BaL 7.06.14 - Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier

[amateur51]

Few singers had such a long operatic career as Christa Ludwig. She was still magnificent as Fricka in 1993.

She was a memorable in Bernstein's Candide too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFi-neN5H_0

[Richard Tarleton]

But quite recently I've acquired the first complete recording of the work in 1954 (Naxos transfer) - Maria Reining, Sena Jurinac, Hilde Gueden and Ludwig Weber with VPO/Erich Kleiber

Sounds fabulous. There's a clip in Tony Palmer's "The Salzburg Festival" DVD of Jurinac, Schwarzkopf and Rothenberger in the first perf. of Rosenkavalier in the new theatre. That must have been quite something.

You've inspired me to snap up the Solti DVD as it's going for single figures on Amazon.

[amateur51]

I've long had the Karajan/Legge on CD, the Karajan/Czinner film on video (which is very big on Karajan the Dictator) and Solti/Covent Garden on DVD. Of those, my preference is for the last. Not only is Kiri very fine as the Marschallin, but Anne Howells is also a tremendous Octavian. Solti is at his warmest and the production by John Schlesinger is perfection! I've also had for long time the abridged recording from 1933 with Lotte Lehmann, Elisabeth Schumann, Maria Olszewska and Richard Mayr with the VPO under Robert Heger. Such riches.

But quite recently I've acquired the first complete recording of the work in 1954 (Naxos transfer) - Maria Reining, Sena Jurinac, Hilde Gueden and Ludwig Weber with VPO/Erich Kleiber. It's absolutely magnificent, not least because Kleiber's way with portamento is quite fearless and natural. I speak, of course, as the founding Chairman of the Portamento Restoration Society, membership - 1.

Old Erich's lad did quite well with Rosenkavalier too, particularly on DVD with Brigitte Fassbaender and Dame Gwyneth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8pnVHz1r5s

[tigajen]

Old Erich's lad did quite well with Rosenkavalier too, particularly on DVD with Brigitte Fassbaender and Dame Gwyneth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8pnVHz1r5s

IMO even better is his DVD with Flott

[amateur51]

If you can cope with Strauss in English, then here's Dame Jsnet with Sir Alexander Gibson in Glasgow in 1971. Some delicious moments, i recall.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/R-Strauss-Rosenkavalier-Janet-Baker/dp/B000BZDGEQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1401622609&sr=1-3&keywords=Rosenkavalier+Janet+Baker

Not a library choice granted but perhaps a sick-bed one?

[amateur51]

IMO even better is his DVD with Flott

I prefer Fassbaender's cut in jodhpurs

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I prefer Fassbaender's cut in jodhpurs

Well, quite! (A night of bridled passion, perhaps?) - but the boots have yet to be made that would make me prefer Dame Gwynneth's singing (fine as it is here) to Dame Flott's.

[amateur51]

Well, quite! (A night of bridled passion, perhaps?) - but the boots have yet to be made that would make me prefer Dame Gwynneth's singing (fine as it is here) to Dame Flott's.

I found this performance to be one of Dame Gwyneth least wobbly, thank goodness.

I've seen Dame Flott on disc and in the flesh and I'm afraid I found her to be rather 'cool', possibly under-characterised' in this role.

Horses for courses, I guess - oops, back to jodhpurs

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I found this performance to be one of Dame Gwyneth least wobbly, thank goodness.

A question of relativity, I would suggest.

[amateur51]

A question of relativity, I would suggest.

As my father used to say "everything's relative - usually on your mother's side'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I found this performance to be one of Dame Gwyneth least wobbly, thank goodness.

- she was my first Brunnhilde (via the Boulez/Chereau televised production) and her wobble wasn't distracting then, either.

I've seen Dame Flott on disc and in the flesh and I'm afraid I found her to be rather 'cool', possibly under-characterised' in this role.

Ah - I met her when I was helping out at a Music store and she came in to buy some sheet Music. Lovely smile ...



...



... sorry! Where was I ...

Horses for courses, I guess - oops, back to jodhpurs

I'm sure we don't want to stirr up an off-topic discussion?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

- she was my first Brunnhilde (via the Boulez/Chereau televised production) and her wobble wasn't distracting then, either.

it was that performance that first alerted me to her ultra-wobble.

[Stanley Stewart]

I've been listening to the CD set of the SNO production; Glasgow King's Theatre, 1971, conducted by Alexander Gibson. I saw this production and later acquired the LP highlights recording. I only became aware of its CD format several decades later when a regular contributor to the old R3 boards brought its release, circa 2005, to my attention. A real curiosity; a 4 CD set issued under licence from Mitridate on the Czech label, Ponto PO1039

CD 1-3 is a complete recording of Rosenkavalier with Helga Dernesch (Marschallin), Janet Baker (Octavian), Noel Mangin (Baron Ochs), Thomas Hemsley (Faninal) and the much lamented Elizabeth Harwood (Sophie). I don't know whether the tapes were remastered from a radio broadcast but there is a spatial feel of being in a theatre although I had to alter the sound level occasionally and a sense of the audience being thoroughly engaged in the performance. The fourth CD is a real surprise. Extracts from a 1977 production of Ariadne auf Naxos, SCO/Norman del Mar. Janet Baker as the Composer, Helga Dernesch, (Primadonna), Nan Christie (Zerbinetta) and Iain Cuthbertson, (Haushofmeister).

CD4 concludes with a 1979 performance of Schumann's, Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Janet Baker, accompanied by Graham Johnson. A fine recording.

Finally, I recall Sena Jurinac in her final recital at the Wigmore Hall, late 80s. She'd given her last performance as the Marschallin on-stage at Vienna State Opera in 1983. As an encore, she sang the Marschallin's Act 1 monologue with a stage presence which indicated the quality of 'that little something extra' which compels an intense silence in the auditorium. The rapturous applause as she concluded fully expressed our feelings of excitement and appreciation of a fine career. Unforgettable.

[CallMePaul]

I have two full versions (Solti, Karajan)

The Karajan is not complete; he made a number of cuts, only one of which was ever sanctioned by the composer. The Solti, E Kleiber and deWaart (and probably others) are absolutely complete. Almost all performances retain the final scene with the black servant boy retrieving the handkerchief as Strauss and Hoffmansthal envisaged it, but the scene earlier in the opera to which it relates is frequently cut.
A few years ago I read that the opera has never been seen in this country uncut. I know that it is long, but producers and conductors really need to think about the dramatic action as a whole!

[BBMmk2]

I have a few operas i9n my collection but not many and not this one in particular. I seem to get more enjoyment from the other genres more, than opera. Or is it because hmmm I just don't know, really. I do like this one, so hopefully I may get a good idea from this BaL!