Richard Strauss - Die Frau Ohne Schatten
Die Frau Ohne Schatten, arguably Strauss's finest collaboration with the great Austrian writer Hofmannsthal, is their "Magic Flute", charting the spiritual journey of two contrasting couples. It is at once a hymn to marriage and its fulfilment by children, and a search for humanity, understanding and love. Sir Georg Solti conducts Gotz Friedrich's memorable production with elemental passion, tempered by sensitivity to the magical character of the opera.