Tags
Language
Tags
March 2024
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
25 26 27 28 29 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]

Posted By: luckburz
Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]

Richard Wagner - Lohengrin
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski
3xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 843 MB | Full Artwork: 512 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 403 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

MD5 [X] CUE [X] LOG [X] INFO TEXT [X] ARTWORK [X]

my rip [X] not my rip [ ]

Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]


Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 11. October 2012, 15:51

RSO Berlin, Janowski / Wagner: Lohengrin Akt I

Used drive : PIONEER BD-RW BDR-206 Adapter: 0 ID: 2

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 667
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : Yes
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\FLAC\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -5 -T "Artist=%artist%" -T "Title=%title%" -T "Album=%albumtitle%" -T "Date=%year%" -T "Tracknumber=%tracknr%" -T "Genre=%genre%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 8:30.69 | 0 | 38318
2 | 8:30.69 | 4:32.56 | 38319 | 58774
3 | 13:03.50 | 6:14.04 | 58775 | 86828
4 | 19:17.54 | 3:38.21 | 86829 | 103199
5 | 22:56.00 | 3:54.13 | 103200 | 120762
6 | 26:50.13 | 5:11.54 | 120763 | 144141
7 | 32:01.67 | 4:58.57 | 144142 | 166548
8 | 37:00.49 | 3:18.21 | 166549 | 181419
9 | 40:18.70 | 6:01.00 | 181420 | 208494
10 | 46:19.70 | 2:11.72 | 208495 | 218391
11 | 48:31.67 | 7:05.67 | 218392 | 250333
12 | 55:37.59 | 3:44.57 | 250334 | 267190


Range status and errors

Selected range

Filename F:\=== VINYL RIPS ===\=== EAC===\X FRESH RIP\Wagner- RSO Berlin, Janowski - Lohengrin Akt I.wav

Peak level 95.8 %
Extraction speed 1.2 X
Range quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 844B5AB5
Copy CRC 844B5AB5
Copy OK

No errors occurred


AccurateRip summary

Track 1 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [38569E3A] (AR v2)
Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [D4985E12] (AR v2)
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [41B70955] (AR v2)
Track 4 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [D6F37817] (AR v2)
Track 5 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [172B45EA] (AR v2)
Track 6 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [76BA205B] (AR v2)
Track 7 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [91907D0B] (AR v2)
Track 8 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [794D67A4] (AR v2)
Track 9 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [0B94B491] (AR v2)
Track 10 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [EC241D0C] (AR v2)
Track 11 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [23567104] (AR v2)
Track 12 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [3F50F99B] (AR v2)

All tracks accurately ripped

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.3

[CTDB TOCID: IdnS_Mt.j024IpQeBkYJRx48sZs-] found, Submit result: IdnS_Mt.j024IpQeBkYJRx48sZs- has been confirmed
[f337f5a8] (3/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 800A7BD0FA30D4F7041160DE91CC73C104AAB6298ED808559D189DFBD770EB1E ====

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 11. October 2012, 16:35

RSO Berlin, Janowski / Wagner: Lohengrin Akt II

Used drive : PIONEER BD-RW BDR-206 Adapter: 0 ID: 2

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 667
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : Yes
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\FLAC\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -5 -T "Artist=%artist%" -T "Title=%title%" -T "Album=%albumtitle%" -T "Date=%year%" -T "Tracknumber=%tracknr%" -T "Genre=%genre%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 3:49.25 | 0 | 17199
2 | 3:49.25 | 7:23.33 | 17200 | 50457
3 | 11:12.58 | 7:31.39 | 50458 | 84321
4 | 18:44.22 | 2:42.61 | 84322 | 96532
5 | 21:27.08 | 4:13.19 | 96533 | 115526
6 | 25:40.27 | 3:47.00 | 115527 | 132551
7 | 29:27.27 | 6:56.50 | 132552 | 163801
8 | 36:24.02 | 4:49.73 | 163802 | 185549
9 | 41:14.00 | 8:15.72 | 185550 | 222746
10 | 49:29.72 | 5:20.72 | 222747 | 246818
11 | 54:50.69 | 8:19.01 | 246819 | 284244
12 | 63:09.70 | 5:24.38 | 284245 | 308582
13 | 68:34.33 | 4:16.40 | 308583 | 327822
14 | 72:50.73 | 6:39.57 | 327823 | 357804


Range status and errors

Selected range

Filename F:\=== VINYL RIPS ===\=== EAC===\X FRESH RIP\Wagner- RSO Berlin, Janowski - Lohengrin Akt II.wav

Peak level 95.3 %
Extraction speed 8.3 X
Range quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B0A4189C
Copy CRC B0A4189C
Copy OK

