Customer Reviews

Mozart: Idomeneo

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

 

 

I can tell you why you should own this recording in just two words......LUCIANO PAVAROTTI. This is a time when the great tenor was singing his absolute most beautiful. No doubt Pavarotti's singing on this recording is MAGNIFICENT (and he sings the "secondary" role of Idamante, NOT Idomeneo as he later did). I happen to also prefer Idamante sung by a Tenor rather than a Mezzo-soprano. Also as a bonus one gets to hear another great Tenor voice on this recording, Sir Richard Lewis. Lewis sings very well here, for the most part, though he does have a problem at the end of his aria "Fuor del Mar", cracking while attempting the High C he did so magnificently on the EMI recording. Gundula Janowitz sings very well on this recording also. Pritchard's tempos on this performance are very good. I love this recording. I do not necessarily recommend this for your ONLY recording of this great, often underappreciated Mozart opera, but for a glimpse at one of the true vocal giants yet in his fomative years, this set can not be beat. Sure there are "auditorium noises", but I feel that is a small price to pay to get a glimpse of history in the making and at such a bargain price. Treat yourself and buy this recording. Believe me, it's a true treasure!

I agree with all of the above reviews,Pavarotti was at the young age of 29 when this excelent radio broadcast was made on August 17,1964.The role of Idamante offers few chances to display his gifts,but that alone justifies this purchase.The real
treasure is the golden voice of Gundula Janowitz,an addictive and intoxicating instrument,wich is the description would later
apply to Pavarotti when his late 1960's and early 1970's Decca recordings became known all over the opera world.It would take
few more years,until the historical 1977 live broadcast from The Met in La Boheme,plus a glowing article in Time magazine
would awaken the masses to this unique,once in a century,voice.Same worshipping should have applied to Janowitz.Von Karajan
surrendered to her talent,anf fortunately for us Deutsche Gramophon too.
So,don't hesitate to adquire this treasure wich documents two mutants at their earlier peak.This is not for Mozart purists.
Interesting is the fact that the loudest audience applause was saved for Elektra's final,despontent aria an emotional tour
de force in this mostly formal opera ).

Cough... Cough, cough. For ten bucks, this disk isn't horrible, and if you are like me - someone new to opera and is looking for reasonably priced music just to find out what all the hubbub is about - I would less than heartily recommend this title. On the other hand, if you have the forty bucks for a better recording, SPEND THE MONEY. The noise in the theater is distracting, there is an occasional humming during the first act that is low but audible, and the singing often sounds like it is coming from the garage next to the theater. As for the opera, I loved it, though did not understand it because this disk does not come with the libretto. I'm saving my money on these cheapies next time by simply passing them by.

This is a live production from the 1960s with some background noise. If you close your eyes you can almost hear the skates slicing through the ice as the popular Swedish singer Gundula Janowitz glides through Ilia's lovely numbers. She is a much better soprano than Pavarotti, whose voice is much too low for that role. No wonder he finished up singing Idomeneo on the other recording. The Elletra is not as good as I was when I first heard it but I really love the bits when they all sing at the same time. This would now be my first choice unless you were wanting The MAgic Flute.