Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten [Box set]

Richard Strauss (Composer), Karl Böhm (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Alexander Maly (Performer), Christa Ludwig (Performer), Ingrid Mayr (Performer), James King (Performer), Leonie Rysanek (Performer), Lorenzo Alvary (Performer), Maria Haug (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alexander Maly, Christa Ludwig, Ingrid Mayr, James King, Leonie Rysanek, et al.
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Karl Böhm
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Opera D'oro
• ASIN: B00004SU91
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,979 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fabulous night, September 4, 2000

By 

La Cieca (New York New York New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Audio CD)

The legendary FRAU partnership of Rysanek/Ludwig/King/Berry/Boehm assemble one last time for another earth-shaking performance. Compared to earlier performances of this quintet (e.g., the highly illegal Met pirates), Rysanek is in firmer, richer voice, Ludwig beginning to show the strain of the killer role of the Faeberin, Berry ever more tender and poetic, and King perhaps somewhat less stiff while still in ringing voice. The usual big cuts, of course, but that is little enough to pay for Boehm's volcanic conducting. This sounds to me mastered a little sharp, which tends to make Ludwig sound like she's screaming, even when she's not.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars at this price it's a winner, August 2, 2000

By 

Ray Barnes (Surrey, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Audio CD)

For those who have hesitated about acquiring a recording of this opera, I would heartily recommend this release for the modest price asked. It costs not much more than a third of its competitors. Due to the very early stereo release, the orchestral body does not have as much weight and power as more recent issues, but the Vienna Philharmonic as expected play very well. The singing is reasonably good, probably the best casting available at the time. Karl Bohm conducts with dignity and passion when called for. The recording has the cuts to the score that were generally sanctioned at the time.

Die Frau has a great deal of inspired music, both dramatic and lyrical, and Richard Strauss considered it a peak of achievement for him at the time, completed just after Der Rosenkavalier. The opera has a great deal of the fantastic about it - in terms of exotic and unusual action - and Strauss responded to Hugo von Hofmannstal's wonderful libretto with the fullest, most richly colored, sumptuous opera score of his career.

This set also has fine documentation and presentation, and at this price should be an essential recording of every serious music lover's library, if one has not already invested in another performance. The Solti studio recording with Domingo is my favourite of all, but this one, for a fraction of the cost, remains very good indeed. Warmly recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT PERFORMANCES, FINE SOUND., December 13, 2004

By 

Boz - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Audio CD)

The four principal stars of this production performed it to great acclaim all around the world. Thanks to O d'O for releasing this historic performance. As for the performance itself: it is magnificent! All of the singers score five stars. Karl Bohm's conducting is superb. As for the recording sonics, they are not as bad as previous reviewers have stated. In fact, I have heard worse. The sonics on this recording are very fine for a live performance from 1974. My final rating:
Performance/ 5 stars, Sonics/ 4 stars, Overall Rating/ 5 stars.