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Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau (Scenes)
BR Klassik

Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau (Scenes)

$19.99

Details

Composer
Richard Strauss
Artist
Fritz Wunderlich, Ingeborg Hallstein, Hans Hotter
Format
CD
Label
BR Klassik
Released
Apr 05, 2024
Catalog #
BRK900219
UPC
4035719002195

About

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) in 2024, the BR-KLASSIK label is releasing previously unreleased recordings of concerts for the first time on CD and as a stream. Excerpts from Richard Strauss's comic opera "Die schweigsame Frau" ("The Silent Woman") were pre-produced as studio recordings for a television program in November 1960. The impressive cast was almost identical to that of the opera production at the Salzburg Festival in 1959 under the premiere conductor Karl Böhm: Hans Hotter (Sir Morosus), Hermann Prey (Barber), Fritz Wunderlich (Henry), Ingeborg Hallstein (Aminta), and many others sang. Here, Heinz Wallberg conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. In contrast to the live recording from Salzburg, which is marred by the clearly audible stage noises of a turbulent production, the outstanding cast of singers in this recording is more effective. The BR-KLASSIK label is now marking the 75th anniversary of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) in 2024 by making this previously unreleased studio production available for the first time on CD and as a stream.

After the death of Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Strauss thought he had reached the end of his operatic career – but then he found a librettist of equal calibre in Stefan Zweig, who provided him with "the best libretto for an opéra comique since Figaro" (Strauss). The comic opera was written between 1932 and 1935 and, despite the fact that Zweig was a Jewish librettist (who had since emigrated), Strauss managed to have the opera premiered in Dresden on June 24, 1935, conducted by Karl Böhm. However, because the composer insisted on printing Zweig's name on the posters and in the program, the Nazis boycotted the performance. After the Gestapo intercepted a letter that Strauss had written to Zweig expressing his delight at the successful premiere, the composer finally fell out of favor. The opera was taken off the program after only three performances and was not performed at any other German theater until 1946. Strauss resigned from the presidency of the Reich Chamber of Music "for health reasons".

Strauss endowed "Die schweigsame Frau" with an overabundance of musical ideas: turbulent ensembles and individual tone colors, light comedy, and grand arias alternate. He casually quotes himself and a dozen other composers, including Rossini, whose "Barber of Seville" was the model for his talkative and manipulative barber. Music connoisseurs appreciate the many musical allusions in the work.

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 Act I Scene 2: Euer Liebden haben, ich fürchte, schlecht geschlafen (Barbier, Morosus) 13:22
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Euer Liebden haben, ich fürchte, schlecht geschlafen (Barbier, Morosus)
    Duration
    13:22
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hermann Prey, Hans Hotter
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  2. 2 Act I Scene 4: Piano, piano! Und ich sage euch, er ist ein kreuzbraver Kerl (Barbier, Vanuzzi, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Morbio, Farfallo, Henry) 03:01
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 4: Piano, piano! Und ich sage euch, er ist ein kreuzbraver Kerl (Barbier, Vanuzzi, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Morbio, Farfallo, Henry)
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hermann Prey, Karl Christian Kohn, Ingeborg Hallstein, Eva Maria Rogner, Marianne Radev, Josef Knapp, Karl Hoppe, Fritz Wunderlich
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  3. 3 Act I Scene 4: Hah! Mir fällt etwas ein! (Barbier, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Henry, Morbio, Vanuzzi, Farfallo) 02:47
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 4: Hah! Mir fällt etwas ein! (Barbier, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Henry, Morbio, Vanuzzi, Farfallo)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hermann Prey, Ingeborg Hallstein, Eva Maria Rogner, Marianne Radev, Fritz Wunderlich, Josef Knapp, Karl Christian Kohn, Karl Hoppe
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  4. 4 Act I Finale: Nicht viel schwätzen, nicht parlieren (Barbier, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Henry, Morbio, Vanuzzi, Farfallo) 03:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Finale: Nicht viel schwätzen, nicht parlieren (Barbier, Aminta, Isotta, Carlotta, Henry, Morbio, Vanuzzi, Farfallo)
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hermann Prey, Ingeborg Hallstein, Eva Maria Rogner, Marianne Radev, Fritz Wunderlich, Josef Knapp, Karl Christian Kohn, Karl Hoppe
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  5. 5 Act II Scene 6: Anhiero gestatte ich mir, hochverehrliche Herren (Barbier, Vanuzzi, Morbio, Morosus, Aminta, Haushälterin) 07:40
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 6: Anhiero gestatte ich mir, hochverehrliche Herren (Barbier, Vanuzzi, Morbio, Morosus, Aminta, Haushälterin)
    Duration
    07:40
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hermann Prey, Karl Christian Kohn, Josef Knapp, Hans Hotter, Ingeborg Hallstein, Lilian Benningsen
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  6. 6 Act II Scene 9: Du bist so still (Morosus, Aminta) 05:30
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 9: Du bist so still (Morosus, Aminta)
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Hans Hotter, Ingeborg Hallstein
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  7. 7 Act II Scene 10: Was geht hier vor? (Henry, Morosus, Aminta) 01:45
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 10: Was geht hier vor? (Henry, Morosus, Aminta)
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Fritz Wunderlich, Hans Hotter, Ingeborg Hallstein
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  8. 8 Act II Scene 11: Siehst du, Ohm (Henry, Morosus) 03:18
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 11: Siehst du, Ohm (Henry, Morosus)
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Fritz Wunderlich, Hans Hotter
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg
  9. 9 Act II Scene 12: Du süßester Engel (Henry, Aminta, Morosus's Voice) 08:27
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 12: Du süßester Engel (Henry, Aminta, Morosus's Voice)
    Duration
    08:27
    Composer
    Richard Strauss
    Performer
    Fritz Wunderlich, Ingeborg Hallstein, Hans Hotter
    Ensemble
    Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Heinz Wallberg