Strauss was notoriously demanding on the tenor voice, however when you have artists that can meet the challenge it is nothing short of thrilling. This performance of Daphne featuring James King as Apollo and Fritz Wunderlich as Leukippos, achieves that.

James King is completely convincing as Apollo, trumpeting Strauss' demanding vocal writing with ease. Fritz Wunderlich, in one of Strauss' few lyric tenor roles, is an excellent contrast, offering honey-toned lyricism with a pinch of bravado. In the title role, Stefania Woytowicz is not quite at her male counterparts' level, but still manages to hold her own in the final scene. The performance features additional contributions from Hertha Töpper and Gottlob Frick.