New on CDs: Operas From Gershwin to Verdi

D’ALBERT: “Tiefland.” Isabell Strauss, Rudolf Schock, Gerd Feldhoff; RIAS Choir; Berlin Symphony, conducted by Hans Zanotelli. Eurodisc 7797-2-RG (two compact discs). Eugene d’Albert’s one enduring contribution to the operatic literature is a bit of Teutonic verismo set in Spain, heavily indebted to Wagnerian and Straussian chromaticism and a bit too much of all of them. Rudolf Lothar’s libretto, which concerns the evil landowner Sebastiano’s attempt to marry off his mistress, Marta, to the simple shepherd Pedro, while still enjoying her favors, strains the credulity, even in the wildly irrational world of opera. That may explain why the piece, despite its moderate appeal, has failed to convert audiences outside German-language countries. Eurodisc’s performance derives from the sound track of a 1963 television film. Strauss’ passionate Marta make one regret the soprano’s premature death; Schock as the hero and Feldhoff as the villain voice their platitudes convincingly. Zanotelli’s conducting and RCA’s digital remastering are serviceable.