Best Salome?

[marvinbrown]

marvinbrown: This actually exists? Amazing! There is not a more exact soprano voice than Stratas. That I witness on the grounds of her Lulu.

  Yes I believe it was released a year or so ago, a must see!

  marvin

[Sergeant Rock]

Might it have been Maria Ewing, back in the day?  (I've never seen her, nor the DVD of her performance, so I'm just guessing.)

--Bruce

Possible. I can't find much online about her early career other than she debuted at the Met in 1976. It's possible she sang in Europe first although she would have been awfully young (25) for a starring role.

Sarge

[Lilas Pastia]

There's a Salome to suit every taste, even those with no taste. Which is good, considering how multi-faceted the work really is. Although I'd never consider recommending it as a first choice, Caballé (Leinsdorf) uncovers vocal wonders I never imagined were in the score. She makes you hear Salome as you won't hear her elsewhere: with as much charisma in the soft, dreamy parts of the role as there can be in the raging, tantrum-filled outbursts. Unfortunately, the dynamic range is rather compressed, which will simply not do for this work.

[marvinbrown]

There's a Salome to suit every taste, even those with no taste. Which is good, considering how multi-faceted the work really is. Although I'd never consider recommending it as a first choice, Caballé (Leinsdorf) uncovers vocal wonders I never imagined were in the score. She makes you hear Salome as you won't hear her elsewhere: with as much charisma in the soft, dreamy parts of the role as there can be in the raging, tantrum-filled outbursts. Unfortunately, the dynamic range is rather compressed, which will simply not do for this work.

  I will admit that the role of Salome is difficult to cast.  On the one hand Salome has to sound and look like a spoiled, lustfull conceited young girl which is what the biblical character is after all. On the other hand Strauss has written some very demanding soprano "monologues" for the character, I am referring to the final scene involving Salome and the head of you know who  among many others.  Question is how do you reconcile the two?? How do provide a voice for the immature young Salome that can soar to great heights in those soprano monologues while still maintaining the character intact (ie never deviating from the fact that this is still an immature spoiled young girl).  It is here where I believe that Stratas in the Bohm DVD opera movie shines.  She carries the role, both vocally and acting wise exceptionally well! 
 
  marvin

[Tsaraslondon]

I have to agree with the general consensus. Stratas is superb on DVD, and, even though this is a film, with the singers miming to a soundtrack of their voices, she actually looks as if she is really singing. Maybe she was.
My preference on modern(ish) recordings would be for Karajan with Behrens, but, going back a bit now, I see nobody has yet mentioned Welitsch. I think there are two extant live versions from the Met, both conducted by Fritz Reiner. The earlier one, recorded in 1949, is definitely the one to go for, Welitsch's voice still being in prime condition. Jochanaan is Herbert Janssen and Herod is Fredercik Jagel. By 1952, when Hans Hotter is Joachanaan, Welistch's voice is already showing signs of weakness. Incidentally, there is also a 1944 recording of her singing the final scene, conducted by Lovro von Matacic, which I have yet to be heard bettered - by anybody.

[springrite]

My preference on modern(ish) recordings would be for Karajan with Behrens, but, going back a bit now, I see nobody has yet mentioned Welitsch. I think there are two extant live versions from the Met, both conducted by Fritz Reiner. The earlier one, recorded in 1949, is definitely the one to go for, Welitsch's voice still being in prime condition. Jochanaan is Herbert Janssen and Herod is Fredercik Jagel. By 1952, when Hans Hotter is Joachanaan, Welistch's voice is already showing signs of weakness. Incidentally, there is also a 1944 recording of her singing the final scene, conducted by Lovro von Matacic, which I have yet to be heard bettered - by anybody.

I have the final scene and it is indeed fantastic! I did not mention Welistch because I only have the final scene and not the complete opera.

[Sergeant Rock]

I have the final scene and it is indeed fantastic! I did not mention Welistch because I only have the final scene and not the complete opera.

