BaL 17.03.12 - Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

**umslopogaas** · 09-03-12, 12:32

I have the Karajan version, on vinyl: it was only ever in mono in that format, though there may have been a stereo version that was issued later on CD. I also have another Leinsdorf version, not listed above, with the Vienna Phil. O. and Rysanek, Jurinac, Peters, Peerce and Berry (quite a cast!), and also a single disc of highlights, with the Berlin Phil. O. conducted by Erede: presumably neither of these are currently available? I shall try to listen, because it isnt a opera that has made much impression on me and the reviewer may be able to show me what I'm missing.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 09-03-12, 15:13

Originally posted by umslopogaas View Post

I shall try to listen, because it isnt a opera that has made much impression on me and the reviewer may be able to show me what I'm missing.

Me, too; I love many od Strauss' operas, but Ariadne has never revealed her magic to me: I long to be "converted"! The nearest I've come is Kempe's EMI recording with the glorious Janowitz.

**umslopogaas** · 09-03-12, 19:49

#3 fhg. For me, Strauss's operas fall into two categories: those that do it, and those that dont. Of those that do, 'Rosenkavalier' hits me in the heart and 'Salome' and Elektra' hit a bit further down; of those that dont, 'Ariadne', 'Daphne' and 'Die Frau ohne Schatten' all seem to miss the target. I'm sure its just me, though in fairness to my confused brain, 'Die Frau ...' does have a very loopy plot, even by the standards of other operatic plots. We shall see, I'm hoping for some enlightenment.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 09-03-12, 20:52

umsloppy (#4); I agree about Daphne (and would add Arabella and Capriccio) but I love Die Frau. At least, I love the recording I have of Karajan's Live performance from Vienna in the '60s. I've heard (on these Boards, IIRC) that Karajan reordered the scenes, so maybe I don't love the real work! (I don't know any other performances and I've never seen a score, so I wouldn't know!)

**Barbirollians** · 09-03-12, 21:27

Glad to see another RO BAL - but i should much rather it had been the Eroica . The karajan is good enough for me in this work though.

**makropulos** · 09-03-12, 22:04

I look forward to this very much. I find myself in a minority among poster so far by saying that Ariadne is my favourite of all the Strauss operas. Of the recordings I have, Kempe's Dresden set on EMI is the one I play most often, though I also love several Böhm performances starting with the 1944 Seefried/Reining et al Vienna State Opera set. Among recent versions I greatly enjoyed Richard Armstrong's Chandos set. There are only a few no-hopers among the recorded Ariadnes of those I've come across, with Sinopoli's weird version heading that list despite some fine singers. Davis's version never grabbed me very much but I must listen to it again.

Isn't the Leinsdorf DVD of the original 1912 version?

**umslopogaas** · 09-03-12, 23:41

#5 fhg, I will respond tomorrow, but now its nearly midnight and I need to go to bed. Spring is in the air, but not alas in the muscles, I've been out in the garden this afternoon and the effort is effing killing me. If I can get out of bed tomorrow, I will reply. 'Ou sont les neiges d'antan?' I wish I knew, some snow would be useful to cool the ache in my lower lumbars.

**Belgrove** · 10-03-12, 11:29

I do find Schwartzkopf especially hard to take, but the Karajan version is distinguished for his sophisticated conducting, capturing the light, shade and charm in the score, and for Hermann Prey's magnificent Harlekin, the epitome of suaveness. Despite the size of the role, I find Harlekin more interesting than the bombast Strauss writes for the larger part of Bacchus.

Quite a few versions appear to be no longer available. Solti with the LPO had Leontyne Price in the title role and in sumptuous voice, Gruberova, Kollo and Troyanos in the roles of Zerbinetta, Bacchus and The Composer. This is a version worth seeking out. The Mazur version had Jesse Norman in her pomp and Gruberova . Having listened to this fairly recently, it struck me as being rather boring, principally due to Mazur's turgid and inflexible tempo.

The Levine DVD has a cast closest to that assembled at the ROH in the mid-eighties, with Norman and Kathleen Battle, conducted by Jeffrey Tate. This was quite magnificent and remains the ideal in my mind's eye/ear to which other versions must aspire, so I'll look forward to hearing how this version of Levine's fares. The BBC recorded the ROH performance, would that that could be released.

It's a tricky opera to bring off. The last section with Bacchus & Ariadne treads the thin operatic line between the sublime and the preposterous. Usually the demands made of the tenor means we end up with the latter.

Glyndebourne will be staging a new production next year, a perfect venue given the subject. Let's hope they put on a firework display afterwards.

**umslopogaas** · 10-03-12, 11:30

#% fhg, I'm sure 'Die Frau ...' justs need a bit more of my attention. I have only one recording, an ancient mono set on Decca LP, conducted by Bohm. Amazing cast: Rysanek, Goltz, Hongen, Hopf, Schoeffler, Bohme. I have just been reading about the opera in The Rough Guide: apparently, the libretto "owes a clear debt to Die Zauberflote", which is itself rather an obscure and allegorical item. I think the answer might be, like DZ, to approach through the music and let the plot reveal what it will, rather than trying to sort out the plot first. Must try again: trouble is, there is so much to listen to, and 'Die Frau ...' is rather long (5 LPs, that's almost Gotterdammerungian).

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 10-03-12, 12:16

Originally posted by umslopogaas View Post

Gotterdammerungian

**BBMmk2** · 11-03-12, 07:23

I confes that in havn't comeround togetting to know this opera. So much so, that i even dont know about it's style etc, in comparison woith his other operas!!

I will also have to either use iplayer or the podcast, as time not on my side(especially when your having a jamming session!!)

**verismissimo** · 17-03-12, 09:25

I love parts of Ariadne but so far failed to grasp the whole.

I've had Solti for years and used to have Levine, which must have disappeared in a feeble attempt to downsize.

**Nick Armstrong** · 17-03-12, 09:25

Originally posted by Belgrove View Post

I do find Schwartzkopf especially hard to take...

The Levine DVD has a cast closest to that assembled at the ROH in the mid-eighties, with Norman and Kathleen Battle, conducted by Jeffrey Tate. This was quite magnificent and remains the ideal in my mind's eye/ear to which other versions must aspire, so I'll look forward to hearing how this version of Levine's fares. The BBC recorded the ROH performance, would that that could be released.

I completely agree. The Schwartzkopf/Karajan always seemed to me to be a mile wide of the mark. As I've remarked elsewhere in the past, I went to that Norman/Battle/Tate production 3 times in the 80s and it was one of the best opera experiences of my life. I'd never thought about a release for the BBC recording: what a tempting thought.

One of my favourite Strauss's, this - not at all in the grandiose 'Frau ohne Schatten' mode... As with Capriccio later (though in a very different way), it's full of wonderful understated melody, with more by way of stylistic contrast. I have an image of it as a sort of aural kaleidoscope, lots of shifting, flowing, contrasting, colourful patterns. Very special. Well worth a listen, even for Straussophobes I think - it inhabits a different world somehow from what one might think of as "Straussian"...

Looking forward to this prog.

**verismissimo** · 17-03-12, 10:43

Sinopoli. Whoda thought it? And against all that heartland competition.

BaL 17.03.12 - Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

BaL 17.03.12 - Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

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