No errors occurred


AccurateRip summary

Track 1 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [E183C709] (AR v2)
Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [7B252C4B] (AR v2)
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [AFDD3AFA] (AR v2)
Track 4 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [9181D5E6] (AR v2)
Track 5 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [D7B689C2] (AR v2)
Track 6 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [DC16AA3B] (AR v2)
Track 7 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [5FB6E720] (AR v2)
Track 8 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [9B66B06C] (AR v2)
Track 9 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [0141C9C6] (AR v2)
Track 10 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [1972F015] (AR v2)
Track 11 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [829154B3] (AR v2)
Track 12 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [8446F2C3] (AR v2)
Track 13 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [C59E5636] (AR v2)
Track 14 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [C93645B6] (AR v2)

All tracks accurately ripped

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.3

[CTDB TOCID: 01LLTCIyNtL480wZIb2tnuFuvas-] found, Submit result: 01LLTCIyNtL480wZIb2tnuFuvas- has been confirmed
[74526f1d] (3/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 24BCD3820A459727FA546556995AD15271F409E69AD65D38CEC570ACA098503E ====


Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 11. October 2012, 18:00

RSO Berlin, Janowski / Wagner: Lohengrin Akt III

Used drive : PIONEER BD-RW BDR-206 Adapter: 0 ID: 2

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 667
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : Yes
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\FLAC\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -5 -T "Artist=%artist%" -T "Title=%title%" -T "Album=%albumtitle%" -T "Date=%year%" -T "Tracknumber=%tracknr%" -T "Genre=%genre%" %source% -o %dest%


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.00 | 3:08.24 | 0 | 14123
2 | 3:08.24 | 4:18.16 | 14124 | 33489
3 | 7:26.40 | 1:41.22 | 33490 | 41086
4 | 9:07.62 | 5:01.49 | 41087 | 63710
5 | 14:09.36 | 3:56.49 | 63711 | 81459
6 | 18:06.10 | 7:52.29 | 81460 | 116888
7 | 25:58.39 | 4:48.34 | 116889 | 138522
8 | 30:46.73 | 6:35.01 | 138523 | 168148
9 | 37:21.74 | 5:37.54 | 168149 | 193477
10 | 42:59.53 | 10:49.32 | 193478 | 242184
11 | 53:49.10 | 7:43.30 | 242185 | 276939


Range status and errors

Selected range

Filename F:\=== VINYL RIPS ===\=== EAC===\X FRESH RIP\Wagner- RSO Berlin, Janowski - Lohengrin Akt III.wav

Peak level 95.7 %
Extraction speed 1.3 X
Range quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 1088658D
Copy CRC 1088658D
Copy OK

No errors occurred


AccurateRip summary

Track 1 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [13DBC279] (AR v2)
Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [B519EF5A] (AR v2)
Track 3 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [15E0E247] (AR v2)
Track 4 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [E4C541E4] (AR v2)
Track 5 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [BB5049DB] (AR v2)
Track 6 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [9FA00DB3] (AR v2)
Track 7 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [4E7D0D6A] (AR v2)
Track 8 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [0D630798] (AR v2)
Track 9 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [D5A27E7E] (AR v2)
Track 10 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [30CAD6F4] (AR v2)
Track 11 accurately ripped (confidence 1) [77D36497] (AR v2)

All tracks accurately ripped

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.3

[CTDB TOCID: 00HR69crMVUtIqtzfSljSWvMnW8-] found, Submit result: 00HR69crMVUtIqtzfSljSWvMnW8- has been confirmed
[6d0181be] (3/3) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum 9A575AC6632C027D6DC34411782ABBA90F966D727301D3AC4FD8E8249E50A8E9 ====

foobar2000 1.1.14a / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2012-12-05 20:52:35

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Rundfunkchor Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Marek Janowski / Richard Wagner: Lohengrin
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR18 -0.27 dB -25.30 dB 8:31 01-Act 1: Vorspiel - Prelude
DR14 -0.84 dB -21.79 dB 4:33 02-Act 1: Hört, Grafen, Edle, Freie von Brabant
DR15 -0.76 dB -22.40 dB 6:14 03-Act 1: Dank, König, dir, daß du zu richten kamst!
DR16 -7.23 dB -32.11 dB 3:38 04-Act 1: Seht hin! Sie naht, die hart Beklagte!
DR13 -3.26 dB -25.69 dB 3:54 05-Act 1: Einsam in trüben Tagen
DR14 -2.63 dB -22.93 dB 5:12 06-Act 1: Mich irret nicht ihr träumerischer Mut
DR14 -0.02 dB -19.99 dB 4:59 07-Act 1: Wer hier im Gotteskampf zu streiten kam
DR14 -9.54 dB -30.31 dB 3:18 08-Act 1: Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan!
DR14 -6.14 dB -25.63 dB 6:01 09-Act 1: Zum Kampf für eine Magd zu stehn
DR13 -4.00 dB -21.97 dB 2:12 10-Act 1: Nun hört! Euch, Volk und Edlen mach' ich kund
DR14 -0.03 dB -18.93 dB 7:06 11-Act 1: Nun höret mich und achtet wohl
DR11 -0.01 dB -14.49 dB 3:45 12-Act 1: Durch Gottes Sieg ist jetzt dein Leben mein
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 12
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 88200 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2306 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

