Schlusnus, like Nissen (see above), spent most of his professional life in Germany, but was better known abroad through his extensive output on records. Most of his recordings were made by the electrical process after 1925 and there is really little need to go back further, for his voice retained its essential qualities virtually until his death in 1952. The present collection is, nevertheless, hardly to be ignored by collectors, the originals being rare and some of them extremely desirable. A brilliant ''Largo al factotum'', an elegant ''Di Provenza'' (in German) and a beautifully voiced if unimaginatively phrased version of Posa's death in Don Carlo are among these. Best is probably the solo from Soldatenart by Franz Abt, delightfully varied in manner and graced by an excellent trill.
There are also disappointments. Five of the items are duets with Robert Hutt, not the worst kind of German tenor but not far off. The renowned Selma Kurz is his other partner, and here there are certainly moments of loveliness (especially in the Rigoletto duet) along with others where (for one thing) one wishes her tone would 'grip' more firmly. Schlusnus himself is not beyond criticism. Comparing him with Nissen in a solo from Meyerbeer's L'africaine (also in German), one admires the legato in Schlusnus but is likely to find more of Nelusko's character in Nissen. Transfers are fine and there is much worth hearing, yet for anyone new to this singer's highly distinguished work in opera Preiser's first volume ((CD) 89212) should have priority.
'