As I recall, the Prom from which this performance derives was an exciting occasion, notable mainly for Rozhdestvensky’s highly dramatic account of this three-movement drama of which the faster than usual speed for “Der Spielmann” is fair evidence. This CD is a reasonable souvenir of that live evening. At the same time it is lamed by the caution of the BBC engineers, a fault current to this day, over giving us a full, frontal sound. So afraid are they of any hint of distortion that the volume is kept unnaturally low; thus none of the participants, soloists, choir or orchestra comes across with either enough definition or presence. Maybe they would blame the Albert Hall’s quirky acoustics for the generalized, too distant sound. Be that as it may, I would have thought the originators of this issue could have done a little to improve this by ‘cutting’ the CD at a higher level themselves. They also earn very bad marks for excluding texts and translations, surely a false economy even on a bargain issue. BBC Radio Classics seem unwilling to take advice from anyone of experience on their choice and presentation of material: the term ‘Radio Classics’ should be treated with much more care.
That said, it is of course good to have Baker in any new repertory on disc, and she doesn’t disappoint in her subtle underlining of the tale of dark deeds in distant lands, but on this occasion she is up against Fassbaender on the marvellous Chailly set who is absolutely electrifying in her delivery (as ES suggested in his original review), a voice that seems soaked in the agony of the ancient myth. By and large the other singers on that version are better versed, as native speakers, in German diction. And even Rozhdestvensky has to give way to his Italian counterpart in bringing out this extraordinary work’s originality and mystery, helped by an exemplary Decca recording. So, on this occasion, it is well worth saving up for the more expensive product.'