Strauss: Der Zigeunerbaron

First album of a series of re-issues as a tribute to the great soprano Grace Bumbry, who passed away on May 7th. One of the earliest African-American classical singers to reach fame, the Black Venus was particularly praised for her stage performances. This recording of Johann Strauss’ irresistible operetta Der Zigeunerbaron features Bumbry as the young gypsy girl Saffi, surrounded by the elite of lyric singing: Rita Streich, Hermann Prey, Nicolai Gedda, Kurt Böhme…