RICHARD STRAUSS(1864 – 1949)Der RosenkavalierKomödie für Musik von Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Opus 59Die Feldmarschallin, Fürstin Werdenberg ∙ Christa LudwigOctavian, ein junger Herr aus großem Haus ∙ Yvonne MintonDer Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau ∙ Hans SotinHerr von Faninal, ein reicher Neugeadelter ∙ Raymond WolanskySophie, seine Tochter ∙ Lucia PoppJungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin, die Duenna ∙ Janine BoulogneValzacchi, ein Intrigant ∙ Michel SénéchalAnnina, seine Begleiterin ∙ Jane BerbiéDer Haushofmeister bei der Feldmarschallin ∙ Michel PhilippeDer Haushofmeister bei Faninal ∙ Robert DuméEin Sänger ∙ Alain VanzoEin Notar ∙ Jean-Louis SoumagnasEin Wirt ∙ Jacques Loreau Ein Polizeikommissar ∙ Fernand DumontEine Modistin ∙ Janine Cadet Ein Tierhändler ∙ Mario AgnettiDrei adelige Waisen ∙ Marie-Thérèse Dietzer │ Annick Dutertre │ Gisèle OryLakaien der Marschallin ∙ Michel Marimpouy │ Jean Deguara │ Jean-Jacques Nadaud │ Paul ThoronEin Hausknecht ∙ Jean RalloChœurs de l’Opéra national de ParisChef des chœurs ∙ Jean Laforge Orchestre du Théâtre national de l’Opéra de ParisHORST STEINMise en scène ∙ Rudolf SteinböckPalais Garnier ∙ Paris ∙ le 31 janvier 1976

What a beautiful Rosenkavalier this is! Ludwig was just passing through her vocal crisis in which she determined not to sing more soprano roles, but the Marschallin's lower tessitura was still possible and she sings the role extremely well with an excellent top B to crown the trio. She projects the text with great care and humility - one of the finest Marschallins I've heard.Minton was in very good voice for this performance with little of the flatting that plagued her Salzburg performances. Popp floats Sophie's high notes better than almost anyone I've heard. Her unique timbre distinguishes her from so many other bland interpreters of this role. Sotin makes Ochs almost too noble and sings the role to the manner born. Like Kurt Moll, he has no trouble with the sepulchral low notes Strauss requires, easily reaching the optional low C at his exit in Act One. His low E at the end of Act Two is matched by his ringing top F# earlier in the act. Vanzo sings the Italian Singers with great elegance. The supporting cast is not given, but I recognized Michel Senechal as Valzacchi and (I think) Jane Berbie as Annina. The Marianne is very good; too bad we're not told who she is. Stein leads his forces splendidly.The sound is excellent broadcast stereo with a few glitches. The opening bars of the opera are missing and there are a few missing lines in each act where it sounds like someone had to turn over the tape.Otherwise a fine acquisition for any Rosenkavalier aficionado!

Ludwig here has just passed her unique problematic year and recovers her great gifts with only volume slightly diminished but her incarnation remains one of the greats . Minton was one of the three great Oktavian of the period and Popp the best Sophie for many years . Sotin is one of the most distinguished Ochs, almost too elegant but after all, as Strauss himself said, if he would have been different the Marschallin would have throwed him away . Stein always very good in Strauss, sometimes even better than in Wagner .

I enjoyed this performance. All the main roles were well sung and well acted. Stein kept the pace moving at a nice clip. The live sound was fine but sometimes the voices sounded distant and hard to hear. Beautiful Presentation of the Silver Rose with Popp her floating beautiful voice to the heavens. All in all an enjoyable performance.