Richard Strauss: Scenes from Salome and Elektra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Fritz Reiner's fabled 1956 excerpts from Strauss's Elektra not only live up to their legend via RCA's superb "Living Stereo" remastering, but attest to the conductor's unmatched synchronicity between his orchestra and, arguably, the most commanding, involved rendering of the title role and Orestes on disc. Inge Borkh's powerful, laserlike timbre and intense vocal acting are beyond praise in the touching Recognition Scene. Frances Yeend's contributions as Chrysothemis are not on the same exalted level, but still fine. The conductor puts his virtuosic orchestra through their paces in a blistering Dance of the Seven Veils, which sets the stage for Borkh in Salome's Final Scene. Her fiery rendition not only stands up to Welitsch's legendary recording with Reiner and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, but offers vivid stereo engineering and superior orchestral playing. Full texts are supplemented by the original LP annotations. In sum, a recording for the ages. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

One of the best.......2007-05-15

Fantastic. Different as I remember foim initial release in Australia in early 80s. I think many cuts were made for political reasons.

If You Own A SACD Player, Buy This Hybrid SACD. If You Have A Normal CD Player, Buy The Earlier Plain CD "Living Stereo" Version.......2006-11-08

Hey there, fans of Strauss and Reiner, this is a phenomenal recording no doubt, but I have to warn people that this Hybrid SACD doesn't sound as good in a standard CD player as the earlier version of this recording.

Of course if you have a SACD player, you should buy this thing, but if you are like most people who have standard stereos, the original release will sound superior in your normal CD player than the Hybrid SACD. Trust me on this one, I am a perfectionist and an audiophile.

Barnstorming in the Concert Hall!.......2005-12-21

These performances are amazing! The soundstage simply disappears out both sidedoors of the auditorium. If you don't like singing the Dance of the Seven Veils is so good it justifies the cost. One of the great performances of all time!

Hair raising Strauss!!.......2005-08-05

This is a great issue in this SACD series. Borkh has just the right sound for Elektra and Salome. Reiner backs her up perfectly. The CSO is in top form. Listen to the brass and you can be in heaven or hell.(Depends on your taste for his operas.)
Absolutely outstanding. The DSD remastering is phenominal!!

Richard Strauss: Scenes from Salome and Elektra

Average customer rating:

Inge Borkh And Fritz Reiner Burn Down The House In Richard Strauss!
Has to be heard to be believed!!
brilliant excerpts
Magnificent!
this Elektra is absolutely amazing

Richard Strauss: Scenes from Salome and Elektra

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000007RSZ
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Elektra: Elektra's Soliloguy: Allein! Weh, Ganz Allein
Elektra: Recognition Scene: Was Willst Du, Fremder Mensch?
Elektra: Finale: Elektra! Schwester! Komm Mit Uns!
Salome: Dance Of The Seven Veils
Salome: Final Scene: Ah! Du Wolltest Mich Nicht Deinen Mund

Amazon.com

Fritz Reiner's fabled 1956 excerpts from Strauss's Elektra not only live up to their legend via RCA's superb "Living Stereo" remastering, but attest to the conductor's unmatched synchronicity between his orchestra and, arguably, the most commanding, involved rendering of the title role and Orestes on disc. Inge Borkh's powerful, laserlike timbre and intense vocal acting are beyond praise in the touching Recognition Scene. Frances Yeend's contributions as Chrysothemis are not on the same exalted level, but still fine. The conductor puts his virtuosic orchestra through their paces in a blistering Dance of the Seven Veils, which sets the stage for Borkh in Salome's Final Scene. Her fiery rendition not only stands up to Welitsch's legendary recording with Reiner and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, but offers vivid stereo engineering and superior orchestral playing. Full texts are supplemented by the original LP annotations. In sum, a recording for the ages. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Inge Borkh And Fritz Reiner Burn Down The House In Richard Strauss!.......2006-11-08

Unbelievable orchestral virtuosity and phenomenal singing. The excerpts from Salome have been matched by Solti in his complete recording with Birgit Nilsson, but the Elektra excerpts have probably never been equaled, not by Solti, not by anyone! The famous Recognition Scene where Elektra recognizes her brother Orest is done with such power and volume that you will be blown away! The Chicago brass are on display in some of the loudest and most frenetic orchestral outburts ever recorded.

The Salome tracks are almost as good with the famous Dance of the Seven Veils sultry and as exotic as can be. Still, Solti is just as good here but not in Elektra, where Reiner reigns supreme! These recordings are the phenomenal sounding RCA "Living Stereo" release. RCA later released this in a hybrid SACD format. Trust me that the later hybrid CD is not as good as this one! If you have a SACD player, buy the later version, but if you have a normal CD player, like most people, please buy this earlier release, the sound is much better.

