Colin Davis - Weber: Der Freischutz - Import 2 SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Colin Davis

Description:

A great conductor returns to the work after twenty-two years Davis and the LSO in Weber's Der Freischütz LSO Live continues its series of releases marking the 85th birthday of Colin Davis in the autumn of 2012. The latest album is Davis conducting Weber's opera Der Freischütz complete, recorded live at concert performances given at the orchestra's home, the Barbican Hall, on 19 and 21 April 2012 — some two months before the Berlioz Requiem that preceded it in the series. Davis had already made a complete studio recording of the opera with the Staatskapelle Dresden at the Lukaskirche, Dresden, in January 1990, so this is his second account of the score, twenty-two years on. Davis has continued to devote himself to new repertoire, from his commission from James MacMillan to the Nielsen symphonies, while also setting the seal on the Berlioz and Sibelius interpretations he has deepened across a long career. From his appointment as President of the LSO in 2006 to the present day, everything he has done has been on an extraordinary level, and this performance is no exception. From the Overture, with its artful foreshadowing of the themes to come, to the tension and sheer voltage of the Wolf's Glen scene — famous as one of the most sinister and brutal passages in all opera — Davis proves more energetic and fresher than ever with the passing years, filling the score with music of overwhelming power that far exceeds expectation. Surprisingly, this is the LSO's first complete recording of Der Freischütz, yet the orchestra has mounted concert performances of opera every season since 2000 and its experience shows: the rapport with Davis could hardly be better. The principal cast is drawn from Davis's favoured singers, all of whom have appeared on previous LSO Live releases — Simon O'Neill as Max (Otello), Christine Brewer as Agathe (Verdi's Requiem) and Sally Matthews as Ännchen (The Creation) — and all repay the conductor's trust handsomely. For these performances an unusual approach was adopted: alongside the original German singing, a new English narration by Amanda Holden is delivered by the distinguished British actor Malcolm Sinclair. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Der Freischutz: Overture
2.Der Freischutz: Act 1. No. 1. Introduction. Victoria, der Meister soll leben
3.Der Freischutz: Act 1. No. 2. Terzett mit Chor. O! diese Sonne!
4.Der Freischutz: Act 1. No. 3. Scene, Walzer und Arie. Nein! langer trag' ich nicht die Qualen
5.Der Freischutz: Act 1. No. 4. Lied. Hier im ird'schen Jammerthal
6.Der Freischutz: Act 1. No. 5. Arie. Schweig'! Schweig'! damit dich niemand warnt
7.Der Freischutz: Act 2. No. 6. Duett. Schelm! halt fest!
8.Der Freischutz: Act 2. No. 7. Ariette. Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen
9.Der Freischutz: Act 2. No. 8. Scene und Arie. Wie nahte mir der Schlummer
10.Der Freischutz: Act 2. No. 9. Terzett. Wie? Was? Entsetzen!
1.Der Freischutz: Act 2. No. 10. Finale - Die Wolfsschlucht. Milch des Mondes fiel aufs Kraut
2.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 11. Entre-Acte
3.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 12. Cavatine. Und ob die Wolke sie verhulle
4.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 13. Romanze und Arie. Einst traumte meiner sel'gen Base
5.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 14. Volkslied. Wir winden dir den Jungfernkranz
6.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 15. Jagenchor. Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem Jagervergnugen
7.Der Freischutz: Act 3. No. 16. Finale. Schaut, o schaut, er traf die eig'ne Braut!