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Edinburgh Evening News, 19
August 2004 |
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von Weber: Der Freischütz, Edinburgh, 17 August 2004
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Weber's Der Freischütz
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Usher Hall |
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CONCERT performances of opera can be successful for as long as the music
is effective enough to withstand the absence of stage presentation.
The quality of Weber’s score ensures survival until the end of Act II of
Der Freischütz, but the opening of its weakish third act comes as an
anticlimax after the excitement of the Wolf’s Glen scene.
With an interval separating Acts II and III, former levels of tension were
missing when the performance restarted - it might have been preferable to
break off after the first scene of the second act.
Hillevi Martinpelto delivered a somewhat uneven interpretation of Agathe.
Although Ailish Tynan did not convey the humour of Einst Träumte Meiner
Sel’gen Base very imaginatively, her Ännchen was otherwise vocally
reliable. In his extended Durch die Wälder, Jonas Kaufmann portrayed a
convincing Max, and John Relyea’s Triumph Aria was firmly etched.
Der Freischütz makes considerable demands on the horn section, and the
SCO’s players rose well to the challenge. There were also some fine solos
from string section principals.
Sir Charles Mackerras’ robust interpretation has set a high standard for
Euryanthe to maintain.
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