Over a performing career spanning half a century, Christa Ludwig, born in 1928, consistently proved her greatness. "A source of as deep a satisfaction and fulfilment as the greatest of my operatic roles," is how she described the place of song in her life, and at the heart of this collection are the emblematic composers of the Austro-German repertoire. Throughout, Christa Ludwig's interpretative insight is as rich and compelling as her voice, exceptional for its beauty, range and flexibility. This 11-disc collection includes recordings never before released or new to CD, and all items have been remastered in 24BIT/96KHZ from original tapes.