I came across this DVD quite by accident; it is not being promoted in any way as far as I can tell. The three cycles were recorded in late 1984 by Unitel (what must they have in their archives that hasn't seen the light of day?) and the DVD was released in the fall of last year.
There is so little lieder available on DVD that the release is self-recommending. Prey had a very seccessful international career. His taste in music was far reaching and he enjoyed operetta and enjoyed singing it. In an interview that is included in the set it was lieder that really was his main love. The voice is typically German with a honeyed sweetness that can be so charcteristic. It would be inconceivable to think that he could make an ugly sound--unless that was the point One can also compare him with Fischer-Dieskau although the latter's lieder offerings on DVD, with one exception, are clearly in the sunset years. Yet FD truly never had to deal with a declining instrument: there is no wobble, the tone is never gritty, the emission of sound is even and he possessed a great legato. The same can be said of Prey. Both are able to move the voice to meet the demands of the music. They never compromise standards of singing. Prey, perhaps, has a sunnier tone and approach, but it is never superficial. He has sung all these cycles many times and clearly they have become a part of his DNA. Perhaps F-D may make a bit more of the text, but really this is nit picking and should have little or no influence on a decision to buy the set.
Incidentally there is a clip of Prey's Wolfram and the great aris; it is simply gorgeous. It was one of his favorite roles and he sang it at Bayreuth. A pity that that performance was not filmed in its entirety; it is treasurable.
Highly recommended to lovers of lied and great singing.
