Semyon Bychkov - Strauss: Daphne (2005)

This rarely performed one-act opera dating from 1938 is not one of Strauss's great works, but its 100 minutes has some ravishingly beautiful music. However, the story of a simple nature-girl who rejects the advances of the god Apollo and is turned into a laurel tree is uniquely enchanting, handsomely orchestrated, and contains some wonderful vocal writing for soprano and a pair of tenors--the latter being very rare in Strauss. Renée Fleming sings the title role beautifully, although some might argue that her voice is too ripe and slightly too big for the part of a very young, virginal girl. But she certainly has all the notes and her silvery tone is irresistible. Johann Botha's Apollo is note-perfect: no mean feat given how high and loud the role is. But he sings with less passion than, say, James King in the same role on DG. Michael Schade, as Leukippos, Daphne's innocent suitor, is ardent and also copes well with Strauss's sometimes cruel writing--one phrase begins on a high C! The rest of the cast is very good. Semyon Bychkov leads a clear, well-paced performance and the WDR Symphony and Chorus play and sing expertly. The number one choice may still be the DG recording under Böhm, but Fleming fans will be very pleased to hear her in this beautiful, strange work. --Robert Levine