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In 1951, Wozzeck was an alien creature to both musicians and audiences. That explains some of the inaccuracies here, none of which amount to much alongside the inflamed conducting and singing found in this live recording of the New York premiere. Mack Harrell creates a moving portrait of the tortured madman, and Eileen Farrell's lavish dramatic soprano lends beauty to Marie's music even as it thrills on a purely vocal level. The supporting cast is fine, and Sony's remastering brings the mono sound to vivid life. But it's really Dimitri Mitropoulos' show; he leads a Wozzeck of white-hot intensity, inspiring all to outdo themselves. The fillers include Schoenberg's macabre one-acter, a gripping work starring Dorothy Dow, and Krenek's moving tribute to Webern. --Dan Davis