V1503. ELEANOR STEBER, w.Mitropoulos Cond.: Les Nuits d'Été - recorded 21 Jan., 1954; w.Jean Morel Cond.: La captive; Le jeune pâtre breton; Zaïde - recorded 19 May, 1954 (all Berlioz); w.Max Rudolf Cond.: Arias from Cantata #68, Messiah, Die Schöpfung & Elijah - recorded Sept., 1951 (all w.Columbia S.O.). (Austria) Sony MHK 62356, recorded, 1951-54. Gatefold Jacket has 42pp. Brochure, w.archival photos; Disc features original Columbia LP label. Long out-of-print; Final copy! - 074646235621

CRITIC REVIEWS:

“…Dimitri Mitropoulos again urged me to sing with him and the New York Philharmonic….Once again, we began to hunt for something special we could do together. We settled on a [then] little-known cycle of songs, 'Les Nuits d’Été' by Hector Berlioz…. 'Les Nuits d’Été' proved a miraculous welding of music and artists, music and text…I cherish the memory of this and all the music we made together. Within the year we recorded the six songs which comprise the cycle, plus three additional Berlioz songs, and it’s comforting to know that after all these years, ours remains the definitive performance of this luscious music….Is it any wonder that my memories of this fantastic man and the music we made together are still so vivid?”

- Eleanor Steber, ELEANOR STEBER, AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, pp.128-129



“…among brilliantly successful singers in full career [in 1956] it is possible to name Eleanor Steber, one of the loveliest sopranos in existence….”

- Vincent Sheean, FIRST AND LAST LOVE, p.155