Strauss

Der Rosenkavalier

Schwarzkopf, Jurinac, Steffek, Böhme, Lewis; Solti
London, 1959

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Der Rosenkavalier

The merits of this recording should be obvious to even the greenest of collectors out there. It finds the great Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at a point where her grasp of the Marschallin is so complete and organic, and just before the bloom was beginning to fade from her voice. She is joined by Sena Jurinac in the title role. Hearing these two singers together, you get the sense of how wonderful it is when you have artists that have such a clear rapport and comfort with one another. Kurt Böhme is a riotous Ochs. What is particularly important about this production is that it marks the Covent Garden debut of Sir Georg Solti, who would go on to a legendary tenure as music director.

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Customer Reviews

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3.7 Based on 3 reviews
5 ★ 1
4 ★ 1
3 ★ 0
2 ★ 1
1 ★ 0
Pierre M.

France

Overall rating

A very beautiful performances with artists at the top level. A very drolastic Baron Och with a great specialist of the role : Kurt Böhme. For information, here is the complete cast : Georg Solti / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Marschallin), Sena Jurinac (Octavian), Hanny Steffek (Sophie), Kurt Böhme (Baron Ochs), Ronald Lewis (Fa,i,al), Raymond Nilsson (Valzacchi), Monica Sinclair (Annina), Judith Pierce (Marianne Leitmetzerin), John Dobson (major domo to Faninal), David Tree (major domo to the Marschallin), Jean Cross, Lilian Simmons, Vera Hoddinott (orphans), Anne Finley (a milliner), Arthur Cobbin (an animal seller), Harold Turner (a hairdresser), Rhydderch Davies (an attorney and a commissioner of police), Kenneth McDonald (a tenor). Date of performance : probably 4th of december. On the 17th of dec., there is no performance.

Zxcellent.
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Frank L.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Not This Time

I really wanted to like this performance but I do not. I love Jurinac as Octavian and she is fine here. I'm not fond of Schwarzkopf here and the sound does not help her. As another reviewer pointed out, the sound is focused in the left speaker and the volume is low. This makes it impossible to give this performance a fair hearing. I would avoid this recording or look for one in better sound Sorry.
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David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Lovely Rosenkavalier in Good Sound

This Rosenkavalier was Solti's Covent Garden debut and it's easy to hear why he was so acclaimed. He makes very few cuts (Baron Ochs is allowed his complete monologue in Act One, there are a few snips in Act Three). Given his cast one can understand why he was reluctant to trim anything. Schwarzkopf is terrific, Jurinac sings like an angel, and Bohme is hilarious as Ochs. True, he loses his grasp of the low E at the end of the second act, but he more than makes up for that elsewhere. Hanny Stefak is a pretty Sophie though she doesn't really stand out. The supporting cast is made up of excellent Covent Garden regulars: Monica Sinclair, Raymond Nilsson, Judith Pierce, and Ronald Lewis among others. The sound is generally very good though skewered a little to the left channel. From the minor surface noise, I'd say this was transferred from records. Pristine Audio also has this available, probably in even better sound, but for over twice Opera Depot's price. I'd advise getting this and then if you really like the performance investing in the other version.
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