Der Freischütz Ernst Kozub Arlene Saunders Edith Mathis Hans Sotin Gottlob Frick Hamburg

0:17:23 O diese Sonne (Hellsing) Leopold Ludwig Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg 1968 Der Freischütz represents the musical headwaters for the German Romantic opera tradition. It was the catalyst that inspired Wagner’s music drama. Viewing this production provides a better understanding of that stimulation and inspiration. Kozub had been selected to sing Siegfried for the Solti studio Ring project, but illness prevented him from participating. Splendid cast, excellent production, marvelous conducting. Attempts at uploading with subtitles met with failure, unfortunately. It’s worth the extra effort to seek out a libretto for a scene by scene understanding of the unfolding drama. It will be hard to find a better cast and performance than Leopold Ludwig’s and the Hamburg Opera. Libretto Deutsch and English Max - Ernst Kozub Agathe - Arlene Saunders Kaspar - Gottlob Frick Ännchen - Edith Mathis Ottokar - Tom Krause Kuno - Toni Blankenheim Kilian - Franz Grundheber Hermit - Hans Sotin Zamiel - Bernard Minetti Weber