Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools

Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf (Composer), Newell Jenkins (Conductor), Clarion Music Society Orchestra (Orchestra), Anna Russell (Performer), David Rae Smith (Performer), David Smith (Performer), Eleanor Steber (Performer), Heinz Rehfuss (Performer), John McCollum (Performer), Joseph Sopher (Performer), Patricia Brooks (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Anna Russell, David Rae Smith, David Smith, Eleanor Steber, Heinz Rehfuss, et al.
• Orchestra: Clarion Music Society Orchestra
• Conductor: Newell Jenkins
• Composer: Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf
• Audio CD (December 12, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Video Artists Int'l
• ASIN: B000003LIK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,132 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Overture

2. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Chorus - We've Traveled Far (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)

3. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Approach! What Is Your Name, Sir? (Furibondo)

4. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - With A Sword That Is Sterner Than Moses (Furibondo)

5. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Unhappy Oddling (Gloriosa)

6. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - My Fair Skin, My Bare Chin (Gloriosa)

7. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Was Ever There Insanity (Sordidone)

8. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Snugly Hidden Safe From Prying (Sordidone)

9. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Madness Beyond All Measure (Malgoverno)

10. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - When The Purse Is Clinking (Malgoverno)

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Sordidone, Be A Bunny

2. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Are You Hiding? (Sordidone, Garbata)

3. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - See Comely Phyllis Wander (Garbata, Sordidone)

4. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Don't Come Near Me (Semplicina, Furibondo)

5. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - The High And Mighty Lion (Furibondo)

6. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Quiet At Last (Semplicina)

7. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - Semplicina, Do You Hear Me? (Semplicina)

8. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Quartet - Ever More Bitter Shall Be My Raging (Gloriosa, Garbata, Malgoverno, Furibondo)

9. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - What Now? What New Forms Of Madness? (Gloriosa, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)

10. Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Chorus - Long Live King Arcifanfano (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)

See all 29 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an obscure delight!, July 30, 2002

By 

W. Parr "sissypower" (San Diego, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools (Audio CD)

Eleanor Steber's image on the cover of this set caught my eye while rummaging through the cut-out bins of San Francisco on a recent opera whirlwind. What a lost treasure this performance is - recorded "LIVE" in NYC 1965! All the principles shine, their energy ebullient. Don't hesitate, buy it and smile before it disappears.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comic-Opera Treasure!, January 27, 2007

By 

Silas Sparkhammer "opinionated ain't I?" (San Diego CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools (Audio CD)

Dittersdorf is a sort of working-man's Mozart; in fact, this opera sounds similar to some of Mozart's early operas. But Mozart sought to break the rules and to explore new musical ideas; Dittersdorf is not an innovator...yet he is no less a master! This performance, too, is a materpiece of refined (not always!) comedy; the arias include some extremely difficult vocal leaps and trills, yet the primary joy is the witty verse. W.H. Auden (no less!) ramrodded this translation to English. And Anna Russell, famed for her "Analysis of Wagner's Ring Cycle" steals every scene she's in! Ad-libbing shamelessly, her introductory aria, all by itself, is worth more than the purchase price!