Customer Reviews

Mozart: Don Giovanni [Highlights]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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This Highlights recording determined my purchasing the full length Mackerras version of the opera. I repeat the review posted there. Even though you'll have less of the opera with this, you will have one of the best highlights recordings available.

Extremely happy with this recording, particularly, the conducting, which is lively and sharp-witted. The ensemble of artists too, is one of cohesion and relationships. The quality of sound is rich and performances are so good, that for a while I thought I was listening to a live performance, which is my favorite way to hear an opera.

I don't think there is a perfect Don Giovanni, but this one comes close. There are no star-turns, no sanctimony, no hyper-reverential moments, just spirited Mozart, beautifully conducted and sung with great attention to character and story.

You don't have to be an opera snob to listen to the entire Don Giovanni. This "highlights" disc is just popular selections from the earlier Telarc recording of the full opera. The chief complaints here are that (1) too much of the story and characters behind the music is lost, and (2) there is almost nothing here of the wonderful basso Umberto Chiummo, who plays both the Commendatore and the peasant Masetto (and who, for us, makes the opera). We finally got hold of the 3-CD Telarc boxed set and there is just no comparison. We just gave this "highlights" CD away after getting the full 1996 recording.