A release by Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra of Der Freischütz tells a decidedly old-fashioned tale whose romantic charms can wear thin, mostly because it cannot compete with many of its recorded predecessors.
In a Merola master class, the gold standard coach and accompanist Martin Katz demonstrates before a live audience what it takes to transform glorious sound into great artistry.
The arias on this CD, most never recorded before and music that is mostly unknown, are all tailored to particular singers, and they wind up showcasing what amounts to "first version" Handel compositions.
