Richard Strauss' "Salome" is a powerful and dramatic opera that showcases the composer's mastery of orchestration and his ability to convey intense human passions. This 1994 recording, featuring the Staatskapelle Dresden under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, brings to life the scandalous and provocative story of Salome, the stepdaughter of King Herod, and her fatal obsession with the prophet Jochanaan (John the Baptist). The opera, based on Oscar Wilde's play, is a gripping exploration of desire, power, and the consequences of unchecked passion.
The album spans nearly an hour and forty-three minutes, divided into four scenes that build to a shocking climax. The cast, led by the renowned soprano Catherine Malfitano as Salome, delivers a tour-de-force performance that captures the character's complex and troubling psyche. Bryn Terfel's powerful bass-baritone as Jochanaan and Kenneth Riegel's commanding Herod provide a strong foundation for the drama. The orchestra's rich and vivid sound, expertly conducted by Ozawa, underscores the opera's dark and sensual atmosphere.
"Salome" is a seminal work in Richard Strauss' career, marking his breakthrough as an operatic composer. The score is notable for its lush harmonies, vivid orchestration, and the famous "Dance of the Seven Veils," which is a highlight of the opera. This recording, with its stellar cast and superb orchestral playing, is an essential addition to any classical music collection, offering a compelling and unforgettable journey into the world of Strauss' operatic genius.
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 1: "Wie schön ist die Prinzessin Salome heute Nacht!"Richard Strauss, Richard Leech, Annette Markert, Jürgen Commichau, Rolf Tomaszewski, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 1: "Nach mir wird Einer kommen"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Rolf Tomaszewski, Jürgen Commichau, Matthias Henneberg, Richard Leech, Annette Markert, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 2: "Ich will nicht bleiben"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Annette Markert, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 2: "Siehe, der Herr ist gekommen"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Rolf Tomaszewski, Richard Leech, Annette Markert, Jürgen Commichau, Andreas Schmidt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 2: "Jauchze nicht, du Land Palästina"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Rolf Tomaszewski, Jürgen Commichau, Annette Markert, Richard Leech, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 2: "Du wirst das für mich tun"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Richard Leech, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Wo ist er, dessen Sündenbecher jetzt voll ist?"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Richard Leech, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Er ist schrecklich"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Richard Leech, James Morris, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Wer ist dies Weib, das mich ansieht?"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Jochanaan! Ich bin verliebt in deinen Leib"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Zurück, Tochter Sodoms!"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Richard Leech, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Wird dir nicht bange, Tochter der Herodias?"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Jessye Norman, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Lass mich deinen Mund küssen, Jochanaan!"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, James Morris, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 3: "Du bist verflucht"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Wo ist Salome?"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Kerstin Witt, Jürgen Commichau, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Salome, komm, trink Wein mit mir"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Jessye Norman, Kerstin Witt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Siehe, die Zeit ist gekommen"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Kerstin Witt, Walter Raffeiner, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Wahrhaftig, Herr, es wäre besser, ihn in unsre Hände zu geben!"Richard Strauss, Andreas Conrad, Karl-Friedrich Hölzke, Peter Küchler, Andreas Schmidt, Gunther Dressler, Walter Raffeiner, Kerstin Witt, Harry Peeters, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Siehe, der Tag ist nahe"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Walter Raffeiner, Andreas Conrad, Harry Peeters, Frank Schiller, Kerstin Witt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Eine Menge Menschen wird sich gegen sie sammeln"Richard Strauss, James Morris, Kerstin Witt, Walter Raffeiner, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Tanz für mich, Salome"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Jessye Norman, Kerstin Witt, James Morris, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: Salome's Dance of the Seven VeilsRichard Strauss, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Salome, ich beschwöre dich"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Jessye Norman, Kerstin Witt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Salome, bedenk, was du tun willst"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Jessye Norman, Karl-Friedrich Hölzke, Peter Küchler, Gunther Dressler, Andreas Conrad, Andreas Schmidt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Man soll ihr geben, was sie verlangt!"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Kerstin Witt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Es ist kein Laut zu vernehmen"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Sie ist ein Ungeheuer, deine Tochter"Richard Strauss, Walter Raffeiner, Kerstin Witt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Salome, Op. 54 / Scene 4: "Ah! Ich habe deinen Mund geküsst, Jochanaan"Richard Strauss, Jessye Norman, Walter Raffeiner, Staatskapelle Dresden, Seiji Ozawa
Richard Strauss, born in Munich in 1864, was a titan of late Romantic and early modern classical music, renowned for his innovative tone poems and operas. As a successor to the likes of Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt, Strauss' compositions are celebrated for their pioneering orchestration and advanced harmonic styles. His prolific career spanned over five decades, during which he composed 16 operas that continue to be widely performed today. Strauss' music, characterized by its dramatic intensity and rich orchestration, offers an immersive experience that transcends time, making him a dominant figure in classical music at the turn of the 20th century. His works, ranging from orchestral masterpieces to operatic triumphs, continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Strauss' legacy as a composer and conductor is a testament to his enduring influence on the world of classical music.
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Richard Strauss
