Der Freischutz (2 CD)
Hybrid SACD
Andreas Schager (Artist), Lise Davidsen (Artist), Alan Held (Artist), Sofia Fomina (Artist), Carl Maria von Weber (Composer)
Audio CD (October 25, 2019)
Number of Discs: 2
Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
Label: Pentatone

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. Janowskis inspired reading lifts out the symphonic qualities of Carl Maria von Webers 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 For this recording, the original spoken dialogues have been replaced by short narrations, written by Katharina Wagner and Daniel Weber and recited by Corinna Kirchhoff and Peter Simonischeck. Marek Janowski is one of the most celebrated conductors of our times, and enjoys a vast PENTATONE discography, including complete recordings of Bruckners symphonies and Wagners mature operas. Frankfurt Radio Symphony has also released multiple albums on PENTATONE, including a recording of Richard Strausss Salome (2017).
 

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