foobar2000 1.1.14a / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2012-12-05 20:53:31

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Rundfunkchor Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, conducted by Marek Janowski / Richard Wagner: Lohengrin
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -11.81 dB -31.97 dB 3:49 01-Act 2: Einleitung - Introduction
DR13 -1.62 dB -21.01 dB 7:23 02-Act 2: Erhebe dich, Genossin meiner Schmach!
DR14 -2.66 dB -23.02 dB 7:32 03-Act 2: Du wilde Seherin
DR13 -6.52 dB -27.51 dB 2:43 04-Act 2: Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen
DR15 -1.70 dB -23.54 dB 4:13 05-Act 2: Elsa!
DR12 -1.64 dB -19.69 dB 3:47 06-Act 2: Entweihte Götter! Helft jetzt meiner Rache!
DR15 -4.73 dB -26.09 dB 6:57 07-Act 2: Wie kann ich solche Huld dir lohnen
DR13 -3.76 dB -23.84 dB 4:50 08-Act 2: In Frühn versammelt uns der Ruf
DR14 -0.13 dB -19.75 dB 8:16 09-Act 2: Des Königs Wort und Will' tu ich euch kund
DR15 -0.40 dB -22.51 dB 5:21 10-Act 2: Gesegnet soll sie schreiten
DR15 -0.02 dB -20.20 dB 8:19 11-Act 2: Zurück, Elsa! Nicht länger will ich dulden
DR14 -2.24 dB -20.19 dB 5:25 12-Act 2: O König! Trugbetörte Fürsten! Haltet ein!
DR14 -1.93 dB -22.97 dB 4:17 13-Act 2: Welch ein Geheimnis muß der Held bewahren?
DR12 -0.01 dB -18.58 dB 6:40 14-Act 2: Mein Held, entgegne kühn dem Ungetreuen
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 14
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 88200 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2323 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

foobar2000 1.1.14a / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2012-12-05 20:54:04

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Rundfunkchor Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, conducted by Marek Janowski / Richard Wagner: Lohengrin
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -0.09 dB -18.01 dB 3:08 01-Act 3: Vorspiel - Prelude
DR13 -12.12 dB -31.24 dB 4:18 02-Act 3: Treulich geführt ziehet dahin (Wedding March)
DR11 -7.40 dB -27.93 dB 1:41 03-Act 3: Das süße Lied verhallt
DR17 -0.22 dB -25.79 dB 5:02 04-Act 3: Fühl' ich zu dir so süß mein Herz entbrennen
DR15 -1.54 dB -23.40 dB 3:57 05-Act 3: Atmest du nich mit mir die süßen Düfte?
DR15 -0.03 dB -20.05 dB 7:52 06-Act 3: Höchstes Vertraun hast du mir schon zu danken
DR17 -2.08 dB -26.26 dB 4:48 07-Act 3: Weh, nun ist all unser Glück dahin!
DR13 -0.01 dB -17.86 dB 6:35 08-Act 3: Heil König Heinrich!
DR13 -1.17 dB -19.58 dB 5:38 09-Act 3: Macht Platz dem Helden von Brabant!
DR15 -0.06 dB -20.61 dB 10:49 10-Act 3: In ferner Land, unnahbar euren Schritten
DR13 -0.02 dB -19.03 dB 7:43 11-Act 3: Mein lieber Schwan!
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 11
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 88200 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2334 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================



SACD Info:

Richard Wagner - Lohengrin

Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski

Label: Pentatone
Catalog#: PTC 5186 403
Format: 3x Hybrid-SACD, Album, Stereo, Multichannel
Country: Europe
Released: 2012
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera, Romantic

Tracklist:

Disc 1:

