. . . the cast is superlative. This production made Edita Gruberova a star, and Zerbinetta subsequently became one of her signature roles . . . Gundula Janowitz is perhaps the ideal Straussian lyric soprano, and arguably has no peer as Ariadne . . . [René Kollo] sounds fine in the more lyrical moments, and the sublime finale is gorgeous . . . [Trudeliese Schmidt] has a gorgeous instrument that yields to no one else in this role. Walter Berry represents extravagant casting in the brief role of the Music Master. Needless to say, Karl Böhm and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra reduced to chamber size are unsurpassed in this music.

. . . perhaps the greatest "Ariadne" conductor of all, Karl Böhm . . . [this is] one of the most completely satisfying recordings there is . . . the soprano [Gundula Janowitz] presents a living, breathing and tender Ariadne, whose arias are still beautifully done and whose final scene, including an exquisitely whispered "Gibt es kein Hinüber?", is supremely moving. The young Edita Gruberova's Zerbinetta is fresh and unmannered, spirited and flighty -- not only brilliantly secure but also genuinely touching. Agnes Baltsa as the Composer is fiery and urgent . . . the sound is remarkably clear and realistic . . . But it's Böhm's conducting, unerringly and naturally charting the shifts between humour, pathos and transcendence that ultimately makes this a set to treasure.

Die bietet mit dem umsichtigen Karl Böhm einen besonderen Strauss-Experten auf, der mit der klassizistischen Architektur und dem drängenden Gefühl der durchsichtigen Partitur bestens vertraut ist. Die Wiener Philharmoniker spielen auf ureigenem Terrain schlicht wundervoll. Gundula Janowitz . . . ist eine kühle, aber nicht marmorierte Ariadne von silbriger Sopran-Schönheit. Die . . . Trudeliese Schmidt ist ein hinreißend mit dem Feuer seiner Mezzo-Jugend um sein verunstaltetes Stück kämpfender Komponist. Eine Kostbarkeit ist freilich die damals eben zur Koloratur-Weltberühmtheit aufsteigende Edita Gruberova als Zerbinetta: ein gluckerndes Komödienpüppchen -- so rosig und zart wie aus Augarten-Porzellan.

[Janowitz]: . . . quelle ligne de chant, et quel timbre!