A delightful performance of a delightful opera
A delightful performance of a delightful opera! It's quite evident that Sir Colin loves the score as he infuses great warmth and energy into the orchestral playing. The chosen tempi are always natural and transitional passages well managed. The Philips engineers also deserve praise in giving a spacious quality to the sound picture. While Anny Murray and Edita Gruberova may not possess the most beautiful of voices, their timbres are well contrasted and both sing intelligently. Christa Ludwig is a characterful Witch who manages to avoid the temptation of overdoing things. Franz Grundheber is a vocally secure and positive Father and Gwyneth Jones is able to control her huge voice while investing the lines of the world-weary Mother with considerable depth of feeling. Barbara Bonney's Sandman and Christiane Oelze's Dew Fairy are both exquisite. All in all, a fine performance.