Standing next to last in
Strauss' long line of operas between Daphne, his warmest evocation of radiant femininity, and Capriccio, his final thoughts as a composer on the relationship between words and music, comes Die Liebe der Danae, his ultimate exploration of love and marriage. Unlike Daphne and Capriccio, however, Die Liebe der Danae -- performed complete only as a dress rehearsal during the composer's lifetime and given its world premiere three years after the composer's death -- has unfortunately failed to establish itself in the world's opera houses and remains rarely performed or recorded.
After listening to this recording of the world-premiere performance, however, it's hard to know why that should be so.
Clemens Krauss, a good friend of the composer and the work's musical godfather, grants Die Liebe a performance of complete dedication and everything that is good and strong and true in the work is in his conducting. The cast, especially the magnificent Paul Schöffler as Jupiter and the melting
Annelies Kupper as Danae, is wholly compelling. The
Vienna Philharmonic plays as if its life depended on it, and it covers itself with honor. Although the sound is antique, it's still clean and honest. Anyone who knows and loves Daphne and Capriccio should hear Die Liebe. Start in the second scene of the Third Act. You'll feel the love.