Weber: Oberon[2 CD]

Weber: Oberon[2 CD]

"Weber... was inspired to write some of his most magical music, full of what John Eliot Gardiner defines as 'fire, fantasy and finesse.' How to present Oberon effectively has long presented almost intractable problems, but here Gardiner on disc, pioneering a recording in the original English, opts for what might be counted an ideal answer, using a narrator to link numbers instead of Planche's dialogue. The result in a superb performance is magnetic, letting one appreciate to the full the uniqueness of Weber's inspiration, with period instruments helping to clarify the fairy-light orchestral textures, plainly a model for Mendelssohn. The singing cast is excellent, with the two main tenor roles splendidly taken - Oberon lyrically by the Australian tenor, Steve Davislim and Huon, with his big spectacular aria full of formidable florid writing, by Jonas Kaufmann. Hillevi Martinpelto is freash and clear as Raiza, another challenging role, and Roger Allam is unobtrusively effective speaking the narration. The Monteverdi Choir too plays an important part in bringing out the magic of the music, with beautifully balanced recording." The Penguin Guide. Batch two of Decca's Opera Series, reissuing many of the greatest opera recordings of the last 50 years from Decca and Philips. This series re-establishes Decca as THE OPERA COMPANY. Original sleeve packaging. The complete libretto (offered in original language and translated into English, French, and German), is readable not only as PDF download but also via Amazon Kindle and the iPad.