Itzhak Perlman plays the Meditation from Thais followed by the opera’s final scene sung by Dorothy Kirsten and Robert Merrill. Then Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise is performed by the London Symphony led by Andre Previn then sung by Anna Moffo.
First the Music then the Words
Playlist
Massenet Thais: “Meditation”
Itzhak Perlman with The Abbey Road Ensemble
Conducted by Lawrence Foster
Recorded in London in 1995
EMI 5 55475 2
Massenet Thais: “Death of Thais”
Dorothy Kirsten and Robert Merrill with Orchestra
Conducted by Jean Paul Morel
Recorded in New York in 1947
LP: RCA VIC-1552
Rachmaninov: “Vocalise”
Academy of St. Martins-in-the-Fields
Conducted by Neville Marriner
Recorded in London in 1973
PHILIPS 420 155
Rachmaninoff: “Vocalise”
Anna Moffo with the American Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Leopold Stokowski
Recorded in New York in 1964
SONY 88875032232
