The Abbado recording on DG is excellent and probably the one to get if
you only want "one".  It may cost a wee bit more than the Naxos biut it
is money weel spent as you are investing in a recording you'll want to
hear again and again.  It is the one people refer to, so you'll need to
listen sooner or later.  Booklet is very informative, too.

Spare a thought also for the Mitropulous from 1951.  This was the US
premiere.  Mitropulous managed to inspire the cast and players into a
quite a lively performance, considering that for many of them, and the
audience, this was "new" music, and quite bizarre for the times.  The
principals are Harrell and Farrell, Mack and Eileen.  Neither oif them
were native German speakers, but Harrell took to the part and sings very
much in characetr.  Pity Farrell rather misses the point.  This one was
out of circulation for years but recently reissued on CD at budget price.
Another fun thing is that the CD booklet is a facsimile of the original
LP even down to the ad for the innovative papaer sleev keeping the LP
safe from the rough cardboard cover, and the hysterically funny picture
of a fuly clad couple in bed "relaxing" to classical music - he has his
shoes on the pillow.

Please do post on the Covent Garden production!  The Times and the
Telegraph have posted their reviews and the latest, on Seen & Heard,
is at http://www.musicweb.uk.net/SandH/2002/Aug02/wozzeck.html As usual,
an intelligently analysed and incisive review.

There are plenty of recordings of Berg Songs.  There is a Teldec one
with Sinopli and Staatskappelle Dresden featuring Juliane Banse in
the lovely Early Songs, Deborah Voight in the seldom heard Der Wein,
and Alessandra Marc in the Altenberg Lieder.  This last piece has
been recorded so often that this particular reading is a bit of a
disappointment but maybe she's more suited to other Berg songs?

Anne Ozorio <[log in to unmask]>