Requiem For Mignon, Op. 98b / Wesendonck-Lieder / Rapsodia Para Contralto Op. 53 / Rückert Lieder

Released in 1967 by the Spanish label Vergara, this recording features a curated selection of Romantic vocal works including Schumann's Requiem for Mignon, Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder, Brahms' Alto Rhapsody, and Mahler's Rückert-Lieder. The collection showcases the artistry of contralto Maura Moreira alongside the Symphonieorchester Innsbruck under the direction of Robert Wagner. These pieces represent the height of 19th-century German lieder and orchestral-choral compositions, chosen here to highlight the dramatic and lyrical range of the contralto voice.

The album serves as a document of the mid-century European recording tradition, where regional orchestras and dedicated vocalists partnered to bring nuanced, lesser-recorded classical repertoire to the burgeoning home audio market. By pairing works of heavy emotional gravity like the Mahler and Brahms pieces with the lighter textures of Schumann, the production sought to provide a comprehensive look at the evolution of the orchestral song. The release received notice for its atmospheric commitment to the German Romantic tradition, serving as a testament to the technical capabilities of the Vergara label during the late 1960s.