Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Regine Crespin, Helen Donath, Yvonne Minton, Manfred Jungwirth, Otto Wiener, Luciano Pavarotti; Vienna Philharmonic; Sir Georg Solti ORIGINAL RELEASE
On London Decca 417493; 3 CD's; Solti's clear sight and superabundant energy are felt throughout this performance; the waltzes lilt beguilingly enough, the poignancy is allowed due warmth, the vibrancy and passion are intense, and the moments of stillness are movingly held. Orchestrally, the recording is as distinguished as any. Vocally, too, it has great merit. The Marschallin of Regine Crespin has been much admired, and certainly the character lives a very full life in her portrayal. Moments such as the playful deprecating ''Philosophier Er nicht'', the liberation and relieved smile of ''Quinquin, es ist ein Besuch'', the sighed ''s'ist doch der Lauf der Welt'', the affection and goodness of heart in ''Leicht will ich's machen dir und mir'' -- all these come from a sensibility fully absorbed in the role. The freshness and purity of Yvonne Minton's voice makes a strong contrast in dramatic terms. Helen Donath's Sophie also contrasts suitably: a charmingly determined little miss without a great deal of depth, managing the high notes, with their impossible vowel-sounds, very prettily. The Ochs, Manfred Jungwirth is gross and courtly in just about the right proportions, and amid all the energetic acting, he does not forget that he is a singer. Emphatically and magnificently, “the Singer” is Luciano Pavarotti, whose cut-off at the climax of his second verse is a more richly comic outrage than ever. Anne Howells and Murray Dickie are delightful as the other Italians, and in the minor parts is a happily selected array of eminences from the past. Alfred Jerger articulates with dry clarity; Emmy Loose fusses effectively as the Duenna; and the landlord with the lusty high-note is Anton Dermota. The whole project is indeed a triumph of the record producer's art; the stage lives before our eyes and all the detail of the complex score is clear enough to satisfy the nimblest mind, the most fastidious ear. It is certainly the firm recommendation for “Der Rosenkavalier” on CD.
Format: Audio CD
{"Manufacturer": "London Decca", "Date First Available": "February 27, 2009", "Label": "London Decca", "Number of discs": "2"}