Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos - Meier, King, Wise, Varady, Schöne, Cuberli; Sawallisch. Roma, 1976

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Italian Radio organized a team comprised of a (mostly) American cast, an Italian orchestra and a German conductor for this performance of Ariadne auf Naxos.
In the title role, Johanna Meier brings the perfect blend of Wagnerian heft and Mozartian nuance.
James King's stentorian tenor was made for Strauss. He is particularly stunning, however, in the more lyrical passages like his brief aria "Du schönes Wesen!"
Julia Varady makes an excellent argument for why the role of the composer should be cast with a soprano, particularly during the extactic last moments of the prologue.
As Zerbinetta, Patricia Wise manages to nail the coloratura in her aria, as well as offer some voluptously spun vocal lines during the Zerbinetta/Composer duet at the end of the prologue.
A young Lella Cuberli sings the role of Echo.