1 - Act 1. Vorspiel 8:31
2 - Hört, Grafen, Edle, Freie von Brabant 4:33
3 - Dank, König, dir, daß du zu richten kamst! 6:14
4 - Seht hin! Sie naht, die hart Beklagte! 3:38
5 - Einsam in trüben Tagen 3:54
6 - Mich irret nicht ihr träumerischer Mut 5:12
7 - Wer hier im Gotteskampt zu streiten kam 4:59
8 - Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan! 3:18
9 - Zum Kampf für eine Magd zu stehn 6:01
10 - Nun hört! Euch, Volk und Edlen mach' ich kund 2:12
11 - Nun höret mich und achtet wohl 7:06
12 - Durch Gottes Sieg ist jetzt dein Leben mein 3:45

Disc 2:

1 - Act 2. Einleitung 3:49
2 - Erhebe dich, Genossin meiner Schmach! 7:23
3 - Du wilde Seherin 7:32
4 - Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen 2:43
5 - Elsa! 4:13
6 - Entweihte Götter! Helft jetzt meiner Rache! 3:47
7 - Wie kann ich solche Huld dir lohnen 6:57
8 - In Frühn versammelt uns der Ruf 4:50
9 - Des Königs Wort und Will' tu ich euch kund 8:16
10 - Gesegnet soll sie schreiten 5:21
11 - Zurück, Elsa! Nicht länger will ich dulden 8:19
12 - O König! Trugbetörte Fürsten! Haltet ein! 5:25
13 - Welch ein Geheimnis muß der Held bewarhen? 4:17
14 - Mein Held, entgegne kühn dem Ungetreuen 6:40

Disc 3:

1 - Act 3. Vorspiel 3:08
2 - Treulich geführt ziehet dahin (Wedding March) 4:18
3 - Das süße Lied verhallt 1:41
4 - Fühl' ich zu dir so süß mein Herz entbrennen 5:02
5 - Atmest du nich mit mir die süßen Düfte? 3:57
6 - Höchstes Vertraun hast du mir schon zu daniken 7:52
7 - Weh, nun ist all unser Glück dahin! 4:48
8 - Heil König Heinrich! 6:35
9 - Macht Platz dem Helden von Brabant! 5:38
10 - In fernem Land, unnahbar euren Schritten 10:49
11 - Mein lieber Schwan! 7:43

Live recording of the concert performance in the Berlin Philharmonie on November 12, 2011

Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]


PentaTone have definitely established a winning formula for success with the ten Wagner operas they are currently recording in association with Deutschlandradio Kultur in Berlin.

First assemble a cast of the finest and most experienced Wagner singers available. Secondly engage a conductor with a lifetime of experience in both the Opera House and the Concert Hall who also has a special affinity with Wagner's works that has matured, like fine wine, over many years. Thirdly perform the whole opera live in a single evening in a hall with good acoustics. Finally appoint a team of some of the best engineers around to record the performance and make any post-production edits that might be necessary before release on SACD.

This has worked spectacularly well up to now, so it is pleasing to report that this new Lohengrin is well up to the standard of the three earlier issues. However, this new SACD recording has to face formidable competition from the award winning Lohengrin from Semyon Bychkov and his WDR forces that I reviewed back in April 2009 Wagner: Lohengrin - Bychkov . That superb version was made in the wake of live performances in the Köln Philharmonie, and manages most effectively to combine the benefits of both 'studio' and 'live' recordings. To make any objective judgement as to which of these two SACD versions is the finer is not an easy task and will, as so often, ultimately come down to matters of personal taste in which the choice of singers, quality of the orchestral playing, conducting and vividness of the recorded sound will all play their part.

The performance that constitutes this recording of Lohengrin, the fourth Wagner opera to be released by PentaTone to date, took place on November 12, 2011 in a totally sold out Berlin Philharmonie. I was lucky enough to attend this concert so it has been particularly fascinating for me to compare my reactions to the live experience, via the notes I made that evening, with what is present on these three SACDs. Thanks to Janowski's generally urgent pacing of the opera each act is accommodated on a single disc where most recordings have to break the second Act at some point usually to the detriment of the drama. Timings are Act I 59.24, Act II 79.34 and Act III 61.36. Unlike Bychkov, Janowski makes the customary cut to Lohengrin's narration 'In fernem Land' which may bother some listeners more than others, though its excision is often considered advantageous to maintain the scene's dramatic flow.

The string sound in the opening Prelude does not have the fullness of tone that one might expect if it were performed by Berlin's premier orchestra, and the brass seem rather held back as the climax approaches, but elsewhere the Berlin Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester play with great sensitivity and character for their artistic director. Janowski's conducting is, as always, both purposeful and considerate to his singers, and the orchestra respond to his direction with complete unanimity throughout. Their fleet account of the famous Act 3 Prelude could hardly be bettered in conveying celebratory excitement.

