R. Strauss: Rosenkavalier (Highlights)

Andrew Shore (Performer), Nicholas Gedge (Performer), Stuart MacIntyre (Performer), John Tomlinson (Performer), Richard Strauss (Composer), David Parry (Conductor), Diana Montague (Performer), London Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Jennifer Rhys-Davies (Performer), Rosemary Joshua (Performer), Yvonne Kenny (Performer), Eugene Ginty (Performer), Gareth Roberts (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Andrew Shore, Nicholas Gedge, Stuart MacIntyre, John Tomlinson, Diana Montague, et al.
• Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: David Parry
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (June 22, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000J8QR
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,070 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Not exactly a highlights disc, this, but a judiciously pruned and fully coherent presentation of a masterpiece that's arguably too verbose for its own good. All the hits are intact: Baron Ochs's rantings, the slithering presentation of the Rose, the velveteen final trio, and, of course, those indestructible waltzes. A little less of the drawn-out opening scene plus the inclusion of the extraordinary Act 3 Prelude would have made this splendid disc utterly perfect. Perhaps one loses the guttural edge and local color of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's German when rendered in the King's English, but the wonderful cast projects every word without sacrificing Strauss's liquid legato. David Parry plays up the composer's frothy textures, keeping his strings away from the unlimited schlag bar. Chandos supplies an excellent synopsis together with full English texts. In sum, the ultimate Rosenkavalier starter's kit, after which you'll want to try the legendary Karajan recording or Erich Kleiber's incandescent account. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An English Silver Rose, June 10, 2000

By	Jamie Henderson (London , UK) - See all my reviews

This "highlights" recording, one of the most recent of the Chandos "Opera in English" series, is a superlative issue that must be heard by all lovers of Richard Strauss and fine singing. Indeed, the singing is truly exceptional; mention must be made immediately of the silken voiced Octavian of Diana Montague - from start to finish she maintains a scrupulous control of legato and beauty of tone (similar to, but in my view surpassing, Susan Graham). Rosemary Joshua's Sophie surpassess most other more famous singers of this taxing role; she is truly a match for the likes of Lucia Popp and Elisabeth Schumann. Listen to the ravishing floated pianissimos in the presentation of the silver rose scene, and the final trio and duet, and I am sure you will agree. Yvonne Kenny is a Marschallin sensitive to the nuances of both text and music; vocally she is not in the class of a Schwarzkopf, Janowitz or Fleming, but this is a moving portrayal. And Tomlinson, the great Wotan and Hans Sachs of our age, is an amusing, cavernous voiced, (slightly too) boorish Ochs. The success of this performance is also due to the excellent musical support given by the London Philharmonic and conductor David Parry. Those concerned by the fact that this recording is given in English translation need not be; the translation is singer friendly (though not all the words are audible), and the standard of performance is such as to almost make no difference. If only the work were given complete - but this is still a "must buy"!