Leonie Rysanek's Salome was taped many times but this ORTF broadcast is the prize of the lot. Rysanek's voice, which was like a huge erogenous zone, was primed for Salome by the Seventies -- she lost out on gigs with Herbert von Karajan by not undertaking it sooner. It's a big, juicy sound, allied to a more vulnerable interpretation of Salome than we are used to hearing, full of the Oriental softness that Strauss said he wanted from the character. She has the perfect conductor in Rudolf Kempe, a Straussian par excellence and a master of transitions, crucial to this score's many serpentine twists and turns. But perhaps what makes this performance most special is the once-only Herod of Jon Vickers. The tetrarch of Judea has never been so imperious and, when in the grip of psychosis, terrifying. Vickers takes a number of liberties with the score but the overall performance is so valid that we go along for the ride. Thomas Stewart brings suitable Old Testament fervor and a rock-steady voice to Jochanaan and Horst Laubenthal is luxury casting as Narraboth. Ruth Hesse's ubiquity was always a mystery to this listener and her average Herodias doesn't clarify the enigma. This used to circulate on truly horrid-sounding LPs that we had to tolerate for the glimpse they gave us into a remarkable confluence of great artists, battling for glimpses of greatness amidst a sea of hiss and static and surface noise. Happily, Andy has found a first-rate source and shared it with posterity.

This is a performance you can’t hear without deeply be moved. It is electrifying with Kempe conducting in his unsurpassed way. Rysanek is completely outstanding in the title role. Vickers a heroic Herodes, Hesse perfect as his wife. Stewart‘s singing is very good, but not always very steady.By the way: Rysanek was in 1974 at the peak of her career! I saw her in the same year as Salome in Munich (with Kempe). This was one of my greatest experiences in opera ever!

astonishing performance

Fantastic performance and mostly outstanding principals, Rysanek and Vickers in particular.

I liked excellent French orchestra ORTF under Kempe, who is one of my favourite conductors. So much nuance, stile, french flair, great. Stewart is vocally powerful Jochanaan with beautiful, rich voice. Vickers is heroic and dramatically convincing Herod. I liked nice singing of Laubenthal as Narraboth. Hesse is ok as Herodias but nothing special. I didn't like Rysanek in this performance (there is too much wobble and shouting), however she is quite convincing dramatically. I think that she was past her prime in 1974 and would be better for her to avoid such roles as Salome. I have the same feeling for her 1975 Elektra bonus track. I liked her 1953 Der Liebe der Dane bonus track, where the sound is a bit distant, but her singing is (for me) better, fresher and without wobble and shouting.

AWESOME PERFORMANCE...RYSANEK,VICKERS,STEWART IN THEIR PRIME AND ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT... KEMPE'S CONDUCTING SUPERB.

Simply a great recording of a great performance.

Une version hystérique, expressionniste et survoltée

Recording perfect. I have a studio version of Georg Solti with great Birgit Nilsson, and DVD recordings: with Teresa Stratas, Hans Beirer, Astrid Varnay, Wieslaw Ochman, conducted by Karl Bohm and DVD recording with Catherine Malfitano, Horst Hiestermann, Simon Estes under Giuseppe Sinopoli. Purchased from you to record a CD in no way differs from the highest level of musical and artistic. Leonie Rysanek although not Birgit Nilsson, but sings beautifully and movingly. My favorite, Jon Vickers, is a very great Herod, and a great Jochanaan is Thomas Stewart, and excellent handling the whole presentation confirms that Rudolf Kempe was one of the greatest conductors of the works of Richard Strauss. Wonderful, moving recording!

Fine recording!

Yes I remember standing out side the Met early waiting for standing room on Broadway (1964) Vickers passed by and said a few gracious words to us…I remember him being tall and handsome…Thanks for the memory.