Search - Richard Strauss, Georg Solti, Vienna Phiulharmonic Orchestra :: Richard Strauss Arabella - Edelmann Malaniuk della Casa Solti (London)

Octavio Roca's review in The Washington Times

Record Collector | Mons, Belgium | 12/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Richard Strauss's opera 'Arabella' was Georg Solti's first opera recording (taped in stereo in the Sofiensaal in 1957, with John Culshaw producing and the matchless Decca engineering team of James Brown and Gordon Parry). It marked the beginning of Solti's turbulent but richly productive relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic, and features the beautiful Lisa della Casa, perhaps the most ravishing Arabella ever, opposite George London's Mandryka.



"This imperfect opera has probably never had a perfect performance, but Solti's relentless drive makes for a very fast ride indeed. While some would prefer a more romantic approach, there is no other recording available today that makes this Hugo von Hofmannsthal comedy either as funny or as captivating. Quite simply, the conductor's strict baton discipline has a purpose: the two principals, along with Hilde Gueden and Anton Dermota, come alive in this recording as they seldom have for other conductors."



"

A CLASSIC PRODUCT

M. Salahuddin | NY | 01/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT; EVERY OPERA LOVER SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THIS GRAND OPERA."