Richard Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (2001)

Though there are good reasons for hearing other recordings of Der Rosenkavalier -- the endlessly attractive 1954 Decca recording with Reining, Jurinac, Gueden, and Weber with Erich Kleiber leading the Vienna Philharmonic or the luminously appealing 1994 DG recording with Lott, von Otter, Bonney, and Moll with Carlos Kleiber, Erich's son, leading the Wiener Philharmoniker -- when you come right down to it, the one Rosenkavalier to have is this 1957 EMI recording with Schwarzkopf, Ludwig, Stich-Randall, and Edelmann with ... Read More

Though there are good reasons for hearing other recordings of Der Rosenkavalier -- the endlessly attractive 1954 Decca recording with Reining, Jurinac, Gueden, and Weber with Erich Kleiber leading the Vienna Philharmonic or the luminously appealing 1994 DG recording with Lott, von Otter, Bonney, and Moll with Carlos Kleiber, Erich's son, leading the Wiener Philharmoniker -- when you come right down to it, the one Rosenkavalier to have is this 1957 EMI recording with Schwarzkopf, Ludwig, Stich-Randall, and Edelmann with Herbert von Karajan leading the Philharmonia Orchestra. Why? Because as Ochs, Edelmann is funny without being a buffoon; as Sophie, Stich-Randall is scrumptious without being silly; as Octavian, Ludwig is impetuous without being ridiculous; and as the Feldmarchallin, Schwarzkopf is simply unmatched for tonal beauty and depth of understanding. Plus, they and the rest of the first-class staff sing not as a individuals in a constellation of stars but together as parts of a single ensemble... Read Less