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Richard Strauss Collection

Strauss Release Date: 04/29/2014
Label: Arthaus Musik Catalog #: 107539
Composer:  Richard Strauss Performer:  Matthias Klink ,  Falk Struckmann ,  Peter Bronder ,  Nadja Michael  ...  Conductor:  Daniel Harding ,  Claudio Abbado ,  Karl Böhm ,  Wolfgang Sawallisch  ...  Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra ,  Vienna State Opera Chorus ,  Vienna State Opera Orchestra  ...  Number of Discs: 11
Recorded in: Mixed

THE RICHARD STRAUSS COLLECTION
(11-DVD Box Set)

Authorised and Selected by the Richard Strauss Family

* Limited DVD Box Set with the 7 greatest operas by Richard Strauss
* Legendary recordings conducted by Karl Böhm, Carlos Kleiber, Claudio Abbado, Wolfgang Sawallisch and others
* Book including texts by the Strauss Family and Brigitte Fassbaender
* Rare photo materials from the family archive
* Serialised Facsimile reproduction

Salome, Op. 54, TrV 215 (La Scala, 2007)
Elektra, Op. 58, TrV 223 (Vienna State Opera, 1989)
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, TrV 227 (Bavarian State Opera, 1979)
Ariadne auf Naxos, Op. 60, TrV 228a (Salzburg Read more Festival, 1965)
Die Frau ohne Schatten, Op. 65, TrV 234 (Bavarian State Opera, 1992)
Die Liebe der Danae, Op. 83, TrV 278 (Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 2011)
Capriccio, Op. 85, TrV 279 (Paris National Opera, 2004)

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 (Elektra, der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne auf Naxos, Die Frau ohne Schatten) / 16:9

Sound format: PCM Mono (Ariadne auf Naxos) / PCM Stereo (Elektra), + Dolby Digital 5.0 (Salome, Die Liebe der Danae, Capriccio) / + DTS 5.0 (Capriccio) / + Dolby Digital 5.1 (Die Frau ohne Schatten) / + DTS 5.1 (Der Rosenkavalier, Die Frau ohne Schatten)

Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish (Der Rosenkavalier) / + Italian (Salome, Elektra, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Die Liebe der Danae, Capriccio) / + Korean (Salome, Die Liebe der Danae) / + Chinese (Der Rosenkavalier)
Running time: 16 hours 59 mins
No. of DVDs: 11 (9x DVD 9 + 2x DVD 5)

R E V I E W S

Elektra

The triumph is Eva Marton's Elektra. I have never much warmed to Marton as a singer, but here she is staggering. Her first monologue, Allein? Weh, ganz allein, has all the power one could ask for - and her cries of Agamemnon! Agamemnon! are deeply moving. The depth of tone is resplendent. In fact, nothing about her assumption of this role is ordinary - the Recognition Scene with Orestes is profound when most are perfunctory, and her systematic torment of her mother, Klytaemnestra, is as unsettling as it should be. That she has the vocal resources left for her final monologue, and her totentanz, is a tribute to her stamina. The conclusion is just thrilling.

-- Marc Bridle, MusicWeb International

Die Frau ohne Schatten

The singing here is mighty impressive... Despite the huge orchestral forces and ferocious effects, the story is a gentle, intimate one, and when called for, Sawallisch's cast sings accordingly. Luana De Vol's powerful soprano has somewhat of a pronounced beat (less prominent than in more recent performances, but still apparent), but she is an alert, intelligent singer who finds all the nuances in the Empress' character and has no trouble with the viciously high tessitura. Janis Martin's darker tone is right for the Dyer's wife, and her humanity shines through. Alan Titus sings Barak with a smooth baritone, never resorting to shouting, stressing the man's sensitivity. Peter Seiffert sings the ungrateful role of the Emperor with ease and golden tone--the finest in my memory. Marjana Lipovsek's Nurse also is the best I've heard; she "sings" every note of the angular vocal line and is truly terrifying.

-- Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com

Der Liebe der Danae

Manuela Uhl’s soprano is dramatic and slightly brittle, missing some of the voluptuous nature of Danae’s music, but she holds nothing back and her identification with the role is very convincing. Even more so is the heroic tenor of Matthias Klink whose Midas achieves the feat of seeming vulnerable while remaining heroic. Mark Delavan is an outstanding Jupiter, rich and commanding yet with an air of faded glory and managing successfully to suggest that this god’s best days are behind him. Thomas Blondelle as Mercury and Burkhard Ulrich as Pollux both make the most of their smallish tenor roles and the quartet of mistresses sounds ravishing. The playing of the large orchestra is sensational from start to finish. I can’t imagine this score being given a better treatment, and it helps immeasurably that they are captured in surround sound so that the glories of Strauss’s orchestration come at you from all angles. Andrew Litton directs this score with the assurance of someone who has taken the time to get to know it well. Orchestra and singers respond to him with confidence and the result is outstanding.

-- Simon Thompson, MusicWeb International Read less