Dear All, Following the positive reviews of the Rattle/BPO Gurrelieder on
the list I thought I'd better warn you to hang fire before rushing out and
buying it.  There was a VERY good review of the Craft/Philharmonia version
(Koch) in the latest Gramophone and you may want to check it out first.

The reviewer said he was surprised as looking at the conductor and soloists
he hadn't expected it to be as good as it is.  The sound is spacious and
realistic (soloists properly not too far forward) and the soloists are fine
sounding and steady.  The choir "sing their hearts out".  Mostly there was
praise for the counducting and orchestra.  Craft was said to have taken a
surprisingly Romantic approach that conveyed the excitement of a live
performance.

Regards,

David Harbin
Nottingham, UK