FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797-1828): Sakontala, D 701 (reconstr. Karl Aage Rasmussen [b.1947]).

Description: Schubert began working on this large-scale romantic opera in autumn of 1820 and, until recently, its remains were considered to be only fragmentary. No one bothered to actually look at the manuscript in the hands of the International Schubert Society in Tübingen; it's more than 400 pages in Schubert's own hand. Later in 2002, a copy of the complete original libretto was found in an antiquarian book store, allowing Rasmussen to produce 86 minutes of music (with spoken dialogue, the work could last two hours) which has never been heard before. There is no recomposition, "rendering" or stylistic clashing for effect; this is what Schubert wrote, with a couple of very small passages where it was necessary to "compose like Schubert". 2 CDs. German libretto. Simone Nold (soprano), Donát Havár (tenor), Martin Snell, Konrad Jarnot, Stephan Loges (basses), Stuttgart Chamber Choir, Deutsch Kammerphilharmonie Bremen; Frieder Bernius.