Best Salome?

[Guido]

There was a thread on the old forum, but I never got round to reading it. So ladies and gentlemen, your suggestions please.

[Que]

Coincidentally, the latest Gramophone has an comparative review of available recordings - the Behrens/ Karajan came on top with Alex Ross.

But for my money: Rysanek/ Böhm, live 1972:
Very good sound BTW.



Q

[bhodges]

Coincidentally, the latest Gramophone has an comparative review of available recordings - the Behrens/ Karajan came on top with Alex Ross.

But for my money: Rysanek/ Böhm, live 1972:
Very good sound BTW.



Q

I have not heard either of these, and would like to.  I have Rysanek doing the final scene on another recording, and she's excellent. 

My two favorites at the moment are with the late Inga Nielsen conducted by Michael Schønwandt (which has superb playing from the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and vivid Chandos sound) and the DVD with Teresa Stratas, also with Böhm--a filmed version, with the voices dubbed in later.  It was done in 1976 but the sound is excellent, and director Götz Friedrich strikes a fine balance between close-ups and longer shots.

--Bruce

[springrite]

Stratas for me, although the Bohm mentioned above is a great one as well. Though I have only heard it once, it left a strong impression. But the Stratas, especially on video, takes the cake because of her voice as well as characterization/acting. For most of the opera you believe she IS Salome, and you feel like you understand Salome.

[bhodges]

Stratas for me, although the Bohm mentioned above is a great one as well. Though I have only heard it once, it left a strong impression. But the Stratas, especially on video, takes the cake because of her voice as well as characterization/acting. For most of the opera you believe she IS Salome, and you feel like you understand Salome.

Isn't Stratas just phenomenal!  What really impressed me is how young and seemingly innocent she acts in the first half (or so) and then progresses into total depravity--a tough transition to make.

--Bruce

[springrite]

Isn't Stratas just phenomenal!  What really impressed me is how young and seemingly innocent she acts in the first half (or so) and then progresses into total depravity--a tough transition to make.

--Bruce

Indeed. What also impressed me was how in all other productions, opera and play included, Salome was a character you don't sympathize with. But as depraved Salome is in Statas' performance, you can also, in a strange way, "feel for her". I don't know me being a psychologist is partially the cause for this. But I could not connect with the Salome under anyone else like I do with Stratas.

[Sergeant Rock]

I have not heard either of these, and would like to.  I have Rysanek doing the final scene on another recording, and she's excellent. 

My two favorites at the moment are with the late Inga Nielsen conducted by Michael Schønwandt (which has superb playing from the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and vivid Chandos sound) and the DVD with Teresa Stratas, also with Böhm--a filmed version, with the voices dubbed in later.  It was done in 1976 but the sound is excellent, and director Götz Friedrich strikes a fine balance between close-ups and longer shots.

--Bruce

I agree with Bruce. My current favorite Salome is this one:




Inge Nielsen is a great singing/actor. More than anyone else I've heard in this role, she comes closest to convincing me that she's really a petulant, spoiled, dangerous adolescent with uncontrollable hormones and not a middle-aged diva.

Sarge

[bhodges]

Inge Nielsen is a great singing/actor. More than anyone else I've heard in this role, she comes closest to convincing me that she's really a petulant, spoiled, dangerous adolescent with uncontrollable hormones and not a middle-aged diva.

Sarge

That's the dilemma with this role, isn't it!

--Bruce

[kristopaivinen]

I can't understand how you like the Inga Nielsen one. She sounds like a pristine peacock on helium. The orchestra I find too hasty. Then again, I like the Solti one with Nilsson, which in turn ruins my credibility in the eyes of some.

[bhodges]

Well, this is why we have so many recordings to choose from...

I've heard the Solti/Nilsson recording (not in a long time) and I recall liking it: musically, on its own terms, very powerful.  But character-wise, I didn't buy her as an adolescent.  But to each his own...

--Bruce

[Sergeant Rock]

Then again, I like the Solti one with Nilsson, which in turn ruins my credibility in the eyes of some.

Well, yes, it does 



Now we know why Jokanaan preferred beheading

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

That's the dilemma with this role, isn't it!

--Bruce

It is. I did see a live Salome once where the illusion was complete. In Strasbourg, in 1975. I was about one third back from the stage and the soprano, from that perspective anyway, actually looked like a 13-year-old. Incredibly slender and young looking, with a dance of the seven veils that was close to kiddie porn. I have no idea now who she was. I think she was French but I wasn't familiar with her name and I subsequently lost the program. It did prove to me that it was possible to have a credible looking Salome who could also handle the role's musical demands.

Sarge

[bhodges]

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

[kristopaivinen]

I don't really know any Salome I would like to call the best one. Then again, I haven't heard more than the Nielsen, the Solti/Nilsson, Mehta/Marton, some Malfitano version and the Karajan/Behrens one. I don't remember why I dismissed Zubin Mehta's orchestra, but Eva Marton is one soprano to avoid like ear cancer. I haven't heard many uglier voices. I used to worship the Karajan one when I was younger, but now I find Behrens has a poor dynamic range, and Karajan's orchestra lacks the power of the Nilsson one. It's a shame I haven't heard Karl Boehm's performances, given that he ranks on my list above all the aforementioned conductors. Wonder how the singers fare.

I wonder how Solti's Frau Ohne Schatten turned out so mediocre. Reinhild Runkel (the Nurse) is the worst. And Placido Domingo? You must be kidding me!

[marvinbrown]

There was a thread on the old forum, but I never got round to reading it. So ladies and gentlemen, your suggestions please.

Guido you really should see this movie opera of Salome.  I have recommended it to so many people in the past and I'll recommend it again:

 

  Definitely worth experiencing!!

  marvin

[springrite]

Guido you really should see this movie opera of Salome.  I have recommended it to so many people in the past and I'll recommend it again:

 

  Definitely worth experiencing!!

  marvin

This is the one I am talking about! Too bad I have not found a DVD in China, so I can only watch the VHS that I have.

[marvinbrown]

This is the one I am talking about! Too bad I have not found a DVD in China, so I can only watch the VHS that I have.

springrite amazon (US, UK etc.) has it, do they not ship to China??

  marvin

[springrite]

springrite amazon (US, UK etc.) has it, do they not ship to China??

  marvin

It is just too much trouble for me to order from overseas, credit card, shipping, tax here, etc. One order becomes a huge project.

[kristopaivinen]

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

[marvinbrown]

It is just too much trouble for me to order from overseas, credit card, shipping, tax here, etc. One order becomes a huge project.

  Sorry to hear about that but just to tempt you a bit the DVD does surpass the VHS recording which I have seen in many ways.  First and formost it is subtitled in English , French, Spanish and this should interest you CHINESE.  Second the sound is DTS 5.1 and the picture quality is much better than the VHS recording.  You might want to reconsider purchasing it on DVD once more- perhaps on your next visit to the US or England??

  marvin