Description:

This recording of Ariadne auf Naxos offers an unusual but striking fusion of Wagnerian vocal weight and Mozartian delicacy. Hilde Zadek and Hans Hopf bring a grandeur to the roles of Ariadne and Bacchus that adds surprising gravitas to Strauss’s otherwise intimate chamber opera.

Rita Streich is a delight as Zerbinetta—her coloratura is nimble and effortless, her comic timing sharply tuned. Sena Jurinac stands out in the role of the Composer, her soprano rising with ease and brilliance in passages that many mezzos would simply manage rather than savor. Her performance alone is a compelling reason to hear this interpretation.

BONUS:
Sena Jurinac sings excerpts from Der Rosenkavalier

In Mono

OD 11505-2