Composers

• Strauss, Richard (1864–1949)

Works

• Strauss, R: Arabella
• Strauss, R: Capriccio
• Strauss, R: Der Rosenkavalier
• Strauss, R: Die schweigsame Frau, Op. 80

Conductors

• Böhm, Karl

Groups & Artists

• Berry, Walter
• Böhme, Kurt
• Casa, Lisa della
• Dermota, Anton
• Gueden, Hilde
• Hotter, Hans
• Köth, Erika
• Patzak, Julius
• Schöffler, Paul
• Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth
• Seefried, Irmgard
• Streich, Rita
• Uhde, Hermann
• Wiener Philharmoniker
• Wiener Staatsoper
• Wunderlich, Fritz

Karl Böhm is universally recognised as having been one of the greatest conductors of all time, and is particularly famed for his performances of the operas of his fellow German, the composer Richard Strauss. This 10CD set is being released to commemorate Strauss’s 150th birthday, and includes classic recordings of “Der Rosenkavalier”, “Die Schweigsame Frau”, “Arabella”, and “Capriccio”.

There was scarcely a closer relationship between an eminent composer and a world-class conductor than that between Richard Strauss and Karl Böhm. In Dresden Böhm directed the world premieres of “Die Schweigsame Frau” (The Silent Woman) and “Daphne”, which was dedicated to him. In Salzburg in 1947 he conducted the memorable post-war premiere of Arabella, and in Vienna during the festivities at the re-opening of the opera house, “Die Frau ohne Schatten” (The Woman without a Shadow). The recordings presented in this set feature Böhm conducting three great orchestras with which he was especially associated,

the Vienna Philharmonic, the Staatskapelle Dresden, and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. The stellar casts featured in these performances include Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Lisa Della Casa, Hans Hotter, Hermann Prey, and Elisabeth Schwartzkopf.

Artists

Marianne Schech (Marschallin), Irmgard Seefried (Octavian), Rita Streich (Sophie), Kurt Böhme (Ochs), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Faninal), Gerhard Unger (Valzacchi), Sieglinde Wagner (Annina), Rudolf Francl (Italian Singer), Ilona Steingruber-Wildgans (Marianne Leitmetzerin), Hans Hotter (Herr Morosus), Fritz Wunderlich (Henry Morosus), Hilde Güden (Aminta), Pierrette Alarie (Isotta), Hetty Plümacher (Carlotta), Hermann Prey (Der Barbier), Maria Reining (Arabella), Lisa Della Casa (Zdenka), Hans Hotter (Mandryka), Georg Hann (Waldner), Rosette Anday (Adelaide), Herma Handl (Fiakermilli), Horst Taubmann (Matteo), Julius Patzak (Elemer), Josef Witt (Dominik), Alfred Poell (Lamoral), Ruth Michaelis (Kartenaufschlägerin), Franz Szkokan (Welko), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Countess), Hermann Uhde (Count), Anton Dermota (Flamand), Walter Berry (Olivier), Paul Schöffler (La Roche), Christel Goltz (Clairon), Peter Klein (Taupe), Erika Köth, Giuseppe Zampieri (Italian Singers), Alois Pernerstorfer (Der Haushofmeister)

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Staatsoper, Karl Böhm