Description:

The last place one might expect to find an impeccable performance of Der Freischütz is Naples, yet the Neapolitan forces deliver exactly that with the help of an outstanding international cast. Max is a role that, like Florestan in Fidelio, demands the technical finesse of Mozart and the vocal heft of Wagner—a combination that challenges even the best tenors. James King rises to the occasion with remarkable assurance, meeting the role’s demands with strength and refinement.

Margaret Price brings an ethereal grandeur to Agathe, her phrasing graceful and her long lines spun with apparent ease. Helen Donath is a charming Ännchen—bright and lively without veering into chirpiness—while Karl Ridderbusch delivers a dark, resonant Kaspar. Under the baton of Wolfgang Sawallisch, the performance brims with vitality, highlighted by superb choral singing and sharp orchestral detail.

In Stereo

OD 11413-2