Customer Reviews

Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very well rounded recording with an exceptional amount of high moments and only a few lows. It has one of the best Act 2 finales I've ever heard, especially it's final portion (Marcellena's & co.'s arrival, etc.) which shows incredible clarity in orchestration and delightful passion on the part of the cast. Davis and his performers find an excellent balance between dramatic integrity, proportion of tempi and emotional output elevating this CD to a Mozartean Classic.

Davis does a fine job with this recording, one of the best paced Figaros around (Solti and Giuilini are also very good). Freni is probably the best reason to buy this recording. Her Susanna is sung with a full lyric tone and excellent execution of the text. The second reason to buy this recording is the Contessa of Norman. It's certainly a part that one does not associate with her. In general, it's a success. I find her tone unusually oppulent for this role, but it works. If she seems overtly regal (a mannerism that I find true of most of her work), it's not a drawback in a role that is, after all, a countess. The gentleman are all good as well (and both fixtures in the also excellent Davis Don Giovanni with Arroyo, Te Kanawa and Freni as the women). An excellent first recording of this opera and a worthwhile addition to other interpretations of Nozze.

I'd looked forward to owning this version (which must be my 10th Nozze recording, at least), based on the positive review in Opera on Records. It is musically very accomplished, and the theatrical aspect is carefully thought out and executed.

Ultimately I was disappointed by Davis's fast tempi through-out, which preempt the opportunities to express deeper emotions of anguish or vulnerability. It jogs along, literately and elegantly, but is rarely moving. Freni is very good, earthy, with a phrasing style that is not conventionally Mozartian. Ganzarolli is, for me, hard to like and musically a little casual in going from note to note. Norman puts so much effort into successfully reducing her massive voice to Mozartian proportions that she has little energy left for much else. Sometimes I could only marvel at "there's Jessye Norman sounding like a soubrette!", but she lost the core of the Countess's character in the process. Her sung Italian at that timewas not fluent. In fast music she's all consonants, in slow music all vowels (which makes the echoes in the Letter Duet sound as though Freni is translating Norman's beautiful, unclear utterances into recognizable Italian). They vocalize gorgeously, though. Minton is dull, Wixell is edgy (but so is Ganzarolli).

The subtitle of the piece is "la folle giornata," the mad day. This performance never adequately spills over into madness -- neither crazed joy nor tears. Very pretty listening, though. Instead, I'd recommend Krips, the impossible-to-find Leinsdorf, Boehm 3 (on DG), Giulini (brilliant humor, just over-engineered for my tastes), and especially de los Angeles and Reiner live from the Met in '52, and Pinza, Sayao, and Steber live with Breisach (better than Walter!) in '43 -- Now THAT's comedy!

If you're like me, and Le nozze di Figaro (the greatest opera yet written) is your favorite opera, there are plenty of great recordings out there. This here, is the first recording of the opera I purchased, and still remains among my favorites. This recording is first rate and quite beautiful. There's not much I can add to what others have said, but I will offer two corrections to what a previous reviewer said.

1). Le nozze di Figaro was not the composer's first venture into opera buffa. He had composed other buffa's at a much younger age. Figaro is definitely his most masterful, but not his first. However, it really cannot be classified as an opera buffa because it's themes and character development extend far beyond those of typical buffa operas.

2). This is a Classical opera, although it was the first one to offer up continuous finales (Act II & Act IV) that feature almost 20 minutes of music (depending on conducting speed), each, with no recitativo, it still followed classical conventions. The extended finales are just one of the reasons that Le nozze di Figaro was such an innovative opera.

It is here, in the young composer's first venture into opera buufa, that he reveals all of the musical skill at his command. This is the first of three operas written with libretto by Lorenzo de Ponte (the others are Don Giovanni and Cosi fan Tutte). It is masterful, not Classical, nor Baroque, nor Romantic, nor Modern. It transcends time, and is an opera of love, hate, vengeance, and forgiveness. It is as a work of immortality that I recommend this work, and espicially this recording, light, dark, and beautiful, by Colin Davis and the Royal Opera House of London. Listen, and be transformed by immortal music.

This is an excellent recording of this great opera. Fine singing and excellent conducting. While not a substitute for seeing a performance, this recording is an excellent way to experience the music.

Mozart's first venture into the artform of Opera Buffa is in turns amusing, amazing, inspiring. It touches on love, vengeance, and most importantly, forgiveness. Listen to this opera; you will find yourself feeling better about life after this music. That is Mozart's gift to the world. He wipes away the muck and filth that is our lives, leaving all clean beneath.

this to me is the best opera ever written, there are aspects of drama, comedy, etc. it is to hear, and takes your breath away, i strongly recommend this recording. the whole cast is awesome. buy this recording

This recording of Mozart's first Opera Buffa, is really grande. The leading role of figaro, sings the role very well. The Tempi's are very good. The Countess sung the famous Aria "Dove sono" with a beautiful tone. The recording, is very nice, the sound quality is very good (Especially for a 1971) recording. Theonly regret I have, is how the recording has the numbers and recit. in one number, which extends the number. Buy this recording of this opera, you will not regret it. Sir colin davis does a very good job keeping the tempi's sustained and the finales and the other fast numbers are great with his great interpretation of mozart. Buy this cd!