Has to be heard to be believed!!.......2002-12-27

This is a marvel of a recording, the engineers did an outstanding job of making it accessible for younger generation of opera fans.
After all these years, it seems that only Fritz Reiner was able to capture the essense of Strauss' troubled, intense, and thrilling genius. Inge Borkh's voice must be exactly what the composer had envisioned -- it's "larger than life" but can convey so many shades and colors. Simply dazzling.
There's a feeling of freshness and excitement to the entire CD, it's immediately clear that both the performer and the conductor shared love and great respect for Strauss's music, this feeling has reached us through the decades and we can stand back in awe for this incredible music making.

brilliant excerpts.......2002-07-14

What a magnificent CD this is ! With prime cuts from two of the greatest 20th century operas, which are also two of the strongest parts for women ever written...with savage drama, musical difficulty, and stamina, as Elektra and Salome remain on stage during the entire opera.
Inge Borkh is fabulous. She has power, precision, and not a single strident moment. Paul Schoeffler's Orest is also excellent. Though I've heard more emotional interpretations, his is a brave and ellegant Orest, and the extraordinary "Was willst du, fremder Mensch ?" Recognition Scene is terrific.

Fritz Reiner was a stern and uncompromising taskmaster (I had the opportunity to see him in rehearsal once...it was rigorous), but how he made the Chicago Symphony shine !
Reiner was a friend of Strauss' and a foremost interpreter of his sensual, complex and spectacular scores. If you want to remember Reiner in just one CD, this would be a good choice.

Elektra was recorded in '56, Salome in '54 and '55, and the total time is 67'01. The remastered sound is wonderful. The very good booklet insert has a page describing the process...unintelligible to me, but to quote them, "the result is a pure copy of the original performance, bringing Living Stereo to life for a new generation of music lovers".

Magnificent!.......2002-06-04

This recording is a true classic. Reiner is at least the equal of anyone else that I have heard in conveying dramatic thrust, power and cumulative intensity (in particular, he is truly masterful in the way he builds up to and shapes the big orchestral climaxes), but, at the same time, keeps the textures balanced and glowingly transparent, even in the loudest and/or most complex passages, and also conveys lyrical beauty and tenderness where the music calls for it, notably in Elektra's recognition scene. The singing by Borkh and Schoeffler is likewise superb (they were leading exponents of their roles). A must purchase for Strauss lovers.

this Elektra is absolutely amazing.......2000-06-01

I concur with the sentiments of the previous reviewer. If you enjoy these operas, and not everyone does, these excerpts will absolutely knock your socks off. It's one of the very best Strauss records Fritz Reiner ever made, and most of them were great. Some critics have said this final scene of Elektra is the best that has ever been recorded, outshining even the complete recordings, and it is my favourite for sure. The orchestral playing is resplendent and the sound is remarkable for its age, the CSO sounds like a giant club when called upon to do so. The Salome music is equally successful and the singing is admirable. This recording deserves the widest circulation. It is also available on cassette, and when I first played it in that format I nearly blew my car speakers. A demonstration recording.

Average customer rating:

Strauss: Scenes from Elektra and Salome

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000E69R
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Famous Composers Playing Their Own Works: Welte Mignon Piano

Average customer rating:

Quality Piano Roll Reproductions
Great, great CD

Famous Composers Playing Their Own Works: Welte Mignon Piano

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009KFF
Release Date: 1994-05-03

Customer Reviews:

Quality Piano Roll Reproductions.......2006-10-31

One thing I would mention, other than the obvious (e.g., it's GREAT to hear the composers' own interpretations, etc.), is that the reproduction of the rolls is of good quality, and the recording doesn't sound cheap or poorly made.

I love the Strauss Traumerai, in particular, though it's all great stuff.

Great, great CD.......2002-10-09

Absolutely beautiful collection of Welte Mignon Piano Roll music... You hear great composers play their OWN music, not someone else's interpertation. Track #11 Strauss's 'Reverie' is very beautiful and the last 3 tracks are Gustav Mahler playing his own music, Mahler was a very fine pianist. Track #6 Humperdinck's 'Pantomine' from 'Hansel und Gretel' is very cool. These were all recorded between 1905 & 1906. These are not ordinary Piano Rolls, the Welte Mignon was a breakthrough, Stravinsky spent days over the factory in France recording, "my music for posterity."-------- Where his Welte Mignon recordings are now, who knows, let's just hope one day they too are released.