London Symphony Orchestra & Colin Davis - Weber: Der Freischütz (2013) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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London Symphony Orchestra & Colin Davis - Weber: Der Freischütz (2013) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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Simon O Neill is Max, the free-shooting hunter of the title, and his rock-steady voice blazes like gold as it goes into his higher register. Christine Brewer is his lover Agathe, and although some of her top notes can sound very slightly grainy, the luscious warmth and impressive size of her voice is ample compensation. Sally Matthews brings an unusual variety and depth to the soubrettish role of Ännchen, Agathe s friend. **** –Sinfini Music

***** One of the marvels of his [Davis ] old age was the vitality he continued to bring to his music-making, combined with the wisdom of experience. Both are in evidence here, reinforcing Der Freischütz s reputation as one of the most tuneful and psychologically profound operas in the repertoire … It s one of the LSO s more successfully cast opera sets, with majestic top notes from Christine Brewer s Agathe and a typically febrile Ännchen from Sally Matthews.' –Financial Times

Here is a timely reminder of the late conductor s championing of Weber s masterpiece, no longer, alas, a repertoire staple here. 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. Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times 12 May 2013

Recorded in April 2012 at London's Barbican, this live concert performance of Weber's Der Freischütz is a moving testament to the late Sir Colin Davis, as well as a thrilling performance in its own right, with top soloists: Christine Brewer in dramatic full throttle as Agathe, a pure-toned Sally Matthews (Annchen) and Simon O'Neill urgent and ardent as Max. Spoken dialogue is handled briskly. 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, of which there are many in this early Romantic opera. –The Observer

It is perhaps it cause for sadness that this Weber set has turned out to be the final opera recording of one of Britain s greatest conductors, but it is equally a celebration of the late musician s skills that this valedictory recording is given such a strong and sinewy reading a touch steady, perhaps, but the tempi here help accentuate the rigour of the reading. And it is particularly welcome to note that the spoken dialogue always tedious on repeated listenings has been excised. –Barry Forshaw, Classical CD Choice 11 May 201

Davis clearly loved the opera and drew very fine playing from the LSO. From the opening moments of the overture, it is clear that the orchestra is one of the stars of this piece and throughout their playing impresses with some lovely solo moments as well … this recording will have a place for individual contributions but not least for Davis's vision of the opera combined with the fact that it was almost certainly his last operatic recording. Davis's passion is delivered magically from his baton to the orchestra and the soloists in this recording. Sopranos Christine Brewer and Sally Matthews are particularly stunning. Complete opera recordings are getting rarer these days, so when one comes out, and it's this good, it's something to be treasured. –CBC Music (Canada)

Weber s beguiling score is full of rustic energy and vivid evocations of the natural world. The winning cast is headed by the tenor Simon O Neill, who brings both heroic heft and Mozartean lyricism to Max. The luminous soprano Christine Brewer is wonderful as Agathe … The astonishing Wolf s Glen scene, when Max enters a haunted realm of the forest, is Weber at his most ingenious and Davis s performance captures the music s ominous and magical allure. –New York TImes

'This release is a fitting tribute for a conductor who knew precis –Classical Source

Simon O Neil is virtually perfect for Max, not too uber-Heldentenor and not too light; Christine Brewer handles and refine her weight of tone well; Lars Woldt has the right mix of pantomime and real devilry for Caspar; Sally Matthews is a delightful and true-sounding Aennchen. –Mike Ashman, Gramophone August 2013

'This release is a fitting tribute for a conductor who knew precisely what he wanted in term of expression and colour, and who was blessed by having an orchestra the LSO (of which he had been both Principal Conductor and President) that could deliver it. –Classical Source

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London Symphony Orchestra & Colin Davis - Weber: Der Freischütz (2013) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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London Symphony Orchestra & Colin Davis - Weber: Der Freischütz (2013) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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