Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Wie du warst!; Wie du bist!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Du bist mein Bub, du bist mein Schatz!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Der Feldmarschall sitzt im krowatischen Wald
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Quinquin, es ist ein Besuch
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Selbstverstandlich empfaengt mich Ihro Gnaden
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Hat Sie schon einmal
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Macht das einen lahmen Esel aus mir?
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Geben mir Euer Gnaden den Grasaff' da
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Wollen Euer Gnaden leicht den Jungen Herrn da
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: I komm' glei...Drei Arme adelige Waisen
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Di rigori armato il seno
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Als Morgengabe
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Mein lieber Hippolyte
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Da geht er hin, der aufgeblasene schlechte Kerl
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Ach, du bist wieder da!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Mein schoener Schatz
Der Rosenkavalier: Act One: Ich werd' jetzt in die Kirchen geh'n
Track Listings (14) - Disc #2
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Introduction
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Ein erster Tag, ein grosser Tag
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: In dieser feierlichen Stunde der Prufung
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Ich kenn' ihn schon recht wohl
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Jetzt aber kommt mein Herr Zukunftiger
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Brav, Faninal, er weiss, was sich gehort
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Wird kommen uber Nacht
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Hab' nichts dawider
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Was sie ist...Mit Ihren Augen voll Tranen
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Herr Baron von Lerchenau!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Er muss mich pardonieren
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Da lieg' ich
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Two: Da!...Herr Cavalier!
Track Listings (15) - Disc #3
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Introduction & Pantomime
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Hab'n Euer Gnaden noch weitre Befehle?
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Nein, nein, nein, nein! I trink' kein Wein
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Ach, lass Sie schon einmal das fade Wort!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Die schoen Musi!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Wie die Stund' hingeht
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Oh weh, was maken wir?...Halt! Keiner ruhrt sich!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Sind desto eher im Klaren
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Mus jetzt partout zu ihr!
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Ist halt vorbei
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Mein Gott, es war nicht mehr als eine Farce
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Heut oder morgen oder den ubernachsten Tag
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Marie Theres'! ...Hab' mir's gelobt
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Ist ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein
Der Rosenkavalier: Act Three: Ist ein Traum...Spur nur dich
An opera that seems to bring the best out of performers, Rosenkavalier inspired these perf ormers to make a recording for the ages. With a superb Ochs and glorious singing from its three leading l adies, and with Herbert... more » von Karajan keeping the Philharmonia on the edge of its seat, this enticing portr ait of love from three angles emerges in all its bittersweet perfection. EMI recorded the opera with sepa rate engineering teams in stereo and mono; this remastering of the stereo version is preferable to the ve ry fine special-issue monaural remastering [EMI Classics 56113] brought out in 1996 as an 80th-birthday tribute to Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. --Ted Libbey« less
An opera that seems to bring the best out of performers, Rosenkavalier inspired these perf ormers to make a recording for the ages. With a superb Ochs and glorious singing from its three leading l adies, and with Herbert von Karajan keeping the Philharmonia on the edge of its seat, this enticing portr ait of love from three angles emerges in all its bittersweet perfection. EMI recorded the opera with sepa rate engineering teams in stereo and mono; this remastering of the stereo version is preferable to the ve ry fine special-issue monaural remastering [EMI Classics 56113] brought out in 1996 as an 80th-birthday tribute to Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. --Ted Libbey
This features a performance recorded at Kingway Hall, London, on Oct. 15, 1956. It features the Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, and heavyweights of that time period such as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Christa Ludwig, Nicolai Gedda, Eberhard Wachter, and Teresa Stich-Randall. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as the Fieldmarchallin gives a performance in her role by which all subsequent presentations of Der Rosenkavalier are inevitably compared & measured. The original recording was digitally remastered by EMI in 1987.
CD Reviews
Still THE Rosenkavalier
Ha-De Nguyen | 06/10/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Karajan/Schwarzkopf/Ludwig team are still unbeatable amongst a collection of great Rosenkavaliers out there. Elizabeth Schwarzkopf in particular is definitive; her finely nuanced acting in peak form in this recording. And her voice was born to be paired with Christa Ludwig's. The final trio of the women is heart-breakingly gorgeous. A beautiful recording, lush and intimate."
