Search - Jules Massenet, Sir Charles Mackerras, Janet Baker :: Massenet: Werther

This is a live recording of English National Opera's 1977 production by John Copley, taken from a BBC radio broadcast and now released for the first time commercially. Copley's production drew unequivocal praise and in the role of Charlotte, Dame Janet Baker scored one of the biggest triumphs of even her distinguished career. This is a valuable record of a great singer in her prime. Her singing is outstandingly lovely, and she brings out the many facets of Charlotte's character, from the conventional stand-in mother of the opening scenes to the despairing woman of a very moving final act. Her diction and use of words throughout (the performance is in English) are exemplary. John Brecknock is an ardent, fresh-voiced Werther, and there is sterling support from, in particular, Joy Roberts as Sophie and Patrick Wheatley as Albert. Notable in the small role of the Magistrate's neighbor is a young John Tomlinson. The ENO orchestra plays superbly for Mackerras in a recording charged with the immediacy of a live performance, but fortunately without the drawbacks of onstage bangs and crashes. This is an eloquent and spine-tingling advocate for an opera too often dismissed as not of the front rank. --Richard Fawkes