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Weber: Der Freischütz

Christine Brewer (Agathe), Sally Matthews (Ännchen), Lars Woldt (Kaspar), Simon O’Neill (Max), Stephan Loges (Ottokar/Zamiel), Martin Snell (Kuno), Gidon Saks (A Hermit), Marcus Farnsworth (Kilian), Lucy Hall (Bridesmaids)

London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Colin Davis

This is a sincere reading of the work, but sincerity should not be confused with a lack of sophistication. The orchestral textures are pristine, the tempos and colours bracing and plaintive,... — BBC Music Magazine, August 2013 More…

Release Date: 29th Apr 2013
Catalogue No: LSO0726
Label: LSO Live
Length: 2 hours 2 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

6th May 2013

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Weber: Der Freischütz

Work length2:02:35

Album only

Gidon Saks, Christine Brewer, Marcus Farnsworth, Stephan Loges, Lucy Hall, Simon O'Neill, Martin Snell, Sally Matthews, Lars Woldt
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus
Sir Colin Davis

Overture

Track length10:37

$1.40

$1.75

$2.05

Introduction - "Victoria!"

Track length5:45

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$1.45

Terzett mit Chor - "O! diese Sonne"

Track length6:59

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$1.45

Scene, Walzer und Arie - "Nein! Langer trag' ich nicht die Qualen"

Track length9:26

$1.20

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$1.75

Lied - "Hier im ird'schen Jammerthal"

Track length2:36

$1.00

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$1.45

Arie - "Schweig'!"

Track length3:44

$1.00

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$1.45

Duett - "Schelm! halt fest!"

Track length5:01

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Ariette - "Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen"

Track length4:07

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Scene und Arie - "Wie nahte mir der Schlummer"

Track length8:55

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Terzett - "Wie? Was? Entsetzen!"

Track length7:06

$1.20

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$1.75

Finale - "Die Wolfsschlucht"

Track length18:08

Album only

Entre-Acte

Track length2:03

$1.00

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$1.45

Cavatine - "Und ob die Wolke sie verhulle"

Track length5:30

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$1.45

Romanze und Arie - "Einst traumte meiner sel'gen Base"

Track length6:50

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$1.45

Volkslied - "Wir winden dir den Jungfernkranz"

Track length4:10

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$1.45

Jagerchor - "Was gleicht wohl auf Erden"

Track length2:51

$1.00

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$1.45

Finale - "Schaut, o schaut!"

Track length18:47

Album only

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Recording of the Week, Weber's Der Freischütz from Sir Colin Davis and the LSO

6th May 2013

Fresh, full-bodied and raucous when required, the conductor’s final opera recording is a fitting valedictory tribute to a great man, with Christine Brewer on sublime form as Agathe and Simon O’Neill a steely and secure Max.

Obituary, Sir Colin Davis, 1927-2013

15th April 2013

Sir Colin Davis conducts the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and a stellar cast of soloists in a concert performance of Weber’s eerily fantastical opera, 'Der Freischütz'.

'Der Freischütz' is heralded as one of the cornerstones of Romantic opera, drawing on traditional German folk tunes and elements of Romanticism for the first time in the history of opera. The evocative and colourful orchestration is particularly impressive in the '‘Wolf’s Glen’ scene: often considered the most gruesomely expressive rendering of evil to be found in a musical score!

All three main soloists are well established on LSO Live: Opera News declared the Verdi Requiem (LSO00683), featuring Christine Brewer, as "one of the finest recordings the work has ever received". Sally Matthews, who has performed regularly with Sir Colin Davis, was praised in her role in Haydn's 'Creation' (LSO0628). Simon O’Neill’s previous appearance on the label, in the title role of Verdi's 'Otello' (LSO0700) saw much critical acclaim, and confirmation that "he is the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade" The Telegraph.

Reviews

August 2013

This is a sincere reading of the work, but sincerity should not be confused with a lack of sophistication. The orchestral textures are pristine, the tempos and colours bracing and plaintive, with faultless work from clarinettist Chris Richards.

11th May 2013

The joys of the performance lie in the way the acoustical demands of the work have been met

August 2013

If Davis's handling of the score lacks the dramatic punch of the Kleibers' readings, there are some fine things here - his phrasing of the score's many lyrical moments, the playing of the orchestra and the careful and exciting casting. Simon O'Neill is virtually perfect for Max, not too über-Heldentenor and not too light

30th August 2013

Brewer is an Agathe of exceptional beauty and poise. Sally Matthews’ lovely Ännchen is so riveting that she could just as well have been singing Agathe. Simon O’Neill’s Max is neither too Wagnerian nor too Mozartean...this last opera recording by Sir Colin Davis is worth acquiring for all admirers of this uniquely enticing conductor. A worthy memorial.

August 2013

Davis plays scrupulous attention to Weber’s orchestral subtleties, which he cherishes as lovingly as a good Berliozian should…Christine Brewer floats a lovely tone in ‘Leise, leise’ and especially ‘Und ob die Wolke’. There is no dialogue, but some fine orchestral playing… with Davis drawing a memorably brooding atmosphere from all his players.

6th May 2013

this is a first-class recording of Weber’s most popular opera. Not only is the singing and playing of the highest order, it also demonstrates perfectly the qualities of Sir Colin Davis’s conducting, and is a fitting valedictory tribute to a great man.

12th May 2013

Over the decades, Davis’s tempi have become more measured, but the Wolf’s Glen scene still has spook factor aplenty...Chorus and orchestra are the stars here.

11th May 2013

a moving testament to the late Sir Colin Davis, as well as a thrilling performance in its own right...The chorus, especially in the Wolf's Glen, enthralls, as does the orchestra, rising to every challenge, urgent or lyrical, heroic or poetic. Davis, as ever, balances unrushed tempi with moments of raw excitement and aural extravagance

10th May 2013

the love [Davis] felt toward Der Freischütz can be felt in almost every bar...there is nothing galumphing here, and the LSO make themselves happily rustic whenever the music swings that way...The vocal cast? Always decent, sometimes compelling.

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Weber: Der Freischütz

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Contents

Recording of the Week, Weber's Der Freischütz from Sir Colin Davis and the LSO

Obituary, Sir Colin Davis, 1927-2013

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