But from the pit came the romanticism. Patrik Ringborg together with the Essen Philharmonic and an even ensemble made Weber's nature- and mind-music highly atmospheric and concise with its gloomy and bright colours, with its idylls and demonic traits. For this, he was celebrated.

Thanks to the "Lenkung des Ewigen" the visitor receives a substantial dose of fresh oxygen from the German forests blowing from the pit with the Essen Philharmonic under the musical direction of Patrik Ringborg. ... There Weber's score glows, by the sound of the orchestra as a listener you can retire to an inner scene.

Patrik Ringborg keeps the Essen Philharmonic back, letting them play cautious, asserts no strident deluge. He conducts a sensitive Freischütz, treasures Weber's idyllic nature and tenderly cradles Agathe's slumber aria.

...the very high level also of the singers and the Essen Philharmonic, who under the unsentimental direction of Patrik Ringborg avoids states of intoxication in favour of chamber-musical subtlety, lyrical impressionism and transparency. The depth in expression and popular verve of their solo-instrumentalists shows - like the sensitive yet elegant dialogue of the solo cello with Agathe in the cavatina "Und ob die Wolken" - points of contact with Jacques Offenbach.