Customer Reviews

Mozart - Il sogno di Scipione / Schreier, Popp, Gruberova, Ahnsjö, Moser, Mathis; Hager

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

 

 

The previous reviewer's comment may be erroneous - Schreier wasn't Ascanio but Scipio, and his performance is highly competent if not outright brilliant in the sense of the legendary Mozartian tenor Fritz Wunderlich.

This recording is a very fine showcase of early Mozart's operatic style and the coloraturas are very well done by Gruberova, Popp and Mathis.

Both Thomas Moser and Peter Schreier offer stylish and polished performance and Leopold Hager was a Mozart expert of his era.

A highly enjoyable recording.

The performance was in January 1979 in Salzburg, and Leopold Hager recorded this in an opera in concert session before the performance of the opera on stage.

The last performance on record was 1 May 1772 also in Salzburg, but it was an incomplete performance, with only a small portion of the work being performed. It was never performed during Mozart's life time thereafter.

The cast here is simply fabulous, and the arias are quite virtuosic even if Mozart composed them at the age of 15. The soloists tackle the various pieces with real artistry.

A good showcase of early Mozart opera, and the recording is a historical event in itself.

Highly recommended.

After listening to the complete recording I have to say that Gruberova, Popp, and Mathis give a splendid performance of this Mozart work! All three female soloists are in great form, which is somthing that cannot be said of any of the gentlemen here. Peter Schreier, sounds terrible as Ascanio. He always disappoints with his nasal sounds. I've many recordings where he sings, and everytime, I have to skip the arias he performs. I just can't handle the sounds he produces. Why did his voice teachers not coach him on proper placing of the voice to avoid sounding nasal? Voice production 101. Geez! If you purchase this recording, expect brilliance from all female singers, but nothing much of consequence from the guys!