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Notes
Maestro Marek Janowski leads a sensational cast — including star vocalists Lise Davidsen and Andreas Schager — on this new recording of Der Freischütz, the German Romantic opera par excellence. In the years after its 1821 premiere, the catchy melodies, picturesque charm and spooky scenes of Der Freischütz thrilled audiences throughout Europe. Janowski’s inspired reading lifts out the symphonic qualities of Carl Maria von Weber’s masterpiece, and makes clear why colleagues such as Hector Berlioz and Richard Wagner raved about the work. The excellent cast consists of Lise Davidsen (Agathe), Andreas Schager (Max), Sofia Fomina (Ännchen), Alan Held (Kaspar), Markus Eiche (Ottokar) and Franz-Josef Selig (Eremit). Janowski conducts the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and MDR Radio Choir. For this recording, the original spoken dialogues have been replaced by short narrations, written by Katharina Wagner and Daniel Weber and recited by Corinna Kirchhoff and Peter Simonischek.
Marek Janowski is one of the most celebrated conductors of our times, and enjoys a vast PENTATONE discography, including complete recordings of Bruckner’s symphonies and Wagner’s mature operas. Frankfurt Radio Symphony has also released multiple albums on PENTATONE, including a recording of Richard Strauss’s Salome (2017).
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Reviews
“…Janowski’s pacey reading is entirely welcome, and he delights in Weber’s evocative orchestrations – the crucial horns ring out with admirable polish and style, with the woodwind and choral shrieks in the Wolf’s Glen scene hair raising. The quality of the orchestral playing is mostly matched by the cast, who are pleasingly idiomatic. Many listeners will be curious to hear rising star soprano Lise Davidsen as Agathe, and she doesn’t disappoint. Her two big arias – Leise, leise and Und ob die Wolke – are radiantly, and poignantly sung, demonstrating a ravishing ability to float the tone and an exceptional legato…” ****
Justine Nguyen - Limelight.com.au – 2 March 2020
Performance *** Recording ****
"... there's good singing here, led by Lise Davidsen's sweet-toned Agathe who sings her aria 'Leise, Leise' as if she really means it. Sofia Fomina is a perkily happy Annchen... the chorus - the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir - who are such an essential part of this opera, give their all"
Christopher Cook - BBC Music magazine – February 2020
“… The generous orchestral sound of the hr-sinfonieorchester is an asset of the production. Under Marek Janowski’s direction the orchestra delivers dark romanticism as well as subtle poetry. However, I would have expected more tension from Janowski’s conducting. In the massive choir scenes, the grandiose MDR Radio Choir from Leipzig is a winner. And so, this Janowski recording lives from the power and the sound of the large ensembles, but has deficits with the soloists.” ***
Remy Franck – Pizzicato.lu – 21 November 2019
Album of the Week
“… As Weber’s virginal bride, Agathe, the Norwegian soprano [Lise Davidsen] gives her finest performance to date, both arias sung with a big, radiant voice, but always lyrically. She is well matched by Sofia Formina’s perky Annchen … Janowski conducts Weber’s masterly score with atmosphere and the choir are thrilling in the Huntsmen’s Chorus.”
Hugh Canning – The Sunday Times (Culture magazine) – 10 November 2019
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