R. Strauss Intermezzo
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Richard Strauss
Genre:
Opera
Label: EMI
Magazine Review Date: 1/1989
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 134
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: 749337-2
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Intermezzo |
Richard Strauss, Composer
Adolf Dallapozza, Baron Lummer, Tenor Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Robert Storch, Baritone Elisabeth Woska, Fanny Erika Rüggeberg, Marie Erika Rüggeberg, Therese Gabriele Fuchs, Anna, Soprano Gudrun Greindl-Rosner, Notary's Wife, Soprano Jörn W Wilsing, Legal Councillor, Baritone Karin Hautermann, Resi Klaus Hirte, Notary, Tenor Kurt Moll, Singer, Bass Lucia Popp, Christine, Soprano Martin Finke, Conductor, Tenor Philipp Brammer, Little Franzl Raimund Grumbach, Commercial Councillor, Baritone Richard Strauss, Composer Wolfgang Sawallisch, Conductor |
Author:
Sheer joy, this CD transfer, still the only recording easily available of what is increasingly coming to be regarded as one of Strauss's finest operas. This account of a crisis in his marriage, all caused by a girl mistaking his name for someone else's, drew a brilliant score from Strauss. He set his own sparkling libretto to music in which wit, sentiment and satire sit easily together. The conversational recitative is a masterly example of continuous melody, matched by orchestral virtuosity in evolving melody from fragmentary phrases. The role of Christine is a gift to a lyric soprano and is marvellously characterized by Lucia Popp, neither too shrewish nor too soft-grained and (like Steffek Soderstrom and Lott) conveying her irresistible attraction for her husband, Robert Storch (alias Strauss).
The latter role is forcefully sung by Fischer-Dieskau and there are excellent portrayals by the rest of the cast, especially from Adolf Dallapozza as Baron Lummer. But the prime pleasure in this technically brilliant recording—every word and note crystal-clear—is Sawallisch's comprehensive command of the opera and the flawless orchestral performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The interludes, miniature tone-poems in themselves, are sumptuously played. But why no English translation in the booklet, as there was with the LP set? This, of all operas, needs one.'
The latter role is forcefully sung by Fischer-Dieskau and there are excellent portrayals by the rest of the cast, especially from Adolf Dallapozza as Baron Lummer. But the prime pleasure in this technically brilliant recording—every word and note crystal-clear—is Sawallisch's comprehensive command of the opera and the flawless orchestral performance by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The interludes, miniature tone-poems in themselves, are sumptuously played. But why no English translation in the booklet, as there was with the LP set? This, of all operas, needs one.'
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