Description:

Although his son Carlos may be more closely associated with Der Rosenkavalier, Erich Kleiber proves that a deep understanding of Strauss’s wistful comedy might well be hereditary. He brings striking precision to Strauss’s notoriously challenging score, using tempo and phrasing not merely as musical choices but as tools for shaping the drama itself.

The trio of sopranos is outstanding—not only for their vocal refinement but also for the closeness of their timbral blend. Even Erna Berger’s fuller soprano lends Sophie a sense of maturity rarely achieved in this role. Maria Reining, nearing the end of her career, still displays a soprano of clarity and elegance. Elisabeth Grümmer—who would later become a Marschallin of note—brings a youthful yet opulent tone to the role of Octavian.

In Mono

OD 12221-3