Customer Reviews

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

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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, Risė 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.