Wagner without words

Softly, tenderly, the Dresden Philharmonic are starting out on their pilgrimage to the green hill in the golden light of a summer morning: the Prelude to the third act of “Die Meistersinger” forms the upbeat to their new GENUIN CD with works of Richard Wagner. And just as some old orchestral musician grumbled: “Why should I go to the opera – with Wagner, the most beautiful things take place in the orchestral pit!” The Philharmonic musicians shine, whisper and murmur so magnificently that one could almost agree with him… Their music ranges from Hans Sach’s room to King Mark’s empire to the end of a world conjured up in sonic splendour in the Finale of the Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung). But when the Rhine daughters sing as beautifully, without words, as the Dresden singers do – then it’s certainly not all over yet. And the listener is certain to begin with Track 1 again – with the Meistersinger…

"With the advantages of the Dresden Philharmonic, especially the sonically so delicately defined pieces from the “Meistersinger” become delightfully perceived interpretations, and these advantages lie in the incredibly subtle homogeneity within the instrumental groups and the absolute precision of the articulation and intonation. Only a few orchestras in the German provinces can boast of a string apparatus which plays such fine nuances and beautiful phasing. Frühbeck de Burgos’ emphasis on long-sung phrases met with absolute fidelity on the part of the orchestra …"
Klassik.com, Online