No more than other contenders has this version of The Merry Widow managed to oust from favour the earlier version under Matacic, with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as Hanna and Eberhard Wachter as Danilo. Yet it has come as close as any, and I believe that this reissue should not be overlooked by anyone wanting a CD version of Lehar's masterpiece. Edda Moser has not the allure of Schwarzkopf in the two previous EMI recordings (under Matacic and Ackermann) or indeed, of Elizabeth Harwood for Karajan on DG. Yet she sings intelligently and enjoyably and is certainly anything but dull. Prey is another of EMI's miscast baritones in the tenor role of Danilo, but he sings commandingly and with an evident taste for the girls of Maxim's. The vocal honours, though, really go to the second couple, beautifully sung by Siegfried Jerusalem and Helen Donath. Admirable, too, is Benno Kusche in a familiar role as the ambassador. Heinz Wallberg never generates quite the excitement that Matacic does, but he is a conductor I never fail to admire and one undoubtedly more sympathetic to what operetta is really about than Karajan in his recording.
This is a more complete version than either of the earlier EMI recordings, and the inclusion of the Camille/Valencienne duet ''Zauber der Hauslichkeit'', with Helen Donath in especially captivating form, is one particular reason why this recording should not be overlooked. A second is that, unlike the Matacic version, the disc change is sensibly placed at the end of an act. A third is that the digitally remastered sound is clearer and more spacious than the un-remastered analogue sound of the Matacic. Unfortunately this EMI Studio reissue has no libretto, though this should certainly not deter anyone wishing to taste its undoubted delights.'