Gewandhaus Orchestra; Kurt Masur (rec. 1973-73). Original Deutsche Schallplatten LP release and 1992 Berlin Classics CD release.