This recording is not the one you want - Don t waste your time with this recording, it sucks. The only good CD is the live recording from Carnegie Hall with soprano Alessandra Marc (conducted by Robert Bass).
Enthusiastic Voigt s Singing,Uninspired Strauss Opera - Not the best Strauss music ever but a very deserving recording by late Sinopoli and his team.This Day of Peace was conceived during NazisxStrauss crisis because his collaboration with jewish Stefan Zweig,then replaced by livret writer Joseph Gregor.By listening Friedenstag,it s possible to realize that Strauss didn t like Gregor s lines,in despite of some interesting achievements(the people-choir beseeching for food,the reconciliation between the two rivals commandants))this one act-opera reserves its best music bars to Maria,the only character that has a name(others gain patents,only).I supposed this recording should be a must have to Voigt s admirers,there re another cd version with Alessandra Marc but surely,Maria is just perfect to Voigt s singing and she fulfils a so enthusiastic performance that listener will be intoxicated by her vocal radiance and that big amount of hot top C s on final.Her phrasing over But a day must come when waiting ends,beloved,I want the truth!I want you! is one of the most beautiful I heard on discs ever.I didn t like her partner,Albert Dohmen(the Commandant) cause I think he has a strange vocal texture or,in another words,a rough voice,besides that exaggerated diction on surrender scene.Botha sings well finished his poetical and italianate character and Sinopoli pulls out the best of this score with his fine orchestra and chorus.Like a huge Strauss fan,I think this cd an absolutely unmissable one.