Tauber & Lehar  (Audio CD) 
by Franz Lehar

Tauber obliged. The Berlin production was a resounding success, Tauber sometimes being required to repeat "Gern hab' ich die Frau'n gekusst" as many as five times. Lehar admitted, "Richard, during this moment I have been born again as an artist!" And so began a great final flowering of Lehar theatre productions, all featuring the Austrian tenor Richard Tauber.

Fortunately the Lehar-Tauber association resulted in an extensive series of recordings, in many of which Lehar conducts the orchestra. EMI began issuing a collection of them towards the end of the LP era, and now, in 2001, they are collected onto this double CD. I read the claim that a great many of the tracks appear on CD for the first time, but here in Australia most have already been available on CD.

I don't always find Tauber unexcelled in this repertoire, preferring other tenors sometimes and their recordings. Several of the "Paganini" recordings were made before the Berlin season opened. Tauber and his then wife Carlotta Vanconti sound as though they are sight-reading unfamiliar music. I once possessed several of the "Das Land des Lachelns" items on 78s. The 1929 sound seemed robust and full then, but seems sadly emasculated here.

Tauber, I believe, somehow had the secret of touching the hearts and minds of all who listened to his singing - composers, colleagues, chancellors and charwomen. This comprehensive and well-planned issue will ensure that his work with the Hungarian composer Franz Lehar will continue to charm and delight.