I think that in this area much will depend on whether or not you can stand (or actually like) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. I have great problems with her singing, which to me is white and mannered, thus excluding a couple of "classic" recordings for my taste. On the other hand, I adore Lisa della Casa (whose Vier letzte Lieder with Bohm conducting may be my facvorite record of all time), as shows in my preferences. I do not have my CDs here, so I apologize for errors in the data. That said, I'd go for Guntram: the only one I know is on Hungaroton/Queler. Fine recording of a rather indifferent piece, IMHO. For the die-hard Straussian. Feuersnot: I have only one and that is in Germany right now - cannot recall, sorry. Salome: I think the Sinopoli is fine. The Sawallisch is the current recording I like as much. The Nilsson/Solti on Decca is great too but Nilsson's voice is, for me, too grand and "healthy" for me in the title role. Elektra: I'd go for the Sawallisch/Marton/Studer, because it is magnificiently conducted and brings out the fin-de-siecle sickliness in this piece out perfectly. Marton may be too coarse for some though (I think she's perfect in this soprano-vs-orchestra deathmatch). A recognized classic is also Nilsson, Resnik, Collier, Krause, Solti on Decca. Rosenkavalier: Gueden/Della Casa live on Gala is incredible and the sound is o.k. But I also like the Te Kanawa/von Otter/Hendricks/Haitink a lot, with what must be the greatest finale trio on record. The usually recommended classic is Schwarzkopf/Tomosa-Sintow/Karajan, which especially in the remastered version, devoid of the beneficial haze that clouded the vocal imperfections before, is one of the few opera recordings that can give me a migraine. Ariadne: Della Casa/Bohm live on Gala can't be beat. The Norman/Gruberova/Masur on Phillips is also very very good. I epecially like the crystalline transparent texture of the orchestral playing, one of the main achievements of this score, in this one. Frau ohne Schatten: That must be my favorite opera. One recording doesn't do it justice. The best complete performances are Domingo/Solti and the Sawallisch. The first has slightly better singing (though both are first-rate and luxury cast, what with Sumi Jo as the Falcon!), the second has more taut and insightful conducting. But my favorite remains the 70's cut live performance from Vienna with Nilson/King/Rysanek, Bohm conducting, on DGG. Intermezzo: Popp/Sawallisch. What a wierd piece. Never really got into this one. Aegyptische Helena: Jones/Hendricks on Decca. Ravishing singing. One of the masters' most underrated works IMO. Arabella: Della Casa/Solti/Decca. Currently out of print, I believe. Don't like the Te Kanawa/Tate. There is a live recording from the 40ies, Bohm conducting, with Della Casa as Zdenka which has muddy sound but great singing. Currently on Berkshire. Great but hard to get is Maria Reining, Hans Hotter, Boehm on DG. Friedenstag: Marc/Bass on Koch is the only one I know of. Don't care much for this one. Schweigsame Frau: Wunderlich/Bohm/DGG is unsurpassed. The sound is so-so. There is one other recording by Janowitz (sp?) from Dresden which has terrible conducting and boxy sound. Daphne: Wunderlich/Bohm. There is also a great 40's recording from the Teatro Colon (I think with Ursuleac) Liebe der Danae: Can't help with this one. Cappriccio: Schwarzkopf/Karajan is ideal here because S. is ideally cast as the shrewish countess. But although many critics did not like it, I also enjoyed the Te Kanawa/Schirmer, a sophisticated and clear reading. I hope you'll enjoy your foray into the lesser-known works. I count them among the most rewarding muscial experiences I have had. An afterthought ... In addition to my previous post [above -Dave], and although somewhat tangential to Don's question, I would like to mention the CD-ROM 'Richard Strauss Operas' that can be ordered for $8.50 from www.operaclassics.com. Put together by Mike Richter, it contains MP3 files with live recordings (with an exception from Munich) in bearable sound covering each of the works. To listen to them, you'll need a device that plays MP3, either on your computer or one of the portable gadgets like the Rio. That may be a nice way to tap into the lesser known stuff if you do not wish to take the plunge and buy complete recordings. The other opera CD-ROMs available from this source are also well worth checking out (there is one with the complete operas of Richard Wagner, with a very nice Parsifal and an otherwise unavailable Sawallisch Ring, for example). Best, Andreas