Kungliga Filharmonikerna - German Opera Scenes and Arias (2026) [Hi-Res]

Swedish sopranoMalinBystrom, hailed as one of today's leading singing actors, presents a captivating journey through her celebrated German repertoire. Renowned for her perfect vocal technique, Bystrom brings to life arias and scenes that have enthralled audiences on stage and in concert, accompanied by theRoyal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestraunder ThomasSondergard. The album features excerpts from two 19th-century German operas among her favorites: Beethoven'sFidelio and Carl Maria von Weber'sDer Freischutz. It also spotlights Erich Wolfgang Korngold'sDie Tote Stadt, a lushly orchestrated work that, despite today's relative obscurity, wasone of the greatest hits of the 1920s. However, it is Richard Strauss who takes center stage, a composer whose genius for the female voice is unmatched. Bystrom's voice, described by critics as "radiant," "sparkling," and "silvery," soars through the opulence of Die agyptische Helena, the timeless lyricism of Capriccio, and the dramatic intensity of Salome's final scene. This album is a testament to her artistry, showcasing her mastery across the breadth of German operatic tradition.