Title: Richard Strauss: Arabella Artist: Georg Solti Release Date: 2006 Label: Decca Duration: 144:03 Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto, Plot synopsis/story UPC: 028947577317 Genre: Opera Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 2

1. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Die Karten fallen besser als das letzte Mal
2. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Sie wollen alle Geld!
3. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Matteo! - Zdenko! Du! Bist du allein?
4. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Ich danke, Fräulein
5. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Er ist der Richtige nicht für mich!
6. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Aber der Richtige, wennst einen gibt
7. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Das ist der Schlitten vom Elemer
8. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. So triumphierend treten Sie herein?
9. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 1. Laßt uns allein, meines Kinder
10. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 1. Mandryka! Der reiche Kerl!
11. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 1. Herr Graf, Sie haben ihrem werten Brief
12. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 1. Der Onkel ist dahin
13. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 1. Das ist ein Fall von andrer Art
14. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 1. Mein Elemer!
15. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Das ist ein Engel
16. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Sie sehn nicht aus wie jenmand
17. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Ich habe eine Frau gehabt
18. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Sie wolln mich heiraten, sagt mein Vater
19. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Und du wirst mein Gebieter sein
20. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 2. Die Wiener Herrn verstehn sich

1. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. Yodelling Cadenza - Sie sind allein?
2. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. Und jetzt sag ich Adieu
3. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. O Arabella, gibt es was Schöneres
4. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. Ein Feigling bin ich
5. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. Und wenn hier viele Arabella heißen
6. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 2. Ging durch einen Wald
7. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 3. Über seine Felder wird der Wagen gahren
8. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 3. Sie hier? So muß ich fragen, Arabella!
9. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
   - Act 3. Welch ein errgtes Tête-à-tête
10. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Papa, so schau mir ins Gesicht!
11. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Ich gratuliere Ihnen, Herr Leutnant
12. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Papa, Mama!
13. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Sehr gut. Jetzt habe ich
14. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Zdenkerl, du bist die Beßre
15. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Mandryka! - Ich bin nicht wert
16. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Mit diesem Herrn da trete ich vor Ihnen
17. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Sie gibt mir keinen Blick
18. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Das war sehr gut, Mandryka
19. Arabella, opera, Op. 79 (TrV 263)
    - Act 3. Dann aber, wie ich Sie gespürt hab

How can one decide between Lisa della Casa's many recordings of Strauss' Arabella? After all, she recorded the work twice for major labels -- this 1957 Decca recording with Solti conducting and a 1963 DG recording with Keilberth conducting -- and, beyond that, there are half a dozen or so extant live recordings. But of course, when you want a recording of Arabella, it has to have Lisa della Casa in the title role. With her voice of pure gold, her technique of absolute effortlessness, and her portrayal of enormous compassion, she is by common agreement the role's finest interpreter. So how does one decide?

Let's say that for reasons of sonic quality, we put aside the half dozen or so extant live recordings and stick just with the two major-label productions. What are the arguments for the Decca? Della Casa is younger, stronger, and more supple. Solti is colorful, powerful, and very dramatic. The Wiener Philharmoniker is brilliant, beautiful, and very virtuosic. The rest of the cast ranges from good to great with Otto Edelmann being the merely good and Hilde Gueden, George London, and Anton Dermota being the very great. John Culshaw's recording is deep, detailed, and very immediate. What are the arguments for the DG? Della Casa is older but wiser and deeper than ever. Keilberth is more than adequate but less than dramatic. The Bavarian State Opera Orchestra is more than adequate but less than beautiful. However, the rest of the cast, especially Fischer-Dieskau, is great to magnificent and the live sound is rich and very live. So how does one decide? Given the choice of two superlative performances, the answer is both. Forced to choose, the Decca might get the nod for conducting, but the DG might get the nod for the rest of the cast. Better to go with both. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide

Name Credits Anton Dermota Vocals Brigitte Pinaud Liner Note Translation Chris Wood Liner Note Translation, Libretto Translation Eberhard Wächter Vocals Fritz Sengl Vocals Georg Solti Conductor George London Vocals Gerd Uekermann Synopsis Giovanni Maragno Liner Note Translation Gordon Parry Engineer Harald Proglhoff Vocals Hilde Gueden Vocals Hugo von Hofmannsthal Librettist Ira Malaniuk Vocals James Brown Engineer James Lock Remastering Supervisor John Culshaw Producer Judith Hellwig Vocals Karl Kolowratnik Vocals Lisa della Casa Vocals Mimi Coertse Vocals Otto Edelmann Vocals Otto Vajda Vocals Paschal Byrne Transfers Phil Rowlands Remastering, Re-Editing, Processing Tim Handley Processing, Remastering, Re-Editing Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra Vienna State Opera Choir Choir, Chorus Waldemar Kmentt Vocals Wilhelm Lenninger Vocals