CHECK SHELVES

This is a magnificent performance of one of Strauss' less-performed works. The recording took place in the Kingsway Hall, London between September 1957 and March 1958, produced by Walter Legge and featuring his wife, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at the height of her powers. Legge assembled what was probably the best possible cast for the time, including Gedda, Hotter and Fischer-Dieskau, not to mention Christa Ludwig. Legge was unconvinced of the value of the relatively new stereophonic recording so this was recorded in monophonic sound. This decision initially did the recording no good commercially, but its musical value has kept it at the top of the list of versions of the work. It is a delight. ( )