I was surprised that the sound was not better considering this is a BBC broadcast.The performance on the whole is very well sung and the ROH orchestra play well for Solti.It is strange but the 1973 performance with Heather Harper is far better sung by a cast not as well known as this one.

I have loved this opera since Dame Kiri te Kanawa's recording appeared in the 1980's. I also had the vhs of Gundula Janowitz's performance (lovely also). And I have known for quite a while that ARABELLA was the signature role of Lisa Della Casa, so I was excited to hear this recording. She was stunning and Fischer Dieskau was magnificent, too. The recording itself is a little noisy with tape hiss, but that is a minor flaw. It is a gorgeous musical treasure.

A great performance with the two stars in fine form, Solti as ever a great Strauss conductor and the Covent Garden regulars fully worthy of the leads .Joan Carlyle is excellent as Zdenka, as she was two years later as Arabella herself . Michael Langdon’s Waldner is as fine as his Ochs and is well paired with Josephine Veasey’s Adelaide .