Berg: Wozzeck.

[] Dalayman, Eklof; Quale, Stregard, Falkman, Wahlund; Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera, Stockholm, Segerstam. No text or translation. Naxos 8. 660076-77

At least three Wozzeck recordings have been made from live performances. This one reaps the benefits mostly in Act III, which plays as a single pained outburst. But the trade-off is a fair amount of stage noise affecting the majority of scenes, along with a few contributions from the prompter. Listeners who are distracted by this (and it does not wear well on repetition) should proceed with caution. But Leif Segerstam's detailed control over his forces keeps this budget-priced release in the running. His handling of the final interlude in particular, very measured but always with forward motion, is admirable.

Two of the singers set new recorded standards for their roles. Ulrick Quale's Captain sounds young and pleasing enough to be a plausible recruit himself. (If only more tenors realized that Fritz Wunderlich sang this part!) The role of the Doctor is uncomfortably low for many singers, and they simply pitch it higher, as if that were a solution. Sten Wahlund finds his character in Berg's notes. He and Quale play their first scene together like friendly bantering; it's a fine choice, and Segerstam seconds it with the Viennese lilt he finds in the Doctor's enthusiastic diagnosis of his friend's trouble. Lennart Stregard does the fatuous pride of the Drum Major well, the rhythms less so. Marianne Eklof's Margret seems to be playing the crone who becomes Papagena in Die Zauberflote.

As Wozzeck, Carl Johan ...