Rosenkavalier

asin: B000J3FBRU binding: Audio CD list price: $20.98 USD amazon price: $20.98 USD

A live recording from Monaco in 1974 conducted by the legendary, elusive Carlos Kleiber. Kleiber never recorded Der Rosenkavalier commercially, and this live recording boasts very good sound. Born in 1930, the son of another fine conductor (Erich Kleiber), Carlos Kleiber ended up outshining his father and being widely recognized as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. He had a cult following through much of his career, and since his death in 2004 it has only increased in intensity. Kleiber was famous for brilliant interpretations of a smallish repertoire, mostly a few operas and symphonies, his recording of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony being frequently singled out as the greatest of all time, a model of balance between excitement and repose. He seldom appeared in public and was more famous for canceling appearances than making them. His behavior may have been eccentric, but his artistry was sublime. The premiere of the opera on January 26, 1911, at the Hofoper in Dresden, was a magnificent success, and Der Rosenkavalier's luster has scarcely dimmed in the ensuing years. It remains the most popular and oft-performed opera by Richard Strauss, who in turn is the most famous German opera composer of the twentieth century. The music is a deft blend of Viennese schmaltz and modernisms, making the listener feel warm, comfortable, and dreadfully chic at the same time. Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929) created seven librettos for Strauss, of which this was the second, achieving perhaps the most perfect operatic collaboration since Da Ponte and Mozart.

asin: B000J233RQ binding: Audio CD list price: $16.98 USD amazon price: $16.98 USD

In 2006, Deutsche Grammophon and Decca jointly presented a visionary initiative for recording and releasing orchestral concert performances: DG Concerts. This series combines digital downloads with traditional CD releases to create a new model for symphonic recordings. Through partnerships with orchestras from music capitals around the world, the two labels will release an average of four live concert recordings per orchestra each year for digital downloading only. In addition, one concert per year--the highlight of that season--will be released on CD. DG Concerts: Strauss is the first CD release from this innovative new series and the first recording from the New York Philharmonic on a major label in many years. The Philharmonic boasts an enormous tradition, having been led by legendary music directors including Bernstein, Boulez, Mehta, and Masur. Composers such as Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mahler, Strauss, Stravinsky, Copland and Walter have all also presided over the NYP. Lorin Maazel, the current conductor, who has led more than 150 orchestras in more than 5,000 opera and concert performances, became Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2002. He has also led the Orchestra on tours to Asia, three southern U.S. states, the American Midwest, and in residencies in Cagliari, Sardinia, and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival in Colorado.