How about Karl Goldmark’s Die Königin von Saba (1875)? Or Taneyev’s Oresteia (1895)? You might also look into Alexander Zemlinsky and Siegfried Wagner.
I couldn’t tell you but you’re the first person I’ve ever encountered who can apparently make sense of the plot of Frau, much less love it. Good on you!
If you're trying to make sense of any of the Strauss operas, don't bother, just enjoy the luxurious music. Strauss is my all-time favorite guy and I still don't bother trying to get thru the texts of Aegyptische Helena or Liebe der Danae, both stupendous works. Arabella I understand!
Weird spooky mythic/psychoanalytic stories:
- Bartók, *Duke Bluebeard's Castle*
- Schoenberg, *Erwartung*
- Szymanowski, *King Roger*
- Prokofiev, *The Flaming Angel*
- Partch, *Delusion of the Fury*
- Ferneyhough, *Shadowtime*.
I've seen them all except *Shadowtime*, which is maybe the only one that manages to out-complicate *Die Frau ohne Schatten*.
I do **not** like *Die tote Stadt*. It doesn't remotely live up to the book.
The first 4 on your list are all incredible, I love them! (please can *somebody* stage The Fiery Angel in the UK!!!!!!) I only really know Les Froissements and Opus Contra Naturam from Shadowtime, I need to give the full opera another shot. As for Delusion of the Fury, I'm yet to hear that one so I'll give it a go, thank you!
I saw *The Fiery Angel* in London about 20 years ago - spectacular staging and orchestral playing, have to admit I don't remember the vocal parts at all.
Two more to think about:
- Dusapin, *Perelà* (weird story, beautiful orchestral scoring - this really needs to be done with something like Studio Ghibli animation)
- Birtwistle, *Gawain* (and maybe others, I don't know his work very well)
Krol Roger is one of my favourite operas, and yeah aesthetically quite similar to Heliane, utterly beautiful - as is Daphne! Probably I've listened to each Strauss opera more times than I care to remember. 😅 Thanks for the response though!
I remember seeing both the Strauss and Busoni’s Doktor Faust within a year or two at The Met, and they felt similarly flavoured. You might like the Busoni.
I have been a super-fan of Frau since I was a kid and the only recording available was the highly-cut Karl Boehm version! Yes, there is an opera that sounds so much like Strauss at his best, you will be amazed. It's CASSANDRA by Gnecchi---- I do not know his first name at the moment. Only one recording available but it is stupendous. It's similar in sound to Elektra. Don't know the story since the CD did not come with a meaningful booklet. I hope you will be seeing Frau at the Met this year, always stunning. I am an extra actor at the Met and am hoping I can get into a Strauss production this year, but Frau and Salome do not really have many big crowd scenes.
Wow sounds interesting, never heard of this composer before!
I would LOVE to go to Frau at the met (one of the performances happens to be on my 21st birthday haha), but it's not really viable to fly over from the UK especially not during the uni term. Flixbus to Amsterdam though, very doable. Booked some great value student tickets for the Dutch National Opera's production next April (Boulez Répons the next day too!)
Also cool, I'm guessing you're looking to get into the chorus? Good luck in your search!
Yeah I was pretty shocked when I learned that. Definitely would have gone to the live and the encore, despite already having bought two tickets in house.
Consider Schreker. *Die Gezeichneten* is his most famous, followed by *Der ferne Klang*. *Der singende Teufel* is also on Operavision at the moment.
Came here to suggest Schreker. Also Pfitzner’s Palestrina.
How about Karl Goldmark’s Die Königin von Saba (1875)? Or Taneyev’s Oresteia (1895)? You might also look into Alexander Zemlinsky and Siegfried Wagner.
Listen to the Act III prelude to Zemlinsky’s Der König Kandaules (1936-ish) and see if it doesn’t bring some of the same thrills as FroSch.
Will add all of these suggestions to my list, thank you both! Palestrina has some good bits in it but I don't remember it for the most part.
Good suggestion! I tried Ferne Klang and got bored.... but I can totally see how they're similar, gotta try Schreker again!
