Jared Weinberger compiled a wide Strauss Operas discography:

http://www.mindspring.com/~jaredmarkw/disco.

I recommend the following recordings:

Arabella - Bohm '47, *Solti '58*,
Ariadne - Karajan '54, *Bohm '54*, *Kempe '68*, Masur '88, Nagano '97,
Capriccio - *Bohm '71*,
Daphne - *Bohm '64*, Haitink '82,
Elektra - *Solti '67*,
Frau ohne Schatten - *Bohm '77*, Solti '89/'91,
Friedenstag - Bass '89, Sawallisch '89 (EMI, not covered by JW's
discography),
Guntram - Queler '84,
Intermezzo - *Sawallisch '80*,
Rosenkavalier - Heger '33, Kleiber '54, *Karajan '56*, *Karajan '60*, *Solti
'69*, Bohm '69, *Bernstein '71*,
Salome - *Solti '61*, Karajan '77, *Ozawa '90*,
Schweigsame Frau - *Bohm '59*.

Additional information and easy-to-memorize rules:

1. I know all the recordings I recommend.
2. I do not know all the recordings from JW's discography.
3. Bohm is always very good.
4. Solti is very good except Ariadne (L. Price is not good at all).
5. Janowitz, Della Casa, Norman, Nilsson and Ludwig are always very good.

Next step after Nagano's Ariadne: try any other recommended recording,
they are all of later version with excellent Prologue.  Next step after
Sinopoli's Salome: try Ozawa '90 with Norman.

My favorite Strauss' opera is Capriccio.  Bohm '71 with Janowitz is one of
most important opera recordings I know.

Krzysztof Lorentz
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