Historical reference of Der Rosenkavalier
Ha-De Nguyen | Paris, France (Europe) | 11/13/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Going through the other reviewing you will read that this version is exceptional or is too old technically for listeners that can only bear digital recordings. The point is, this version is a reference definitely but has been so for nearly half a century and maybe you would like to get something new for your ears. However I would probably recommend this version as a first purchasing if you have no idea of which to choose. Recorded in 1956 by EMI, the sound is in stereo but was only intended to be in mono. The producer Legge (Schwarzkopf's husband) was not convinced by that technology and only the engineer Parker was clever enough to make some attempts during the recording sessions. Therefore the whole set does not sound as a continuous unit with the orchestra sounding a little foggy. Voices are well caught but do not transmit all emotions as they should. Schwarzkopf cannot be replaced as the Marschallin and fortunately we have a good and complete portrayal from her in studio. But if you ever have the chance to see the movie made in 1960 at Salzburg, you will understand how in only 4 years, she has made this part definetly hers. Ludwig is vibrant and ardent as Oktavian (she was only 28) but sounds too mezzo. Jurinac was preferable but she had just recorded the part for Decca. Emi should then have chosen Grümmer! Stich-Randall is "silver-made" and you will never find a purer voice anywhere. But again, she also was 28 and lacks some determination in the character (I prefer her recording of the BW51 Cantate from Bach!). Ochs is from Vienna and one can hear his typical accent clearly but he does not really have the lower notes or the darker tone demanded by this role (see Weber, Böhme, Moll or Ridderbusch). Karajan gives a superb interpretation without underlining the legato too much as he later did in 1983 for DG. As a conclusion, do not hesitate to buy this set. If you already have it (even in older mastering, sound is not really improved and is even cooler here), try the fabulous live recording from Myto with Kleiber JR. conducting which I've given 5 stars!"
Good, but Solti or Kleiber are Preferable
Ha-De Nguyen | 01/14/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There are many things right with this recording--so many that it has attained classic status. But I also think there are enough things wrong with it to make it less than a first choice. First of all, Karajan makes all the traditional cuts in the score, the worst being the truncation of the Baron's amusing Act 1 monologue. This alone makes the uncut sets by Solti (on Decca) and Erich Kleiber (also on Decca) preferable. Second, the 1956 stereo sound is only acceptable; Schwartzkopf thought the mono version sounded better, and she may well be right. Third, I find problems with some of the singing: Stitch-Randall is an intelligent Sophie, but her voice is rather "white" and not particularly attractive, and Ludwig, who of course sings beautifully, doesn't sound very boyish.This is a very good recording, of course. But two recordings are preferable, both for having no cuts and for all-around performances. Erich Kleiber's 1954 recording, while in mono, has adequate sound, along with great conducting and fine singing. The first choice for this opera, though, is Georg Solti's recording on Decca, blessed with superb stereo sound and perhaps the best cast of all: Regine Crespin's moving and charming Marschallin (a bit past her best but still great), Yvonne Minton's eager, ardent Octavian, and the unmatched Sophie of Helen Donath. Solti is at his best, and the only real flaws in the recording are a few audible tape splices that briefly break the mood. The Solti recording is not available from amazon.com, but, strangely enough, it is available from amazon's British branch, www.amazon.co.uk!"
Still the best recording of Strauss masterpiece!
Björn Åström | Sweden | 01/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like this opera, you have found the complete recording. There are no weak points, in every detail, Karajan has succeded. When T. Stich-Randall and C. Ludwig sing the duet in the beginning of act 2, it can be said in just one word, sensational!"
C'est magnifique!
J. Rabideau | Stuck in the Loser State | 04/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Looking through other reviews of this recording, you may read that this is too dated a recording, or of the inferiority of the Karajan interpretation. Therein lies the crux of my review...this is an older recording; though remastered, it does not sound entirely modern...nor, perhaps, should it. Karajan's interpretation of the "Rosenkavalier" certainly differs from Solti's. Karajan's sense of style again pervades here; if you dislike the imprint that Karajan, like all great conductors, leaves upon the work that he conducts, skip this. If, on the other hand, you are both a lover of Strauss operas, and an admirer of Karajan's work, this is an unbeatable recording, showcasing beautiful performances. Highly recommended."