Customer Reviews

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Pamina in the Magic Flute

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The CD presents highlights of the unique event - Karajan, Schwarzkopf and Gedda together in the Zauberflote. The recording has more historical interest for Karajan or Schwarzkopf fans as the musical value of this performance is to my mind ordinary: Schwarzkopf singing is sometimes unstable and not secure enough (I mean too open and screaming sound) and only at some instances is excellent and beautiful; Gedda sings well but his recording for Klemperer (EMI, 1964)is superior to this one;

Taddei is out of role at all (he is not a singspiele singer); Karajan's conducting is from time to time inspiring and exciting (especially second act final) but playing of RIA orchestra is not accurate and phrasing is too much italian. If one want genuine Zauberflote by Karajan I refer to his 1950 recording on EMI with Wiener Philharmoniker.

Elizabeth Schwarzkopf singing Pamina is a good enough reason to recommend this CD. Her voice is outstanding in this rare 1953 live recording. The CD contains a generous selection of arias and chorus, not only those of Pamina. However, the selection in unbalanced: Several arias of Papageno are included, although Giuseppe Taddei is far from being a reference in this role. He was an excellent singing actor, but Papageno is not an Italian buffo role. In contrast, the two famous arias of the Queen of the Night are absent, and so is the case with the famous 'O Isis und Osiris', and 'Dies Bildnis...'. The 'all star' cast of this performance (Rita Streich, Nicolai Gedda and Mario Petri) would justify a more extensive selection of highlights. (Myto has edited a full version of the same performance, but the price is much higher). Young director Herbert von Karajan conducts this agile version that, unfortunately, is sung in Italian.