Much about this performance still seems definitive, above all Heather Harper as the Kaiserin (nobody has sung her entrance music with such delicacy and eloquence; and her later resolution is terrific). She was singing one Strauss role at Covent Garden each year: Arabella, Chrysothemis, The Empress (two seasons running), Ariadne. (She also performed Ellen Orford there and Henze’s “River” around that time, while singing Mozart’s Countess in Edinburgh.) Solti’s effect everywhere was and is electrifying. Why were these Walter Berry’s only performances at Covent Garden? A superlative artist. (And I think he came for these performances to replace Donald McIntyre.) James King (Emperor) and Ruth Hesse (Nurse) were both definitive. Too bad about Helga Dernesch as the Dyer’s wife : she looked marvellous and acted well, but she was now going flat in many notes. Even so, this is the one “Frau” recording to which I need to return and often do.

I find most studio recordings of Die Frau overly spiky and angular, completely missing the music's ebb and flow, which more often is encountered in the theater, and this performance bears that out. The music by itself makes clear that the Empress is removed, afraid, but singers (or directors?) often fall into the trap of emphasizing that remove to the exclusion of all else. Harper is so much more womanly than many sopranos better know for this role, but she is also just as regal. Her voice glistens in places I'd never expected, which bathes certain passages and dramatic events in a very different (and welcome) light. Very pleased to have heard and look forward to listening again.

This was the series of performances that made me fall in love with this opera, Berry’s debut at the Garden and he was outstanding, not only his singing but his superb acting.