Wagner: Mit Gewitter und Sturm (from Der Fliegende Hollander) (Steersman's Song)

2013 sees a series of Wagner reissues on Eloquence from complete operas and highlights to Wagner singer portraits and even an audiobook!

This is a 50-year retrospective (1950 – 2000) of great Wagner singing on Decca and Deutsche Grammophon featuring twelve extracts from eight operas (including all four operas of the Ring cycle) with nine great singers. Wagner’s knowledge of heroes derived from two sources: the myths of ancient Greece, and the sagas and poetry of northern Europe. In both traditions, heroes possess god-like attributes which set them apart from non-heroic mortals and reinforce the view that they are superhuman. They often have gods as parents or grandparents. But Wagner humanizes his heroes, most notably Siegmund (sung inimitably by Jon Vickers in the legendary Decca recording of Die Walküre with Erich Leinsdorf), and the naïve Siegfried (with Wolfgang Windgassen singing both the Siegfried and Götterdämmerung Siegfrieds). Other great heldentenors represented on this collection include James King and James McCracken. Celebrated bass-baritones are also represented here: Paul Schöffler (singing Wotan’s Farewell from a rare 1950 recording), Ernst Haefliger (as the Dutchman) and most recently, Matthias Goerne (Wolfram). The insightful notes are provided by Wagner scholar Peter Bassett and a photo gallery of the singers is also included.

The Estonian National Male Choir RAM was founded by the grand old man of Estonian choral music Gustav Ernesaks in 1944. Initially a male choir, specialized on a cappella repertoire, has by today grown into a world-famous professional performer of oratorial works. The choir makes regular recordings for the Estonian Public Broadcasting as well as releases annually CDs under the labels of Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Warner Classics / Finlandia Records, and Virgin Classics. RAM has given more than 6000 concerts all over Estonia, in the former USSR, in Europe as well as in Israel, Canada and the USA. Currently the choir employs 49 singers.

The Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces is a state ceremonial orchestra founded on February 1st, 1993, or more precisely, it was re-established together with the re-establishment of the Estonian Defence Forces after the country had regained its independence. Since 1996, its commander and chief conductor is lieutenant-colonel Peeter Saan. The main task of the orchestra is to perform at all state and military ceremonies as well as receive and see off high-standing state visits and guests. The orchestra gives concerts in military units as well as public concert halls. Initially comprising a staff of 20 musicians, the orchestra today employs 40 professional musicians.