Mozart - Così fan tutte / Fleming, von Otter, Scarabelli, Lopardo, Bär, Pertusi, Solti

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Artist), Renée Fleming (Artist), Anne Sofie von Otter (Artist), Sir Georg Solti (Artist), Adelina Scarabelli (Artist), Frank Lopardo (Artist), Olaf Bär (Artist), Michele Pertusi (Artist), Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000426I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,228 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #12 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Fleming, Renée
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Otter, Anne Sophie von
  • #48 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > M to P

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This delicately balanced story of two engaged couples who are inveigled into a brief flirtation with infidelity inspired some of the finest music Mozart ever composed. It is often textured with the fine nuances of chamber music, with some particularly delectable woodwind parts, and it progresses from contrived artificiality--when the two men make a rash bet with a friend about the unshakable faithfulness of their fiancées--into intense despair when that fidelity begins to be shaken. There is also slapstick-level comedy. It is all held together under Georg Solti's genial direction, with singing--solo and ensemble--of the highest quality. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnetic, May 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mozart - Così fan tutte / Fleming, von Otter, Scarabelli, Lopardo, Bär, Pertusi, Solti (Audio CD)

Solti gives a magnetic reading of Cosi Fan Tutte from start to finish! From the very first chords of the overture, you're mesmerized until the finale. You really feel that everyone is having fun at the performance that night - Solti, Renee, Annie, Frank, Olaf, Pertusi. Everyone is enjoying themselves, including the audience who are incredibly quiet. Unlike many other recordings where audience coughing intrudes into the performance, you only get a ripple of laughter once or twice (which adds to the realism and which again indicates how much the audience loved the performance). There is applause after a few numbers - in particular Fiordiligi's arias and a few other arias and the final ensemble. Some people think that is an irritation, I think it adds to the sense of occasion and fun. Frankly, I always like CDs where there is applause at the end. Otherwise, it sounds "dead" after the performance ends.

Renee Fleming produces a ravishingly beautiful tone. Her long beautiful phrases are incredible. Before I heard this recording, I didn't really take much notice of Renee Fleming. "Bah! Another hype!" I thought. But oh how wrong I was. Renee Fleming is destined to take her place among legends such as Christa Ludwig, Scwarzkopf, and Joan Sutherland. Her voice is gorgeous. No wonder she has reputedly one of the most beautiful voices in the world. Annie Von Sofie is, as usual, a rock solid performer. She nevers gives anything less than excellent and in this recording it shows. Her arias are beautifully sung, fleet and agile. She is just a shade less opulent than legendary Christa Ludwig in the Bohm EMI set. Frank Lopardo is astonishing as Ferrando. His exquisite shading of his part took everyone by surprise. It is a stunning performance and the audience goes wild with applause after all his arias. His pianissimi is just incredible. I doubt you'll ever hear a better recorded Un Amorosa. Gorgeously sung. You'll be completely seduced by his singing. No wonder Fiordiligi caved in!!Olaf Bar is excellent as Guglielmo although he doesn't reach the distinction of Lopardo and Fleming. Still, we are comparing him with two singers of exceptional distinction. That doesn't mean he is bad. He is outstanding. The remaining singers are also excellent. Scarabelli in particular sounds her part in Despina - the characterization is superb. You can hear her character from the singing.

Much as I admire the Bohm set, I feel that this set really surpasses it. I have both recordings by the way. I love Mozart and I couldn't live without both. in particular, I love Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in the Bohm set. However, if pressed, I would choose the Solti as the top pick. Whenever I feel down, listening to the Solti set always brightens up my day simply because of the happiness that the performers exude. So you have my verdict.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant recording of a great opera!, June 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mozart - Così fan tutte / Fleming, von Otter, Scarabelli, Lopardo, Bär, Pertusi, Solti (Audio CD)

I've seen this opera several times and I've heard excerpts from other recordings as well, and I've concluded that this recording is absolutely the most brilliant I've heard. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. Why?

1) Lopardo is the most musically expressive tenor I've heard sing this part -- his rich, mellow voice sounds light and flirtatious when he's wooing, and it sounds intense and positively anguished when he's singing of betrayal. But he has great comic timing, too, and one can almost see him smugly buffing his nails against his lapel when he wins his lady. He has an amazing range in terms of dynamics, style, and musicality. Every other time I've heard "Un'aura amorosa," it's been breezed through somewhat superficially. But Lopardo starts tenderly and grows to a full-bodied intensity, and then transitions with a beautiful diminuendo into the reprise. It's breathtaking.

2) All the female singers are fabulous. Renee Fleming is perfect -- beautiful voice, wonderful control. And Scarabelli is saucy, flirtatious, and utterly wonderful.

3) Solti's direction is perfect for this opera. It never, ever drags, even when some arias are taken slower than usual. The direction never becomes monotonous, and the full range of emotion in this opera is explored: Cosi starts out light and frivolous, and becomes increasingly more serious, and Solti follows through with that. The comic parts are allowed to be comic. The tragedy of the ending comes through even through the lightness of the opera.

This is truly a brilliant recording of some of the most beautiful music ever written. Treat yourself.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Cosi Fan Tutte on the Market, October 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Mozart - Così fan tutte / Fleming, von Otter, Scarabelli, Lopardo, Bär, Pertusi, Solti (Audio CD)

This is the best recording of the opera. Solti's (DECCA) set beats the EMI set by Bohm. Here is my comparision

Conductor: Advantage: DECCA! Both did a great job with keeping the music "fast paced" when needed and the score light. Solti's speed is marginally faster. His overture sends a spine tingling sensation of theatrical expectations down your spine. Bohm is slower and a bit staid. Listen to the finale of Act 1. Solti's is a thrilling performance - you will be thrilled listening to it. With Bohm, there is greater clarity of detail but you miss out on the excitement.

Fiordiligi: Advantage: EVEN. Schawrfkopf legend as Fiordiligi is long known. But so is Renee Fleming. Both have their own styles and both are fabulously wonderful.

Dorabella: Advantage: EMI! Make no mistake. Von Otter is fantastic and she is marvellous as Dorabella. But Christa Ludwig is untouchable. She is just hors concours in sheer vocal opulence. So Von Otter finishes second to Ludwig. That is not to say she did badly. She was fabulous and the applause she gets from the audience is testimony to her fabulous singing. But she just sounds a shade lean next to Ludwig.

Ferrando: Advantage: DECCA! Loprado wins hands down. EMI's Ferrando is great. But as Von Otter is beside Ludwig, so is Kraus beside Lopardo. Listen to Un amorosa. Lopardo is untouchable. Also, EMI doesn't have Ah Leggio which Lopardo sings with amazing beauty, a pleasure to hear for once.

Guglielmo: Advantage: EVEN!

Sound: Advantage: DECCA! Although the Bohm stereo holds up and sounds just fine, better than fine-it sounds great, the Solti recording is briliant in its digital power.

Completeness: Advantange: DECCA! The Bohm set has some cuts two arias have been discluded. Bohm does not include Ah Leggio which is wondrously sung by Lopardo.

For any fan of this opera, not getting both the Giulini and Solti recordings is foolish. I adore and listen to them both very frequently. This is the most brilliant opera ever composed...and both recordings shine. I recommend both, but place the EMI set ahead of the DECCA set.

The Bohm set has long been considered the definitive Cosi Set. However, the DECCA set has eclipsed the Bohm set (though I would say only marginally). FIVE STARS for both! It IS a hard choice. Get BOTH if you have the means. Otherwise, I would recommend the Solti's marginally over the Bohm because of Solti's completeness, sense of joy and excitement which is marginally lacking in Bohm.