Customer Reviews

Weber - Oberon / van der Walt, Nielsen, Seiffert, Kasarova, Skovhus, Paulsen; Janowski

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Freischutz has drama and movement, and Euryanthe a pre-Lohengrin fascination (its only recording is also by Janowski, starring Jessye Norman, Rita Hunter and Nicolai Gedda), Oberon presents problems. It's really a pastiche, long on dull dialogue trying to glue a series of numbers together. Some numbers are wonderful, notably "Ozean, du Ungeheuger,"that cavallo di battaglia of big, big sopranos taking time out from their Brunnhildes (Eileen Farrell and Birgit Nilsson -- who recorded the entire role -- both have versions). But Inge Nielsen (who recently released an impressive Salome)does perfectly fine, thanks, and in a voice no doubt closer to what Weber was composing for. Deon van der Walt is a thrilling young tenor, and Janowski -- a truly underrated conductor (as is Muti) -- does wonders with the score. If you like German opera from this era, pick it up (and if you can find it, pick up Marschner's Hans Heiling, too).

If you like romantic German music from the 19th century (and, since you looked up this item, you surely must), this an essential link between the Beethoven era and the Wagner era. Buy Weber's "Der Freischutz" first - Kleiber's version - but then purchase this delectable performance of an opera that deserves further exploration.

Weber - Oberon / van der Walt, Nielsen, Seiffert, Kasarova, Skovhus, Paulsen; Janowski is a splendid recording with the talented Marek Janowski conducting the Deutches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. BMG has certainly done a good job with the book-let and the pictures have been selected with care. The essays written by Thomas S. Grey are very informative and well-written. Roger Picard has managed to capture the intense nature of Janowski in a very fine photo. Overall I give this recording 5 stars.

This is an OK recording, but I don't think it really does justice to what is admittedly a problematic score (and an even more problematic libretto). Although not yet released as of this writing, I think the DGG Kubelik/Nilsson/Domingo recording has more to offer vocally than this one. I don't agree that Inge Nielsen does "just fine" - rather more like "just OK." I'm not Nilsson's biggest fan, but she really carries the vocal demands better than Nielsen. And Domingo is fine too. Compare the two recordings if you can find a copy of the Kubelik - it's worth the time.