GRAMOPHONE Editor`s Choice - Awards Issue 2011

Launching a new complete Wagner cycle comprising all Wagner’s 10 major operas, these were all recorded over a period of 4 years in the Philharmonie in Berlin and all use the same forces of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester and Chor. Conducted by Janowski, Marek and performed by a top line up of soloists, this is unique recording feat in a complete Wagner series.

“Here is charm, wit and even kitsch alongside the spooky but never overdone drama. The recording is also first-rate in warmth, immediacy and clarity...the best all-round modern performance of the opera and a good nod towards the original-instrument version of this edition of the score we still need.” GRAMOPHONE

“Janowski`s conducting is crisp and fleet-footed, shaping the music naturally and fluently...[Dohmen] is a warm anti-hero, but too soft-grained to sound demonically desperate. Matti Salminen`s Daland is vocally worn but still amazing for his age. Vocal honours, though, go to Ricarda Merbeth`s keen, nervy Senta, and the two tenors...also the clean-cut chorus, which is reasonably dramatically involved.” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

“It is astonishing that veteran Matti Salminen...can still shine as Daland...but his is the star voice here. Robert Dean Smith gives good value, too, in the tricky role of Erik...Steve Davislim is something of a catch as a lyrically sung Steersman...Janowski`s conducting has a momentum and a sense of abstract theatre which can take the breath away. I won`t be jettisoning my allegiances, however, to the older conductors` singers.” INT. RECORD REVIEW