I couldn’t tell you but you’re the first person I’ve ever encountered who can apparently make sense of the plot of Frau, much less love it. Good on you!
The music is just so good that I can't help but overlook the morally questionable aspects of the libretto 😅
I can definitely agree on that, Frau is lovely.
I don’t think anyone can make out the plot of Frau. Or Il Trovatore for that matter.
If you're trying to make sense of any of the Strauss operas, don't bother, just enjoy the luxurious music. Strauss is my all-time favorite guy and I still don't bother trying to get thru the texts of Aegyptische Helena or Liebe der Danae, both stupendous works. Arabella I understand!
Weird spooky mythic/psychoanalytic stories: - Bartók, *Duke Bluebeard's Castle* - Schoenberg, *Erwartung* - Szymanowski, *King Roger* - Prokofiev, *The Flaming Angel* - Partch, *Delusion of the Fury* - Ferneyhough, *Shadowtime*. I've seen them all except *Shadowtime*, which is maybe the only one that manages to out-complicate *Die Frau ohne Schatten*. I do **not** like *Die tote Stadt*. It doesn't remotely live up to the book.
The first 4 on your list are all incredible, I love them! (please can *somebody* stage The Fiery Angel in the UK!!!!!!) I only really know Les Froissements and Opus Contra Naturam from Shadowtime, I need to give the full opera another shot. As for Delusion of the Fury, I'm yet to hear that one so I'll give it a go, thank you!
I saw *The Fiery Angel* in London about 20 years ago - spectacular staging and orchestral playing, have to admit I don't remember the vocal parts at all.
Two more to think about: - Dusapin, *Perelà* (weird story, beautiful orchestral scoring - this really needs to be done with something like Studio Ghibli animation) - Birtwistle, *Gawain* (and maybe others, I don't know his work very well)
Mmmm modern stuff... Birtwistle is very hit or miss for me but I've never tried his operas, nor have I heard of Dusapin's vocal music, thanks!
You understand Erwartung? It's just weird.
How about Les Mamelles de Tirésias? Musically very different but thematically similar.
Will check it out! I tried Dialogues a while back and it didn't do too much for me, so maybe I'll prefer this one!
In a weird way, if you enjoyed *Heliane*, you'll probably also find *Król Roger* appealing. Also on the Strauss side, *Daphne*?
Krol Roger is one of my favourite operas, and yeah aesthetically quite similar to Heliane, utterly beautiful - as is Daphne! Probably I've listened to each Strauss opera more times than I care to remember. 😅 Thanks for the response though!
Ah, you've left no stone unturned!
I remember seeing both the Strauss and Busoni’s Doktor Faust within a year or two at The Met, and they felt similarly flavoured. You might like the Busoni.
Heard great things about Doktor Faust, will bump it up my list. Thanks!
I have been a super-fan of Frau since I was a kid and the only recording available was the highly-cut Karl Boehm version! Yes, there is an opera that sounds so much like Strauss at his best, you will be amazed. It's CASSANDRA by Gnecchi---- I do not know his first name at the moment. Only one recording available but it is stupendous. It's similar in sound to Elektra. Don't know the story since the CD did not come with a meaningful booklet. I hope you will be seeing Frau at the Met this year, always stunning. I am an extra actor at the Met and am hoping I can get into a Strauss production this year, but Frau and Salome do not really have many big crowd scenes.
Wow sounds interesting, never heard of this composer before! I would LOVE to go to Frau at the met (one of the performances happens to be on my 21st birthday haha), but it's not really viable to fly over from the UK especially not during the uni term. Flixbus to Amsterdam though, very doable. Booked some great value student tickets for the Dutch National Opera's production next April (Boulez Répons the next day too!) Also cool, I'm guessing you're looking to get into the chorus? Good luck in your search!
The failure of the Met to schedule Frau as a worldwide broadcast HD is unforgivable. And what's more they never have.
Yeah I was pretty shocked when I learned that. Definitely would have gone to the live and the encore, despite already having bought two tickets in house.