It is a pity that one of the most acclaimed recordings of ‘Rosenkavalier’ was only recorded as excerpts but at over an hour and including some of the absolute plums of scenes from the opera, it is rightly regarded as a gem among great recordings of Strauss’ music. Included are the Marchallin’s Act I Monologue, the Presentation of the Rose, and naturally, the trio and final duet.
RICHARD STRAUSS
Der Rosenkavalier (highlights)
Wie du warst! Wie du bist!
Da geht er hin, der aufgeblasene schelchte Kerl
Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren
Mein Gott, es war nicht als eine Farce
Die Feldmarschallin: Régine Crespin
Octavian: Elisabeth Söderström
Herr von Faninal: Heinz Holecek
Sophie: Hilde Gueden
Wiener Philharmoniker
Silvio Varviso
Recording Producer: Christopher Raeburn
Balance Engineers: James Brown, James Lock
Recording Location: Sofiensaal, Vienna, Austria, 9–11 September 1964
‘impassioned and youthful sounding [Söderström] … sensuous charm exerted by singers … superlative recording … I was nearly consumed by the burning flames of eroticism that Silvio Varviso kindles in the first half of the prelude! … This is, I am sure, the best recording and performance of the music selected we have had so far’ Gramophone