Customer Reviews

Schreker: Der Schatzgräber

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This seems to be the only CD recording of this work by Schreker. Unfortunately the sound quality of the recording is very poor. Strangely so, because the recording of Ferne Klang on the same label and by much the same artists is wonderful.

This being the only recording of Schreker's greatest commercial success, it is necessarily recommended. However, the performance suffers from its being cut; the flow of event and music is horrendously disjunct. If you were to listen to it and not "get" it, it's not your fault. The editorial decision to present this as a legitimate representation of Schreker is just wrong.

The sound is acceptable for a live recording, but Gabriele Schnaut suffers from a terrible wobble.

As for the composer, it's untrue that he was eclipsed by the 2nd Viennese School. He was one of the three most popular German opera composers of the day. (The others were Strauss and Korngold.) He didn't live long enough to see it's final ascendancy, but he did suffer from Nazi victimization. Their Berufsverbot kept Schreker's music silent for decades. Schreker's place is unique and undeniable, and I urge all to consult Christopher Hailey's exhaustive biography of Schreker to illuminate his work and the context in which he lived and has been subsequently seen.

The best Schreker operas are yet to be released: Christophorus, Der Singende Teufel and Der Schmied von Gent. I can't wait.

it's ok...not as good as Die Gezeichneten at all. The version is quite good.

Martin Pitchon