Wagner's Heroes
Walkure (excerpts); Siegfried (excerpts);
Gotterdammerung (excerpts).
John Treleaven (tenor); Slovak
Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bratsilava/Ivan Anguelov.
Arte Nova Voices 74321
72114-2 [DDD]
[69'19]
Crotchet
John Treleaven possesses a powerful tenor voice that lends itself immediately
to the heavier excerpts on this disc. In 2000 he made his debut at the Vienna
State Opera, scoring a success in Lohengrin. He has also appeared at English
National Opera in a variety of roles. Treleaven shows an affinity for Wagner
(which appears from the evidence on this disc still a little way from maturity),
so it is a shame that the frequently lacklustre accompaniments counteract
this. His cries of ‘Walse' in the first Walkure excerpt, Ein Schwert
verhiess mir der Vater, carry an appropriate weight, but here, as often
elsewhere, the orchestra lets the enterprise down. The final excerpt from
Act One of Walkure, Siegmund heiss ich, demonstrates well the depleted voltage
of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra: Heiligste Minne, hochste Not and
Treleven's ensuing cries of ‘Nothung’ are completely robbed of
their dramatic weight. The light recording effectively ensures that the climactic
trumpet statements unfortunately sound as if they come from an instrument
bought in Hamley’s. The retention of prominent horn splits near the
end corroborate the impression that session time was running low. There are
extended excerpts from Siegfried. Both the Schmeltzlied (Nothung! Nothung!
Neidliches Schwert!) and the Schmiedelied (Ho-Ho! Schmiede den Hammer) require
a lustier protagonist than Treleaven, who in this music-drama seems more
literal and uncomfortable. Many of the same problems characterise the extended
Gotterdammerung excerpt, Mime heiss ein murrischer Zwerg. This disc will
not win Wagner many friends, despite Treleaven’s obvious good intentions.
A pity Anguelov could not extract more enthusiasm for the project from his
Slovak orchestra. The recording quality only exacerbates matters.
Colin Clarke
Performance
Recording
Tony Duggan adds:
John Treleaven was born in Cornwall, studied in London, and has appeared
with many of the world's greatest companies including Vienna and Covent Garden.
His repertoire embraces all the major Wagner roles so he must be in some
demand since heroic tenors are always at a premium. On the evidence of this
record confidence would be justified. The caveat always has to be added that
you can never tell from a record like this how a singer would sound at the
end of a long Wagner night in front of an audience, but I would certainly
pay money to see as well as hear him. Time was when recordings like this
were made prior to the artist featured being cast in a big opera recording
by one of the major companies, a "showcase" to whet the public's appetite
for more. Now with fewer complete opera recordings being made this is often
all an aspiring artist can hope to get out of the recording companies.
This is a well-chosen programme well presented. We lead off with the Siegmund
highlights from Act I of "Die Walkure" including a lyrical and beautifully
restrained "Wintersturme" and ending with the triumphant wresting of the
sword from the tree. Treleaven delivers this final resolution with much power
and also humanity you sometimes miss with singers of a more steely nature.
From then on it's over to Siegfried with a suitably bumptious young man from
the opera named after him where he is especially powerful in the Forging
Scenes and splendidly lyrical in the Forest Murmurs. Finally in the two extracts
from "Gotterdammerung" Treleaven manages to inject a touch of worldliness
into his portrayal which is no mean feat when you are only given eighteen
minutes to do so.
The Slovak orchestra gives solid support though the strings lack the rapture
of more distinguished colleagues and the brass are a touch anaemic. But Ivan
Anguelov relishes the opportunity to show what he is made of having clearly
prepared his players well for this production. They are all backed by a
well-balanced sound stage.
An enjoyable bargain set of Wagner extracts from an interesting young
singer
Tony Duggan
Performance:
Recording:
