Album insights
Renowned tenor Piotr Beczala appears as a sought-after guest artist in major orchestras, festivals, and leading opera houses worldwide. For his debut album with Deutsche Grammophon, Beczala carefully selected the repertoire of tenor legend Richard Tauber, showcasing popular hits from the 1930s and 1940s. Upon hearing the opening notes, audiences immediately recognized Tauber's renditions of classic melodies like "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz," "Gern hab ich die Frau’n geküsst," and "Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame." Notably, "Lippen schweigen" features a duet with his opera stage partner Anna Netrebko, while additional duets on the record include collaborations with Daniela Fally, Avi Avital, and the Berlin Comedian Harmonists. During the recording sessions, Beczala humorously noted the use of vintage microphones reminiscent of Tauber's era, sharing, "We even recorded in the same London studios where Tauber made his records; Richard might have used the very same microphones." Beczala's deep admiration for Richard Tauber extends to a remarkable musical encounter on the album, where Beczala and Tauber "join forces" to perform Tauber's composition "Du bist die Welt für mich," creating a harmonious blend of tenors spanning two centuries.