Friedrich Kummer

Handel’s Water Music? Beethoven’s 5th? Judas Maccabeus? Familiar strains from these masterworks appear on this delightful new disc by baroque cellists Phoebe Carrai and Tanya Tomkins, but the music itself is by the little-known 19th-century German cellist and composer Friederich August Kummer, who adds his personal stamp to these highly entertaining duets whilst paying homage to the baroque and classical masters. In his day, Kummer was a renowned performer and pedagogue who was principal cellist of the Dresden Opera. Close friends and musical collaborators included Franz Schubert and Felix Mendelssohn. He was the first professor of cello at the Dresden Conservatoire when it opened in 1856.

Fritz Wunderlich is in absolutely stunning voice in this classic recording of Mozart's "Turkish" opera brilliantly led by Eugen Jochum. Kurt Bohme is a lively, rich voiced Osmin, while Erika Koth and Lotte Schadle are a vivacious pair of female leads. Friedrich Lenz makes for an expert, lyrical second tenor! "The Rough Guide To Opera" says that "this is a justifiably famous performance, . . . not least for its being the first of the opera to present the score uncut. It is also celebrated for being one of Fritz Wunderlich's last and finest studio recordings.