4 wonders for Ariadne
Ha-De Nguyen | Paris, France (Europe) | 11/08/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"4 wonders = della Casa, Seefried, Gueden, Streich, four supreme straussians barely distributed in the same opera. However this recording is not as perfect as it should. Technically there have been better recording from the fifties even monaural. Boehm's direction is exceptionally good with a real feeling for the theater and this opera in particular. Seefried is really outstanding and cannot be bettered in this role. Gueden is charming but the very high top notes are maybe a little bit too high for her! Streich could have replaced her but on live, her voice lacks some volume. Della Casa has given a better interpretation in studio (Decca and Testament both highly recommendable), here the voice is sometimes shrill without the fabulous tone she normally has. Schock is as good as in the studio version with Karajan. A very good evening indeed but not a reference!"