About the Album
Why is Richard Strauss deemed by many the greatest of 20th-century opera composers? Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned fan, this disc, with its scenes of often overwhelming beauty, illustrates some of the most salient reasons. Here you'll immediately encounter Strauss's command of a sumptuous musical vocabulary and unerring instinct for creating characters of psychological depth, not to mention librettos that stand out for their literary excellence. The composer's famous love of the female voice in particular--his wife had been a highly accomplished singer--inspired him to create his most memorable characters. As performed by Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, and Barbara Bonney, the Strauss heroines featured here acquire a life and human dimension reminiscent of Mozart's genius for operatic characterization.
Why is Richard Strauss deemed by many the greatest of 20th-century opera composers? Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned fan, this disc, with its scenes of often overwhelming beauty, illustrates some of the most salient reasons. Here you'll immediately encounter Strauss's command of a sumptuous musical vocabulary and unerring instinct for creating characters of psychological depth, not to mention librettos that stand out for their literary excellence. The composer's famous love of the female voice in particular--his wife had been a highly accomplished singer--inspired him to create his most memorable characters. As performed by Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, and Barbara Bonney, the Strauss heroines featured here acquire a life and human dimension reminiscent of Mozart's genius for operatic characterization.
Thomas May
Track List
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 1 - "Da geht er hin" 5:38
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 1 - "Ach! Du bist wieder da!" 6:23
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 1 - "Die Zeit, die ist ein sonderbar Ding" 11:23
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 1 - "Ich hab' ihn nicht einmal geküßt 4:14
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 3 - "Marie Theres'!" - "Hab mir's gelobt, Ihn lieb zu haben" 7:27
- R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59 / Act 3 - "Ist ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein" 6:47
- R. Strauss: Arabella, Lyrische Komödie in drei Aufzügen / Act 1 - Ich danke, Fräulein 10:31
- R. Strauss: Capriccio, Op.85 / Letzte Szene - Andante con moto (Mondscheinmusik) 4:38
- R. Strauss: Capriccio, Op.85 / Letzte Szene - Wo ist mein Bruder? 20:31
Recording info
Release Date: September 14, 1999
Label: Decca
CD / Download: 1
ASIN: B00000JXYZ