Ethel Smyth: Der Wald (The Forest) - Resonus Classics - RES10324

Smyth: Der Wald (The Forest)

£12.99
Total playing time [66:21]

Natalya Romaniw (soprano)
Claire Barnett-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
Robert Murray (tenor)
Morgan Pearse (baritone)
Andrew Shore (baritone)
Matthew Brook (bass)
BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
John Andrews (conductor)

For over 100 years the only opera by a woman to have been performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Der Wald is a taut, brooding drama where the simplicity of village life comes under threat from the uncontrollable desires unleashed by the darkness of the forest.

Richly orchestrated, harmonically daring, and demanding a huge expressive range from the cast, the narrative drives relentlessly forward from wedding to tragedy in a single act, observed pitilessly by the eternal spirits of the forest. John Andrews conducts the BBC Singers, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and an international cast in the first ever recording of this work, using Smyth’s own English version of the libretto.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Ethel Smyth
Der Wald (The Forest) *

1. Prologue
2. Transformation - Scene I
3. Scene II
4. Scene III
5. Scene IV
6. Scene V
7. Scene VI
8. Scene VII
9. Scene VIII
10. Scene IX
11. Epilogue

* World premiere recording

“

'This, Der Wald’s first recording, argues its case persuasively. The conductor, John Andrews, manages to make the hour-long score sound at once concise and expansive [...] It is sung, in English (the premiere was in German), by a cast that does Smyth’s music full justice.'

- Album of the Week - The Guardian

'Smyth’s swashbuckling spirit, orchestral flair and dramatic instincts are much in evidence'
The Times

'This, Der Wald’s first recording, argues its case persuasively. The conductor, John Andrews, manages to make the hour-long score sound at once concise and expansive [...] It is sung, in English (the premiere was in German), by a cast that does Smyth’s music full justice.'
Album of the Week - The Guardian

'John Andrews directs a strong performance from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, who relish in Smyth's evocative (and occasionally Wagnerian) scoring. With the BBC Singers, they support a fine cast, dominated by Claire Barnett-Jones [...] as the heartless Iolanthe. [...] Excellent sound.'
Gramophone

'[...] Andrews and his performers, together with Resonus Classics, have done Smyth and all of us a great service in resurrecting the composer’s breakthrough work. [...] Opera lovers should snap it up without delay!'
Europadisc Classical

'Resonus has done well by its forces and the Maida Vale recording is excellent, as is the booklet with a full text.'
MusicWeb International

Credits
© 2023 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2023 BBC / Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10324
Producer, editor & mastering: Adam Binks
Engineer: Dave Rowell
BBC Studio Manager: Drew Leckie
EAN: 5060262793572
Release date: 8 September 2023