Customer Reviews

Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

As far as I know, this is the second version of Böhm's Frau Ohne Schaten. I personally prefer the first one, recorded in 1955, which is the finest version of this difficult and fascinating opera available. But, this second version is also very good and really worth it. It is a live performance in Vienna, and Rysanek (who sings in the first version as well) is a wonderful Empress, with James King as the Emperor and a powerful Birgit Nilsson at her best. The only problem is the quality of the recording, which is not as good as it should be. But it is still one of the best options. I would say: "the second best option".

I had to return the compact disc set, because on 2nd disc was a completely different opera - a mishap: Beethoven's "Fidelio" with I believe featured Birgit Nillson. Whilst this is worthwhile, it was not what I ordered. How unfortunate to receive a faulty recording. I do hope they have resolved this problem. Would not order this version again as I could receive another set that is faulty. It is a shame because it is a historical performance with Leonie Rysanek among other superlative artists.

Once again opera D'Oro screws up by taking a great performance and remastering it poorly. This performance runs at least one half tone sharp throughout - sometimes Ludwig sounds like a different singer. A real shame since the performance was an inspired one.

This performance is terrific. It contains the legendary cast of Bohm's 'Straussian' family that performed the work all over the world. But the sonics here is not so good. My advice is to get the Vienna 1964 under Karajan from DG. That version is in also mono not stereo. Also, Karajan makes cuts and reorganizes some of the scens so that they don't follow Strauss direction.
However, the performance is simply exceptionally outstanding. Christa Ludwig gives a miraculous performance as the Dyer's Wife - the supreme interpreter of the role, above all competition. Your heart stops whenever she starts singing. Leonie Rysanek, it need not be said, is incomparable as the Empress - no one can touch Rysanek in the role of the Empress except Rysanek herself!! Grace Hoffman sings with searing dramatic sense in the difficult role of the Nurse. Her voice is strong and incisive. Her malevolence comes through clearly and her voice has sufficient heft to cut through the Straussian orchestration. Walter Berry is in sensational voice as Barak and his partnership with then-wife Christa Ludwig is unbeatable. Their duet at the beginning of Act 3 is a collectors' item to be treasured. Jess Thomas is in excellent voice as the Emperor. Plus we have the great Fritz Wunderlich in a small role and the lovely soprano, Lucia Popp in a number of small roles - the falcon, the voice from heaven, the voices of unborn children. The Vienna Philharmonic play like gods. They knew that this was Karajan's last opera with them and they gave nothing but their best - their quality of musicianship puts all and sundry to shame. Finally, the DG transfers are superb. No doubt it is in mono but the clarity of detail is amazing. One could only wish that someone had been smart enough to record it in stereo back then. Unfortunately, no one did. It is always worthwhile getting a DG 'live' performance than some of those on smaller labels simply because DG has access to the original tapes and always make superb transfers. Karajan's 1962 Il Trovatore for example, had been available for a long time on smaller labels but the smaller labels had bad sonic quality. So when the DG version came out I just snapped it up because the quality was better although I had to pay more. Therefore, if you want the 1964 Karajan Vienna, better snap up now. (...) That night in 1964 at the Vienna State Opera was a miraculously special one that Straussians will not want to miss. In particular, if you like Die Frau Ohne Schatten, you must not miss that performance, esp when DG has done such superb transfers.

This performance is also exceptionally good. Ludwig, Rysanek and Berry all reprise their role to outstanding effect. In this version, Ruth Hesse takes over as the Nurse and James King is sensational as the Emperor. But sonics, sonics, sonics.... not too good. The DG version is clearer. I would have liked DG to do THIS transfer. Unfortunately, they didn't. So if you want a DG-quality transfer with a similar cast, get the DG Karajan.