Strauss

Der Rosenkavalier

Janowitz, Fassbaender, Cotrubas, Ridderbusch, Luchetti, Hemsley; Prêtre
Rai Napoli, 1971

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Der Rosenkavalier

This recording of Der Rosenkavalier brings together an outstanding trio of women in the leading roles. Brigitte Fassbaender, who dominated the role of Octavian in the 70s and 80s, delivers a portrayal that is both sensual and masculine, naïve yet insecure.

Gundula Janowitz shines as the Marschallin, a role she surprisingly did not perform more often. Her delicate tone and refined sensibility are perfectly suited to the character, offering a Marschallin who convincingly sounds like a young woman—after all, despite her musings on aging, the Marschallin is likely only in her 30s.

Ileana Cotrubas brings winsome charm and inner sensuality to Sophie, her youthful exuberance peaking beautifully during the presentation of the rose, where her top notes bloom radiantly. Karl Ridderbusch offers a lumbering yet ultimately sympathetic Ochs, avoiding the trap of caricature by revealing glimpses of the aristocratic dignity hidden beneath his coarse exterior.

The supporting cast is equally strong, with Veriano Luchetti as a superb Italian Singer and Thomas Helmsley as an excellent Faninal., though there are minor breaks in Act II.

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David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Excellent Performance in Very Good Sound!

Three of the principals here (Janowitz, Fassbaender, and Ridderbusch) went on to sing their roles in a number of other performances. Cotrubas probably sang Sophie onstage at some point in her career, but it was not a role she sang a lot. All four are in good shape and are most satisfying. Janowitz still sounds like she's feeling her way in the part as she sings a number of wrong notes here and there and has not figured out yet how to blend the high B at the end of the trio into the whole. All the same, her monologues at the end of Act 1 are very heartfelt without overdoing the sentimentality.Fassbaender is heard in her freshest voice. Her chocolate brown mezzo is rich and full, the high notes still available to her (Octavian is really a soprano part). She blends very well with Cotrubas' lovely Sophie. Ridderbusch is a sexy Ochs whose boorishness is almost attractive. He sings all the low notes (down to the C) with aplomb. Hemsley is a memorable Faninal and Luchetti brings an authentic Italian timbre to the Tenor's brief solo in Act 1. Carmen Gonzalez reaches all the way down to low E in her Act 2 letter scene with the Baron and Aldo Bertocci is terrific as Valzacchi. Dora Carrol makes her mark as the high-voiced Leitmetzerin (Carrol could sing just about anything well). Pretre doesn't follow his singers as well as he might; his pacing is a little lumpy.Good sound, a few snips missing from Act 2.Rosenkavalier fans should hear this.
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