The Guardian
'Paul Daniel makes sure Berg's complex vocal and orchestral textures are presented in a natural way, so that every word is distinct. And having a cast who have grown into their roles on stage is a wonderful bonus.
Lisa Saffer's Lulu is a tour de force, vocally dazzling, with a touching core of vulnerability. Susan Parry's Geschwitz provides the opera's link with real humanity, while Robert Hayward's Schoen is a provocative mixture of protector and predator. But the smaller roles are equally vivid, so that Berg's whole panorama of human weakness comes to life. Even if you already have a version of this fascinating masterpiece, this one is still well worth hearing.'
Opera in three acts
Libretto by Alban Berg
after Erdgeist and Büchse der Pandora
by Frank Wedekind
English version by Richard Stokes
Act III realised by Friedrich Cerha
The Cast
Lisa Saffer, soprano - Lulu
Susan Parry, mezzo-soprano
- Countess Geschwitz
Anna Burford, mezzo-soprano (PMF Scholar)
- Dresser/Schoolboy/Waiter
Graham Danby bass
- Professor of Medicine/Theatre Manager/Banker
Stuart Kale tenor - Painter/Second Client
Robert Hayward baritone
- Dr Schön/Jack the Ripper
John Graham-Hall tenor - Alwa
Gwynne Howell bass - Schigolch
Robert Poulton baritone
- Animal Tamer/Acrobat
Alan Oke tenor
- African Prince/Manservant/Marquis
Roger Begley bass - Police Commissioner
Claire Mitcher soprano - Fifteen-year-old Girl
Paul Napier-Burrows bass - Servant
Jane Powell mezzo-soprano - Mother
Moira Harris soprano - Designer
Toby Stafford-Allen, baritone (PMF Scholar) – Journalist
English National Opera Orchestra
by Paul Daniel - Conductor
Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London - 14-19 & 22 May 2005
Producer - Brian Couzens, Sound engineer - Ralph Couzens, Assistant engineer - Michael Common
BBC Music Magazine
'Throughout, the conversation-pieces, ironic exchanges and occasional splashes of coarse humour rendered by Richard Stokes's painstaking translation are delivered with verve, meshing confidently with the finely-balanced orchestral web of sound.'
This new recording features David Pountney's skilful translation and the dialogue is presented with admirable simplicity and naturalness. The cast is a strong one, with commanding performances from Christine Brewer and Robert Lloyd. as Leonora and the jailor, Rocco, and a vivacious Marzellina from Rebecca Evans... As the imprisoned Florestan, Richard Margison is warmly lyrical... if you want the opera in English this new version, sympathetically and intelligently conducted by David Parry, is impressive.'
