R Strauss - Der Rosenkavalier

High School for Girls and Bancroft’s School Choirs; Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan

EMI 567605-2 Buy now

(3h 11’ · ADD · T/t) 

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf sop Die Feldmarschallin; Christa Ludwig mez Octavian; Otto Edelmann bass Baron Ochs; Teresa Stich-Randall sop Sophie; Eberhard Waechter bar Faninal; Nicolai Gedda ten Italian Tenor; Kerstin Meyer contr Annina; Paul Kuen ten Valzacchi; Ljuba Welitsch sop Duenna; Anny Felbermayer sop Milliner; Harald Pröghlöf bar Notary; Franz Bierbach bass Police Commissioner; Erich Majkut ten Feldmarschallin’s Major-Domo; Gerhard Unger ten Faninal’s Major-Domo, Animal Seller; Karl Friedrich ten Landlord

Recorded 1956.

Der Rosenkavalier concerns the transferring of love of the young headstrong aristocrat Octavian from the older Marschallin (with whom he’s having an affair) to the young Sophie, a girl of nouveau riche origins who’s of his generation. The portrayal of the different levels of passion is masterly and the Marschallin’s resigned surrender of her young lover gives opera one of its most cherishable scenes. The comic side of the plot concerns the vulgar machinations of the rustic Baron Ochs and his attempts to seduce the disguised Octavian (girl playing boy playing girl!). The musical richness of the score is almost indescribable, with streams of endless melody, and the final trio which brings the three soprano roles together is the crowning glory of a masterpiece of the 20th century. 

This magnificent recording, conducted with genius by Karajan, and with a dream cast, is unlikely to be challenged for many a year. The Philharmonia play like angels, and Schwarzkopf as the Marschallin gives one of her greatest performances. The recording, lovingly remastered, is outstanding.