“Der Rosenkavalier” is a nice mix of modernism (not really a modern opera) and classical, with a nonchalance, a comic verve, a finesse, as a lot of irony against the social situation. Even if Capriccio shows that Richard Strauss would continue to evolve to achieve remarkable levels (a little like Verdi with Falstaff), the Rosenkavalier has still something more direct in the approach.

So, which recording I would recommend? In my young years, I loved Schwarzkopf from the Voice point of view. Then I evolved to the studio recording from Erich Kleiber. Reining is not the best, but the complete recording is remarkably consistent. If stereo is a must have, that Karajan for EMI / Warner is probably a reference.

Tristan und Isolde was the first complete Opera from Richard Wagner I aquired a CD (The Böhm Recording on DGG). I know, not the easiest, but I found access to it through it, and since them, I became a real fan of the componist. I’m always amazed by the 4 hours of consistant chromatic music flow, which takes you even if from a dramatic point of view, it’s a very “simple” story.

Which recording I would recommend? Probably the Böhm, as it has the right balance between speed and slowness, the right singers, not to histrionic, but present as they have to be (Nilsson is of course amazing), and it’s more vivid as current with live recordings than others…

Turandot is for me defnitively the summum of Puccini’s work. He achieved a really interesting mixture between modernism and melodic facility I appreciate. It’s only a pity that Puccini could’nt finish it.

My preferred recording is the Mehta recording. Even if I’m not sure the singers would have sung these roles on stage, the recording is perfectly balanced. Even if Corelli is certainly the best Calaf, Nilsson a colder than ice Turandot, …