CARL NIELSEN
Maskarade
Gert Bastian, bass
Edith Brodersen, soprano
Danish National Choir / DR
Ib Hansen, bass
Ove Verner Hansen, bass
Aage Haugland, bass
Tove Hyldgaard, soprano
Mogens Schmidt Johansen, barytone
Jørgen Klint, bass
Tonny Landy, tenor
Gurli Plesner, contralto
Christian Sørensen, tenor

Carl Nielsen, composer

Danish National Symphony Orchestra / DR
John Frandsen, conductor

About
Carl Nielsen’s opera Maskarade has enjoyed a natural status as Denmark’s national opera ever since its first performance in 1906. The unique combination of Ludvig Holberg’s classic comedy plot and Nielsen’s colourful music has been identified with the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen from Nielsen’s day to our own.

Dacapo’s new release of Maskarade continues the tradition in a modern setting. With the latest Super Audio CD sound we are now relaunching the time-honoured CD recording that was nominated for an American Grammy Award in 1979. Hear how every shade of the last generation’s famous singing voices is reflected on this new SACD, which can be played both in surround sound and on an ordinary stereo system.


Reviews
This opera is a delight from start to finish... Highly recommended.
(Amazon.com)

Opernfreunden ist diese Aufnahme wärmstens zu empfehlen ... Das Künstlerensemble läßt sich wahrhaftig als Idealbesetzung bezeichnen, ausnahmslos alle beteiligen sich mit präziser Pointierung und federleichter Komödiantik an dem heiteren Spiel, so daß es eine wahre Freude ist, dem musikalischen Ablauf zu folgen.
(Klassik Heute)

Die klassische Aufnahme von 1977 glänzt mit einem Ensemble voller Spielfreude
(Der Spiegel)

Så fornemt kan det gøres … Denne SACD minder os om, hvor gode disse sangere var, når de gav det bedste de havde i sig … En fortrinlig indspilning. (Berlingske Tidende)

Af sted til pladehandleren!
(High Fidelity)

...man sollte als musikalisch Neugieriger hier zugreifen.
(Theater pur)

Die jüngst in Bregenz erfolgreich ausgegrabene dänische Nationaloper lebt auf dieser EInspielung vom hervorragend besetzten Ensemble, dessen Musizierlust und Spielwitz sich auch per CD dem Hörer vermittelt.
(Pforzheimer Zeitung).

The cast offers musicianship and verbal clarity of a high order, with standouts in a remarkable ensemble....Under John Frandsen, the Danish National Radio Choir and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra are magnificently adroit.
(International Record Review)

If you haven’t heard Maskarade before, this is an excellent chance to become familiar with a witty, wonderfully sane, and vivacious work that deserves far greater celebrity than it has ever received.
(Fanfare)

The sound is superb – I'd never have guessed that the performances were more than twenty-five years old ... The performances are excellent and idiomatic – this edition is the recorded reference, and will provide much enjoyment to all lovers of good opera. Very highly recommended.
(* * * * Audiophile Audition)

Credits
Recorded at the Danish Radio Concert Hall on 10-21 June 1977
Recording producer: Peter Willemoës
Recording engineer: Evald Rasmussen
Edited for SACD: Preben Iwan
Graphic design: Elevator

This recording is based on the material of Edition Wilhelm Hansen
Previously released on LP by Dansk Musik Antologi (DMA 032/4)
This CD has been released in cooperation with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR)