“Sarah Vaughan had one of the magnificent voices of the 20th century, and she put it through extraordinary paces. Then she might turn around and swing a show tune with a light touch. She could do both and everything in between.”

It is at a very special moment in Sarah Vaughan’s life that this double recital, recorded on November 9, 1969 at the Berlin Philharmonie, takes place.

To everyone’s astonishment, this small, clumsy 45-year-old silhouette will sing that evening one of the most masterful stage performances of her career that could be captured by a recording. In almost two hours, she will silence all reticence by proving how much her approach to music remains eminently topical.

Surrounded with an elegance as discreet as it is stimulating by a trio that is a past master in the art of understatement, free of mannerisms, still as virtuosic as ever, developing her vocal technique to the highest degree throughout her incredible range, between naturalness and sophistication, simplicity and refinement, Sarah Vaughan is astonishing. Sarah Vaughan resolutely favours sentimental melodies, making her warm, supple, suave and swinging voice the ultra-sensitive seismograph of the whole range of mixed feelings.

The Lost Recordings label travels the world in search of rare or previously unreleased recordings by legendary artists. Using a unique restoration process, these priceless pieces of musical heritage are brought back to life.