R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier / Kleiber, Reining, Weber, Jurinac, et al

Richard Strauss (Artist), Maria Reining (Performer), Ludwig Weber (Performer), Sena Jurinac (Performer), Hilde Guden (Performer), HIldegard Rossel-Majdan (Performer), Anton Dermota (Performer), Walter Berry (Conductor), Hardal Proglhof (Orchestra), Erich Kleiber (Artist), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maria Reining, Ludwig Weber, Sena Jurinac, Hilde Guden, HIldegard Rossel-Majdan, et al.
• Orchestra: Hardal Proglhof
• Conductor: Walter Berry
• Audio CD (March 30, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000E46R
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,587 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Act One: Intro - VPO/Erich Kleiber

2. Act One: Wie Du Warst! Wie Du Bist! - Sena Jurinac/Maria Reining

3. Act One: Marie Theres!-Octavian! - Maria Reining/Sena Jurinac

4. Act One: Quinquin, Es Ist Mein Mann! - Maria Reining/Sena Jurinac/Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper

5. Act One: Selbstverstandlich Empfangt Mich Ihro Gnaden - Ludwig Weber/Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper/Maria Reining

6. Act One: Hat Sie Schon Einmal Mit Einem Kavalier - Sena Jurinac/Maria Reining/Ludwig Weber

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act Two: Ein Ernster Tag, Ein Grosser Tag! - Alfred Poell/Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper

2. Act Two: In Dieser Feierlichen Stunde Der Prufung - Hilde Gueden/Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper

3. Act Two: Mir Ist Die Ehre Widerfahren - Sena Jurinac/Hilde Gueden

4. Act Two: Ich Kenn Ihn Schon Recht Wohl, Mon Cousin! - Hilde Gueden/Sena Jurinac

5. Act Two: Jezt Aber Kommt Mein Herr Zukunftiger - Hilde Gueden/Alfred Poell/Ludwig Weber/Sena Jurinac

6. Act Two: Eh Bien! Nun Plauder Sie Uns Eins - Ludwig Weber/Hilde Gueden/Alfred Poell/Sean Jurinac

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Act Three: Intro And Pantomine - VPO/Erich Kleiber

2. Act Three: Haben Euer Gnaden Noch Weitre Befehle? - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper/Ludwig Weber

3. Act Three: Nein, Nein, Nein, Nein! I Trink Ka Wein - Sena Jurinac/Ludwig Weber

4. Act Three: Es Is Ja Eh Alls Ans - Sena Jurinac/Ludwig Weber

5. Act Three: Da Und Da Und Da Und Da! - Hilde Rossel-Majdan/Ludwig Weber/Sena Jurinac/Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper/Peter Klein

6. Act Three: Halt! Keiner Ruhrt Sich! - Chor Der Wiener Staatsoper/Sena Jurinac/Peter Klein

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A great classic recording in excellent mono sound, December 19, 2011

By 

Pekinman (Illinois) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier / Kleiber, Reining, Weber, Jurinac, et al (Audio CD)

I've come late to this famous recording of Der Rosenkavalier. For years I've been loyal to Solti (with Crespin and Minton) and Karajan (with Schwarzkopf and Ludwig), then Haitink (with Te Kanawa and Von Otter) and finally a wonderful Andante recording with Szell (and Reining and Novotna). I was always put off by the Historic Recording status of Erich Kleiber's recording. With maturity I've come to appreciate and cherish greatness of execution over brilliance of sound and have found over and over again that this is a much more satisfying approach to listening. It's true that I wish this wonderful performance from Vienna in 1954, recorded in the studio by Decca, was in state of the art SACD sound, but it isn't and it really doesn't matter.

There is a lost authenticity to this recording, made alive and throbbing in echt Wiener spirit by Erich Kleiber and his leading singers. Maria Reining is a wonderful Marschallin. It didn't take long for me to accept that she sounds more mature than most others, but she doesn't ever sound elderly or stodgy, nor does she wobble or hoot. Her voice was beautiful, lacking only the last ounce of bloom due to the monophonic sound. Hilde Gueden was a perfect Sophie, her voice being slightly overwhelmed in the climactic passages of the great love music at the end, but it is still most effecting and moving. Sena Jurinac is one of the great Oktavian's, along with Christa Ludwig, Risë Stevens and the like. She is more feminine sounding because she was a true soprano, but she also sounds like a spirited Youth and is entirely believable in this 'pants' role. This kind of musical phrasing and innate feel for the words and spirit of the story are not to be found anymore, this kind of sentiment now being cynically viewed as 'schmaltzy'. We live in an age of circus acts in the opera house and this kind of soul-revelation is not to be found there or in recordings. We have mawkish, over-egged and hammy stuff going on but nothing that wrings the heart like this recording does.

If you've avoided it because of the monophonic sound avoid no longer. Decca was the leader in innovative recording engineering even back in 1954 when this recording was made. The balance is fine and never sounds boxy or constricted. There is space surrounding the singers with only a hint of aural limitation.

Interpretively Kleiber is very interesting and spontaneous. The surge in tempo during the climax of the great trio in act three is thrilling and deeply moving, pulse-raising stuff, yet he never draws attention to himself as the conductor. His unique direction arises completely naturally from the emotions of the moment.

A newcomer to Erich Kleiber's famous recording is converted. You will be too. Highest possible recommendation for all Rosekavalier-ists and lovers of earthly beauty.