In spite of this EMI transfer being of a modern recording, and a good one, I would advise any newcomer to this beautiful opera to go for Bohm's 'live' recording on DG, principally for Hilde Gueden's memorable singing of the title-role.
Popp is excellent, but there is some loss of purity at the top of her range and a lack of that other-worldliness which is an essential feature of Daphne's character. Better still, if you can afford it, have both, because there is fine singing from Peter Schreier as Leukippos Kurl Moll as Peneios and, especially, Reiner Goidberg as Apollo and Ortrun Wenkel in the Erda-like role of Gaea. The orchestral playing under Haitink is always expressive and detailed though occasionally lacking in lyrical rapture. The storm scene is excitingly performed and the choral singing, which plays a larger part than in most Strauss operas, is extremely fine. Haitink had apparently never conducted the opera in the theatre when this recording was made, while Bohm, its dedicatee and finest interpreter, is acutely responsive to its dramatic episodes. The recorded sound throughout is spacious, with the voices given enough but not undue, prominence. The booklet prints Gregor's German libretto but has no translation.'