Скачать или смотреть Erika Köth - Weber: DER FREISCHUTZ, Leise, leise, fromme Weise, 1978

THE SONGBIRD: German soprano Erika Köth (1925 - 1989) was one of the most admired high coloratura sopranos of her era. Her debut was Philine in 1945, and she quickly rose to success throughout Europe and was featured frequently in commercial recordings of opera, operetta, concert works, and lieder. She first appeared in Vienna in 1953 as Queen of the Night; other roles over many seasons until 1977 included Konstanze, Despina, Zerlina, Zerbinetta, Sophie, Musetta, Olympia, Gilda, Rosina, and Lucia. She was a frequent guest at the Salzburg Festival (1955–64) as the Queen of the Night, Konstanze, and Sophie. She also made guest appearances in Berlin, Milan, Paris, and London.

THE MUSIC: “Der Freischütz” by Carl Maria von Weber premiered in Berlin in 1821. It is considered the first German Romantic opera. The opera was tremendously successful and influential. There are two sopranos: Agathe tends to be sung by dramatic sopranos, and her young cousin Ännchen is very much in the soubrette mold. Clearly, Köth is every inch an Ännchen (which she likely sang early in her career), but this late-career recording was made in 1978 when she had shifted away from high coloratura roles. Agathe's aria "Leise, leise, fromme Weise" opens the final act with a lullaby motif that grows dramatically to a robust climax.