Der Freischutz (Complete opera)

"The Wolf's Glen is in every sense at the centre of Der Freischutz-structurally (replacing the so-called central finale), tonally (composed around the diabolical chord that disturbs the harmonic regularity), orchestrally (for its use of the darkest sounds Weber could imagine) and above or below all for its release of the latent horror that is found to lie only a little beneath the surface of normal, contented, accepted patterns of life. Sir Colin Davis points his whole performance powerfully in this direction. The very opening of the Overture is mysterious and brooding, with the answering horns solemn rather than warmly evocative. The final celebration of forgiveness and reconciliation is tinged with an awareness of the experience all have survived. In the Wolf's Glen itself, superlatively played by the Dresden orchestra, Kaspar's exchanges with Samiel generate a power that looks straight forward to Siegfried. The actual sound in this new recording is, especially in the Wolf's Glen, vivid and detailed, well capturing the eloquence of Weber's wonderful scoring."
(Gramophone)