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Strauss, R. : Die Frau ohne Schatten
King, Berry, Ludwig
Strauss, R. : Die Frau ohne Schatten
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #3

Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow) was first heard at the Vienna State Opera on October 10, 1919. Though admired by many, it had a mixed reception, due in part to the bleak mood predominating at the end of...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: King, Berry, Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic, Bohm
Title: Strauss, R. : Die Frau ohne Schatten
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Opera D'oro
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 10/17/2006
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPC: 723721237059

Synopsis

Album Description
Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow) was first heard at the Vienna State Opera on October 10, 1919. Though admired by many, it had a mixed reception, due in part to the bleak mood predominating at the end of World War I, and in part because many of its scenic demands were imperfectly realized in the production. The libretto by Strauss?s favorite collaborator Hugo von Hofmannsthal is deliberately intended as a sort of late-Romantic Magic Flute, heavy in symbolism and whimsical magic, though it is far darker and more Freudian than anything in Mozart?s opera. Strauss connoisseurs now consider it one of the composer?s finest operas, and there is little question that it contains some of his most remarkable and impressive music, fully the equal of the best passages in any of his greatest stage works. This live performance from Salzburg in 1974 preserves an inimitable performance by the "classic cast" (and conductor) of this opera: an ensemble of great singers whose identification with the work has never been equaled or surpassed. This legendary cast known as Böhm?s "Straussian family" performed Die Frau ohne Schatten all over the world to universal acclaim. One of the finest things in this recording is the peerless portrayal of the Dyer?s Wife by Christa Ludwig, which is missing from the DG recording with similar cast and same conductor. The only recording of this opera at such a low price, and with complete libretto, newly translated.
 

CD Reviews

Not the best available
J. Martin | Pensacola, FL | 02/17/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)

"This performance. featuring the "dream cast" for this opera falls far short of expectations. The best overall is actually James King who sings the music much better than expected at that point in his career. The most irritatinbg thing about this performance is the fact that it is running a whole half-step high, which really makes things sound more frenetic than they are. Rysanek is not at her best and is clearly vocally exhausted by the finale. Ludwig has some real problems with the tessatura at this point in her career and barely makes it to the end of the performance, ducking the last high C altogether. My suggestion is to find the magnificent 1964 Salzburg recording with Von Karajan, Rysanek, Thomas, Ludwig, Berry, Hoffman, Wunderlich, and Popp. Now that is a dream cast!"
Be careful what you pay for...
P. Ho | Washington DC | 10/24/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)

"Opera d'Oro used to sell this performance for half the price a few years ago (I think Amazon still carries it). Then they put a fancier cover and doubled the price. One would have thought by doubling the price the performance would be corrected to its original pitch--but no! It's still exactly the same sharp, uncorrected copy, much to the detriment to its singers--especially (and unfortunately) Christa Ludwig's Dyer's Wife."