Following the success of Der Freischütz in 1821, Weber determined to break with the singspiel tradition and write a grand romantic opera without spoken dialogue. The libretto he settled on for the project, by Helmina von Chézy, was dramatically weak, and Weber further undermined it by insisting on the addition of a supernatural element. As a result, the opera has never been a huge, popular success, which is a shame since it contains some of Weber's finest work, a wealth of impassioned, noble, dramatic, and vocally spectacular music. This 1974 performance makes a terrifically strong case for the opera's music, and since it's apparently not viable on-stage, it may be best experienced as a recording. This three-CD set presents a musically compelling version of the opera, with an outstanding all-star cast, many of whom are in top form.
Jessye Norman is at the height of her powers, her voice warm and loamy rich and her performance radiant, often thrilling.
Nicolai Gedda is generally very fine, but his performance doesn't consistently have the clarion ringing top that characterizes his very best work. Mezzo-soprano
Rita Hunter, who is sadly underrepresented on disc, sounds like a superstar and easily holds her own in her scenes with
Norman, providing a good match in the beauty of her tone quality and the intensity of her portrayal.
Tom Krause's dark bass is beautifully resonant, absolutely secure, and thoroughly sinister. Bass Siegfried Vogel may not be
Krause's equal, but he is fully adequate for the demands of his role. From the opening notes of the familiar overture,
Marek Janowski establishes a high standard of beautifully nuanced orchestral playing and creates a sense of dramatic urgency that he maintains throughout the opera. He leads the
Dresden Staatskapelle and Leipzig Rundfunkchor in a performance that's both elegant and bursting with energy. While the opera may be a muddle on-stage, as a purely aural experience it's pulse-quickeningly dramatic and full of gorgeous, gratifying music. The sound is lively and clean, with excellent balance. The stellar performances of this neglected masterpiece make this a release that should be of strong interest to any fans of Romantic opera.