All recordingsEx. VAT prices will be applied automatically for non-EU delivery addresses.
See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Live Recording 1964
Lisa Della Casa (Countess), Robert Kerns (Count), Waldemar Kmentt (Flamand), Walter Berry (Olivier), Otto Wiener (La Roche), Christa Ludwig (Clairon), Peter Klein (Monsieur Taupe), Lucia Popp (Italian singer), Fritz Wunderlich (Italian tenor) & Alois Pernerstorfer Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, Georges Prêtre With its new production on 7th June 2008, the
Vienna State Opera revived a long-standing tradition
of having the finest representatives of the profession
singing Capriccio.
The work was first staged in Salzburg in 1950 in a
production subsequently seen in Vienna. Both there
and in Salzburg, the Countess was for many years
sung by Lisa Della Casa in one of the Strauss roles
with which she was most closely associated.
The present live recording is the first official record
of this ideal interpretation, with Georges Prêtre in
the pit, vividly demonstrating his Strauss credentials.
It virtually goes without saying that the singers who
were engaged to appear with Lisa Della Casa were in
every way her equals.The difficulty in choosing
between poetry and music becomes all the more
understandable when the representatives of these
two art forms are artists of the stature of Waldemar
Kmentt and Walter Berry. Both men were among the
company's leading singing actors, bringing to their
parts both striking vocalism and an impassioned
wooing of the woman on whom they have set their
hearts. No less impressive is the American baritone
Robert Kerns, whom Herbert von Karajan had
invited to join the Vienna State Opera ensemble two
years previously and who remained with the
company until his premature death at the age of 55
in 1989.As the Count he displays natural charm in
his attempts to win the hand of Christa Ludwig's
imposing Clairon. Otto Wiener was more of a heroic
baritone than either Berry or Kerns, allowing him to
bring all the necessary authority to the role of the
theatre manager La Roche and to his great address.
Last, but not least, are the two 'Italian' singers, whom
it would be difficult to imagine better cast today: the
young Lucia Popp and Fritz Wunderlich turn Strauss’
witty parody of Italian bel canto singing into a serious
highlight. “The sound on the Capriccio release is…lacking in air, although not enough to disturb the memory of Lisa della Casa's assumption of the Countess. To the adjectives attached to her Strauss singing ("creamy", "sumptuous") add the comment that she creates a really broad and passionate character.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2008 | 
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
Kiri Te Kanawa, Haken Hagegard, Tatiana Troyanos, Victor Braun, David Kuebler, Simon Keenlyside, Michel Senechal, Dale Travis, Maria Fortuna, Craig Estep San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Donald Runnicles Subtitles in English, German, French & Spanish | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wächter, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Nicolai Gedda, Hans Hotter, Christa Ludwig Philharmonia Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch Diapason d'Or & Choc du Monde de la Musique Awards | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
Renée Fleming, Anne Sofie von Otter, Rainer Trost, Gerald Finley, Dietrich Henschel, Franz Hawlata Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris, Ulf Schirmer, stage direction by Robert Carsen Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  | Recorded 1953
Viorica Ursuleac, Karl Schmitt Walter, Rudolf Schock, Hans Hotter, Hans Braun, Hertha Topper Bayern Radio Symphony Orchestra, Clemens Krauss | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  |
Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Wolfgang Schöne, Eberhard Büchner, Franz Grundheber, Manfred Jungwirth, Trudeliese Schmidt, Anton de Ridder, Adelina Scarabelli, Pietro Ballo, Lorenz Minth Wiener Philharmoniker, Horst Stein | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
|
|
| |  |
Lisa Della Casa; Renaat Verbruggen; Chris Scheffer; Leo Katelaars; Guus Hoekman; Annie Woud; Dago Meybert; Henriette Mandel; HenkMeyer; Anton Eldering Klein Omroepkoor Omroeporkest, Johannes den Hertog Live recording: Hilversum, May 30, 1953 | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
|
|
| |
|
Penguin Guide