The undoubted stars of this recording are Klaus Florian Vogt as the eponymous hero and Annette Dasch as his hapless (some might say hopeless) bride Elsa. Both singers are the leads in the current production of this work at Bayreuth, and their familiarity with their respective roles is clear through the relaxed ease and flexibility with which they sing their parts – without, at the concert, recourse to scores. In Ms. Dasch's case this is especially praiseworthy as she was heavily pregnant at the time yet manages to sound as fresh at the conclusion of the opera as at its beginning. In passing, it is worth noting these two singers can be seen on a Blu-ray release of a 2011 performance from Bayreuth conducted by Andris Nelsons, though visually the production by Hans Neuenfels that sets the opera in an laboratory with the chorus costumed as rats may be too much for more conservatively minded Wagnerites. Good though the DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 sound on this Blu-ray disc is, PentaTone's sonics on these SACDs provide much more immediacy and capture considerably more orchestral detail.

Klaus Florian Vogt is the possessor of a very distinctive, sweet and caressing voice with an almost virginal quality, but one that has gained in strength and heft over the past few years. Add this to his film star looks and fine stage presence and it is easy to see why for many opera houses Vogt is the current first choice for the roles of both Parsifal and Lohengrin. He sounds equally at ease in both the dramatic and lyrical aspects of this taxing role. In Act 3 he sings 'In Fernem Land' with unfailing beauty of tone but still delivers 'Hochtes vertraun' with considerable force and authority. Naturally the Act 3 love duet with Elsa suits his voice to perfection and thanks to his rapport with Annette Dasch an impeccable account of this crucial scene is assured.

Annette Dasch's Elsa conveys a touching vulnerability and if she sounds a little tentative at first this accords perfectly with the character's disturbed state of mind. As her character gains confidence during the course of 'Einsam in trüben Tagen' her voice gains in radiance and power. Her total identification with Elsa is in no doubt through each of the operas three long acts and overall I found her performance to be most engaging. The other main roles are also strongly cast. I especially enjoyed the performance given by the superb bass Günther Groissböck. His youthful sounding and absolutely secure singing conveys the regal authority of Heinrich der Vogler in a manner not always encountered on record. Gerd Grochowski is an experienced Telramund and though the slightly dry quality of his voice may not appeal to all listeners he sings with intelligence and convincing commitment. Thanks partly to Janowski's forward moving tempi, the scene between Telramund and Ortrud that opens Act 2 is exceptionally gripping. The Ortrud of Susanne Resmark is slightly more problematic. Though her use of vibrato is generally well controlled she sometimes pushes her voice too much, as in her call to the gods 'Entweihte Götter!' and especially in her final outburst at the work's conclusion (Disc 3 tr.11.) Marcus Brück is a finely projected and firmly sung Heerrufer, but his placement on the platform with the four players of the King's trumpets (extreme left, behind the first violins) – presumably necessitated by an already crowded platform - does somewhat lessen the impact of his pronouncements.

The marvellous Rundfunk Chor trained by Eberhard Friedrich sing with impeccable diction and thrilling projection of the text in an opera which demands, and here receives, the finest choral contribution. All the great set pieces of this opera – Lohengrin's arrival in Act 1, Elsa's bridal procession to the minster in Act 2 etc. will lift you off your feet. Try the great ensemble before Lohengrin's Act 1 fight with Telramund (Disc 1 tr.11) to get a sense, not only of the magnificent singing by the soloists and chorus but also Janowski's authoritative control of his huge forces.

The PCM Hi-Res recording faithfully captures the Philhamonie acoustic, and an added frisson is provided for those listening in multi-channel by Wagner's use of an off-stage band and various brass groups strategically placed around the hall - here comprising 32 extra instrumentalists. Thanks to the careful positioning of the microphones the presence of an audience is virtually undetectable though there is some platform noise at the start of the orchestral passage linking Scenes 2 and 3 of the last Act.

The presentation of this set is excellent. Thankfully, it includes a well translated German/ English libretto (unlike the travesty supplied with the Bychkov version), a thought provoking essay on the opera by Steffen Georgi and full artist biographies.

Though my own allegiance to the Bychkov version among recent recordings remains steadfast this Janowski account is unlikely to disappoint. It will surely be welcomed by avid Wagnerites and makes one eager for the next issue in what is proving to be a superlative series.

Copyright © 2012 Graham Williams and SA-CD.net
Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]

Wagner - RSO Berlin / Marek Janowski - Lohengrin (2012, Pentatone # PTC 5186 403) {3x Hybrid-SACD // EAC Rip} [RE-UP]


all of my uploads in my blog

===