The same reason I didn't mention her. In fact, she was the first Salome I ever heard (on an LP of opera arias that included the final scene). I really should acquire a complete performance.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

There's a Salome to suit every taste, even those with no taste. Which is good, considering how multi-faceted the work really is. Although I'd never consider recommending it as a first choice, Caballé (Leinsdorf) uncovers vocal wonders I never imagined were in the score.

I agree. Hers was the first CD version of the opera I bought and I enjoy it very much. It's a bit counterintuitive but she actually sang the role really well...at least on record.

Another performance I'm interested in but haven't acquired yet is the Sinopoli/Studer. Has anyone heard it?

Sarge

[Hector]

'Gramophone' got it about right, unless, of course, you are not bothered overmuch about sound quality in this of all operas!

My favourite remains Nielsen.

I saw Ewing do this at Covent Garden with Terfel, Riegel and, I think, Rysanek with Dohnanyi in the pit.

Ewing did a full strip and faced the audience. I'm sure this is on DVD.

I think Maria Ewing was still married to Peter Hall at the time. Just shows how long ago it was.

[Siedler]

Another performance I'm interested in but haven't acquired yet is the Sinopoli/Studer. Has anyone heard it?

Yes and it is wonderful, my favourite.

[ChamberNut]

Just watched this last night, my first viewing of Opera on DVD, and it was absolutely riveting! :

Salome

Maria Ewing - Salome
Michael Devlin - Jokanaan
Kenneth Riegel - Herod
Gillian Knight - Herodias
Robin Leggate - Narraboth

Covent Garden
Conductor:  Edward Downes
Director: Peter Hall

Kultur video
1992 (I believe)

[ChamberNut]

Just watched this last night, my first viewing of Opera on DVD, and it was absolutely riveting! :

Salome

Maria Ewing - Salome
Michael Devlin - Jokanaan
Kenneth Riegel - Herod
Gillian Knight - Herodias
Robin Leggate - Narraboth

Covent Garden
Conductor:  Edward Downes
Director: Peter Hall

Kultur video
1992 (I believe)

Just want to add that although the performance was incredible, the video quality and sound were not very good, in my opinion.  But, still worth a view for the disturbing performance of Ewing as Salome, and tremendous performance by Michael Devlin as John the Baptist.

[knight66]

It is a very long time since I saw this performance. I seem to think the lip-sync was quite poor, did you notice one way or the other?

Mike

[ChamberNut]

It is a very long time since I saw this performance. I seem to think the lip-sync was quite poor, did you notice one way or the other?

Mike

Hmm, to be honest, I never paid attention to that at all.  Didn't notice any lip-synching.  I guess I must have been enthralled with my first full viewing of opera, that I didn't pay any attention to certain details.    I'll have to put it back on to check that out.  This was a copy I got from the downtown library.

[knight66]

Not to worry...really from your point of view, it does not matter, the main thing being that it knocked your socks off.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

It is a very long time since I saw this performance. I seem to think the lip-sync was quite poor, did you notice one way or the other?

Mike

I'm confused. I thought the Ewing Salome was recorded live at Covent Garden. Why would there be any lip-synching?

[wagnernn]

How about the Salome with Clemens Krauss and Christel Goltz?
http://www.amazon.com/Clemens-Krauss-conducts-Strauss-Recording/dp/B000276K4G

[knight66]

I'm confused. I thought the Ewing Salome was recorded live at Covent Garden. Why would there be any lip-synching?

Yes, my comments were about a version with Teresa Stratas....so I was barking up the wrong tree altogether. My apologies.

wagnernn, sorry, I don't know that version at all.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

Yes, my comments were about a version with Teresa Stratas....so I was barking up the wrong tree altogether. My apologies.


Mike

Oddly I remember the opposite about the lip-synching on that version. Stratas at least seemed as if she was really singing. I still think she's just about the most convincing Salome on DVD.

[Brahmsian]

Scarpia, your post in the Wagner's Valhalla thread got me thinking about the 'ideal' Salome candidate.

Hmmm, who would I enjoy most seeing doing the 'Dance of the Seven Veils'?

I happen to think, Colombian beauty, Sofia Vergara of Modern Family would be right up there for me!