Die Frau ohne Schatten

Few works in the repertory rival the grandeur of Strauss’s mythical masterpiece Die Frau ohne Schatten, which combines soaring vocalism, sweeping orchestral forces, and a plot of truly supernatural dimensions. In this unforgettable 2002 radio broadcast, the Met rises to the challenge—and then some—with celebrated conductor Christian Thielemann leading a magnificent assemblage of dramatic singers. At the height of her vocal powers, soprano Deborah Voigt is the otherworldly Empress, who undergoes a perilous quest to obtain a shadow, taking the stage alongside tenor Thomas Moser as the high-flying Emperor, veteran baritone Wolfgang Brendel as the dyer Barak, and soprano Gabriele Schnaut as his wife. Soprano Reinhild Runkel is the Empress’s cunning nurse, rounding out the principal cast in this electrifying performance.