Richard Strauss - Die Liebe der Danae
Manuela Uhl; Mark Delavan; Matthias Klink; Thomas Blondelle; Burkhard Ulrich; Deutsche Oper Berlin; Andrew Litton
ArtHaus Musik 101 580
Strauss’ last opera had a difficult birth and even more difficult “childhood.” Written in the midst of WWII, at the imminent collapse of Germany, Strauss wouldn’t allow this seemingly frivolous “joyful mythology” to be performed during the war, but kept nursing it to his bosom, procrastinating until he died in 1949. It finally reached the stage for the first time in 1952 at the Salzburg festival. One wonders why Strauss wrote such a “frivolous comedy” at the end of his career. Perhaps because it is not a frivolous comedy at all!
The God Jupiter who created everything, even man’s “free will” that becomes his undoing, falls in love with the beautiful Danae and employs clever manipulations such as assuming the false identity of Midas to win her with gold and using the real young, handsome Midas as go-between. He unwittingly lets Danae fall in love with Midas out of her own free will which he, the God, is unable to control. Jupiter with enormous sadness has to renounce his love and disappear from the scene. This is the tragedy of an old man, like Strauss himself who is similarly leaving the scene, saying farewell to his love, his life, his art and the world.
Die Liebe der Danae is a beautiful, very eventful and musically rich opera that reaches sublime heights in its last scene (Strauss was always good at endings), the music soars and soars and when it finally reaches ff, leaves the audience silent in awe of its heavenly power. This production by Deutsche Oper, presented on two DVDs, makes us feel exactly that. Stunningly realized with sets of gold and azure, directed with know-how and dignity by Kirsten Harms, conducted by great Straussian Andrew Litton, the title role is sung by Manuela Uhl, who is as good a singer as she is ravishingly beautiful, paired with tenor Matthias Klink (Midas) singing with “emotional radiance.” The real hero however is the baritone, Mark Delavan (Jupiter) with his tremendous pathos, sensitivity and of course power, the power of a God.
