Strauss

Der Rosenkavalier

Watson, Töpper, Köth, Böhme, Wiener, Wunderlich, Stolze, Fassbaender; Keilberth
München, 1965

Regular price $26.95
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Der Rosenkavalier

This recording of Der Rosenkavalier boasts an extraordinary trio of female leads: Claire Watson, Hertha Töpper, and Erika Köth, each bringing distinctive vocal and dramatic strength to their roles. The supporting cast is no less impressive, with an abundance of talent in the smaller parts. Gerhard Stolze and Brigitte Fassbaender make for a sharply etched Valzacchi and Annina, while Otto Wiener is an authoritative Faninal. Fritz Wunderlich lends golden-toned brilliance to the brief role of the Italian Singer, and Kurt Böhme delivers a richly comic yet grounded portrayal of Baron Ochs.

Joseph Keilberth conducts with a clear affinity for Strauss's sentimental yet modern idiom, balancing charm and elegance with forward momentum. His reading captures both the opera's emotional core and its bustling wit, making this performance as musically satisfying as it is dramatically engaging.

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4.5 Based on 2 reviews
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Theo L.✓ Verified Buyer

Netherlands

Overall rating

theo laceulle

This was nearly the cast I once heard in München, the Sophie being Anneliese Rothenberger, and Annina the great Hetty Plümacher, so I bought it because of that fact. Besides it was the only time I heard Wunderlich live!
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Theodore S.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Theodore Shulman

1. The only flaw--no not even a flaw, only perhaps a weakness--is Claire Watson, who is not a great Marschallin like Eliz Schwarzkopf or Kiri Te-Kanawa. Her ordinaryness is more than compensated for by world-history-class deliveries by the other three perfectly-cast principals, Topper, Koth, and Bohme, and by an impressive lineup of superstars in minor roles: the Divine Fritz as the Italian Singer, Gerhard Stolze as Valzacchi, Brigitte Fassbaender as Anina, Otto Wiener as Faninal, even Faninal's Haushofmeister is a very distinguished tenor from the preceding generation, Karl Ostertag. 2. Keilberth deserves special mention: he's the best conductor of this piece I have ever heard. Lively, precise, together, deep-feeling but also sensible, no trace of the gooeyness which insinuates itself into too many other performances of ROSENKAVALIER.
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