Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Tatiana Troyanos!
Richard Strauss was married to a singer; and he produced some of the most amazing music for the Soprano voice. This music is well-known not only in many of Strauss’ operas, but also in his Lieder, and especially his “Four Last Songs”, and much more…
In this recording we get a taste of the amazing performers of Strauss’ music, and they are listed below.
We don’t hear very much from Kathleen Battle these days; however, when she gave concerts and sang at the Metropolitan Opera, her interpretations we legendary.
On this CD, we hear her in…
- Strauss, R: Ariadne auf Naxos
Performed by Kathleen Battle (Zerbinetta), Jessye Norman (Prima Donna/Ariadne), Tatiana Troyanos (Der Komponist), James King (Bacchus/The Tenor)
And the orchestra is the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conducted by James Levine.
All three of these leading ladies are superb in their respective roles. Kathleen Battle has the ability to pull off a stunning Zerbinetta. Troyanos and Jessye Norman were always known to give amazing performances with equal effort in the singing and their ability to create drama.
Here is what appeared in the Penguin Guide, 2010 edition:
“This is straight and unfussy in its staging, and the video production by Brian Large could not be more expert and unobtrusive… Tatiana Troyanos’s Composer is quite superb, and neither Battle nor Norman can be faulted vocally”
Here is Kathleen Battle singing Zerbinetta’s Monologue, “Großmächtige Prinzessin”, from the opera Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss. The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is conducted by James Levine
And now, have a look/listen to Jessye Norman as Ariadne (sends chills down my spine)
Tags: Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Tatiana Troyanos, Richard Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos