Die Frau ohne Schatten used to be something of a rarity. It will never be a bread-and-butter opera (it's very expensive to mount), but audiences today enjoy its tonal splendor and find relevance in its science fiction-like plot.This performance is extremely good. The Teatro Colon got some of the best Strauss singers in the world to participate and the expense paid off. Bjoner is a terrific Empress, singing with full, exciting tone throughout. Kuchta is one of the few Färberinnen who sings her part without wobbling or making ugly sounds. The Egyptian bass-baritone Yahia is a convincing Barak and Feiersinger survives the ordeal of the Emperor's music although, as Karl Heinz Konrad points out below, his top notes are sometimes weak and under pitch. The supporting cast is also very good. Leitner conducts a performance that doesn't drag. He makes a few small cuts in Acts One and Two, larger cuts in Act Three The sound is mostly excellent. There is a bad patch of about six-seven minutes in Act One during the scene between Barak and his wife where static crackles through, threatening to drown out the music. Other than that there are no problems.Frau fans should have this!

Eine gelungene Aufführung mit einigen Schwächen in der Höhe bei Feiersinger.