Virgil Courthney Moojen | Alkmaar, the Netherlands | 02/26/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The greatest marvel of the Sinopoli set is undoubtedly the Salome of Cheryl Studer. Studer is very sensual and at the same time very girlish and therefore very cruel. She is capable of entrapping every male she wants in her web of intrigue and blood. She may not have the iron-like tones of Nilsson (the greatest Salome on record) but her sheer musicality makes her a very attractive Salome indeed. Terfel is a firm-toned Jokanaan. Sinopolis' conducting is not quite as terrifying as Solti's (and I mean that in a good way) but it's firm and powerful. This wood be a fantastic recording if it wasn't for Hiestermanns' Herodes. What were they thinking at Deutsche Grammophon? His contribution spoils half the recording. Hiestermann is absolutely not up to his difficult job of portraying the neurotic Tetrarch. He just hasn't got the vocal abilities. This just shows how important it is to cast a recording well."
Spoilt for choice
09/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As far as Salome on recordings is concerned, consumers are spoilt for choice!! Birgit Nilsson has 2 superb stereo recordings. Leonie Rysanek has 2 superb stereo recordings. Ljuba Welitsch has 2 superb mono recordings (1949 & 1952). Hildegard Behrens has 1 superb stereo recording with Karajan. Cheryl Studer (this recording) is also a superb stereo recording. I can't choose. I have to have them all!"
It doesn't get any better than this
Richard Hayden | 09/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful theatre experience listening to this great recording. The pacing is terrific. Cheryl Studer is marvelous. The great aria is astounding, truly breathtaking. Terfel is wonderful. The conductor was a magician with the cast. Magic happens as you listen. It has that something extra that you always hope will be there in a performance where greatness happens - and fortunately it was recorded. It's a great piece of music to begin with and it is well served here by a splendid cast and a great conductor who died too soon. I have given this as gifts to many people. I put my money where my mouth was on this one."
A great recording and performance
Richard Hayden | England | 12/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording is, on balance, a first choice. Studer is youthful, immensely cruel, deranged yet stunning beautiful at times. The Dresden orchestra plays the piece with intense concentration - each members contribution is brought out in the vivid digital recording. Rysanek's mature voice is entirely fitting to Herodias and Tyrfel is majestic as the doomed Jochanann. Comment has been made of the Herod in this recording but I find the instability, forced, hysterical quality in Hiestermann's voice to be dramatically convincing. The shimmering exoticism of Strauss' thunderingly decadent score is marvellously captured. All in all an involving recording. Once you start listening it is hard to stop until you reach Salome's extraordinary, depraved conclusion. Thrilling. Incidentally - after Strauss had sat through the rehersal he turned to the others present and said - "Well...I enjoyed that". Only to be met with a stunned silence. Years later this piece still has the power to amaze and seduce by turns. Music at it's most insane, compelling, provocative, inspired best."