Beethoven: Missa Solemnis op. 123 Recording Supervision: Hans Weber. Recording Engineer: Günter Hermanns. Recording sessions during rehearsals for concert performances at the Philharmonie Berlin. Rec. at Jesus-Christus-Kirche Berlin, 1966-02-21 - 1966-02-24.

• Cast: Fritz Wunderlich, Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Christa Ludwig (contralto), Walter Berry (bass), Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien, Berliner Philharmoniker, cond. Herbert von Karajan

• John B Steane in "Gramophone", 2/1989: "In view of this multiplicity of recordings, it is well to be as clear as possible about the particular merits of each, and in this instance the answer is simple: it lies in the soloists. The shining soprano of Gundula Janowitz, then at its purest in tone and controlled with practised mastery, irradiates the whole performance. In the lyrical passages, such as the 'Gratias agimus tibi', Wunderlich is equally distinguished, while Ludwig and Berry are never less than admirable. The orchestral playing, too, is magnificent as one would expect, with a fine violin soloist recorded so as to remain the leading spirit throughout the Benedictus. Drawbacks are the unsatisfactory balance of the choir, with tremulous sopranos and muffled recording, and, frankly, Karajan's view of some of the speeds: the Credo, instead of being a march of faith, is an easy-going back-home-at-nightfall saunter, and as a consequence 'Et vitam venturi' opens halfway to the Land of Nod."
• "The Rough Guide to Classical Music", 1994: "Among the many recordings of the Missa Solemnis there is no serious rival to this, one of Karajan's best recordings, featuring one of the finest vocal quartets of the century. It's not perfect - the tempi are sometimes too slow, the balance is odd in places, and the solo violin tends to wander out of tune - but the pathos and weight of the performance are desperately moving. The singing is magnificent (Janowitz and Wunderlich in particular), and Karajan's direction is consistently expressive."
• The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs and Cassettes: "On Karajan's DG version of the Missa solemnis both the chorus and, even more strikingly, the superbly matched quartet of soloists, never surpassed as a team in this work, convey the intensity and cohesion of Beethoven's deeply personal response to the liturgy. Gundula Janowitz is even more meltingly beautiful here than in her later EMI recording for Karajan. Christa Ludwig, as there, is a firm and characterful mezzo, while Walter Berry is a warmly expressive bass. Best of all is the ill-fated Fritz Wunderlich, whose lovely, heroic but unstrained tenor adds supremely to the radiance of the performance, one of his great recordings. The balance between soloists, chorus and orchestra is far cleaner and more precise than in most recent recordings, and the clarity of detail is exemplary." [on DG 423 913-2]
• Y. L., Singapore, 2002: "This disc was my very first encounter with Fritz, and I was completely seduced by his voice. An almost perfect cast for Missa Solenmis (so far I haven't listened to any cast that's better as a whole), and thankfully Karajan was not too fast (as he usually was) and didn't push the soloists. A must-have recording." [comment submitted to this web site]

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	DG 423 913-2 Galleria ( + Mozart: "Coronation Mass" without FW, 2 CD)
	DG 453 016-2 ( + Mozart: "Coronation Mass" without FW, 2 CD)
	DG 139 208/09 (2 LP)
	DG 39 208/09 (2 LP, mono)
	DG KL 95-96 (2 LP)
	DG SKL 95-96 (2 LP)
	DG 2707 030 (2 LP)
	DG 2720 013 (2 LP)
	DG 2726 048 Resonance (2 LP)
	DG 2864 162 (2 LP)
	DG 410 535-1 Präsent (2 LP)
	DG 643 646/48 (3 LP)

Excerpts on

	DG 2535 654 ("Sanctus")
	DG 2563 632 ("Sanctus")

Fritz Wunderlich Discography