The Solti Opera Boxes (No. 4: Richard Strauss)

Richard Strauss: Arabella, Ariadne auf Naxos, Elektra, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Der Rosenkavalier, Salome, Bonus CD (incl. 4 Last Songs). Various Soloists, Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti (cond.) Decca (15 CDs)

[@josecarmona9168]

As proof of the friendship between Strauss and Solti, It was Solti who conducted the Rosenkavlier final trio in Strauss' funeral. Apparently, at the end of the music, Solti was in tears.

[@leestamm3187]

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra archive has an interesting article Solti wrote about his relationship with Strauss.

[@CortJohnson]

Die Frau is like a force of nature - what an opera!

[@user-et8mh2ki1c]

Thank you so much, Dave, for all your review of the Solti opera boxes. Greatly appreciated.

[@jgesselberty]

Glad to hear your take on "Die Frau ohne Schatten." It is one of my favorites and you catpured "why" perfectly.

[@davidaiken1061]

I have tried in vain over the years to acquire a taste for the operas of Richard Strauss--the one exception being "Rosenkavalier," which belongs on my short list of favorite comic operas. A while back, I obtained the Solti/Strauss opera box in a concerted effort to change my mind about this important body of work by a major composer. Regrettably, to no avail. While recognizing the many virtues of these productions, with their superb casts and Solti definitely in his element, these works still strike me as decadent, cluttered, and claustrophobic. I know I'm missing out. Perhaps I should try again. . .

[@josefkrenshaw179]

That is the only one of those boxes I purchased. i did have his Wagners individually including both "Meistersingers".

[@RyanPower]

Solti's recording of Die Frau ohne Schatten is by far one of my favourite recordings ever made, pure energy throughout, and indeed better than Sawallisch spot by spot (in my opinion at least)!

[@saltech3444]

I recently got the original LP set of this version of Salome on eBay, largely because of that hilarious cover. That's some good marketing.

[@robhaynes4410]

A shame they didn't do a box with the other operas (e.g., Bizet, Humperdinck, Puccini, Tchaikovsky), many of which are superb. Does anyone know whether it's planned?

[@ftumschk]

They could throw in Solti's superb _Moses und Aron_ for good measure. It's a shame he never got round to recording the Berg operas, as they'd been well-suited to Solti's instinct for drama.

[@ftumschk]

What Salome's ending lacks in tamtams, it makes up for with the terrific xylophone in Dance of the 7 Veils, which I've rarely heard as crisply played or well-recorded. Another one of Culshaw's spot-mikes, no doubt, but it sounds as exciting as hell.