Weber: Euryanthe, A Romantic Opera

This famous live radio broadcast of Euryanthe, has had a wealth of circulation over the decades solely due to the presence of Joan Sutherland in the title role... Dutch tenor Frans Vroons, woefully under-recorded even in his own country, had a slightly dry but powerful lyric spinto voice, and he is easily the best Adolar on records. Yet the real standout here is German basso Kurt Böhme, a noted Fafner in Wagner’s Ring, as King Ludwig VI. Despite a slight unsteadiness in sustained notes his rich, powerful voice dominates every scene he’s in, as well it should...

The sound opens up and has real sheen, not only in the orchestra’s string section but also with the chorus and singers. Indeed, it particularly helps tenor Frans Vroons, whose voice was warm and powerful but a bit dry in the midrange...

There is no question, however, that on balance this is the BEST performance of Euryanthe.

- Lynn René Bayley