Customer Reviews

Le Nozze Di Figaro

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

 

 

This is a phenomenal opera recording. Everyone is wonderful in their roles, especially Kathleen Battle and Anne Murray, who makes a heart-rending Cherubino.

Figaro is truly a special opera, perhaps the best yet written (and that will ever be written). In my opinion, this is the best you could purchase in the way of recordings.

When I first heard this recording, I concurred with the sentiments the reviewers. There was nothing to work with in this recording. Or so I thought!!!

Then I listened to it again. It jumped out a grabbed me! There is so much subtlety in this recording. We have to remember that everything happens in the space of one day.

With that in mind, the pace seems to make sense. Also, don't focus on the singers too much. Listen to the internals of the orchestra, (especially, the viola, bassoon and oboe parts) you will be amazed! It tells part of the story.

All, the singers are in top form , especially Kathleen Battle. An absolute joy to hear as always.

My only criticism is that music of the wedding and the duet "Che soave zeffiretto" was taken a bit too fast.

All in all a great recording. If you want buffonery with exaggerated antics (a la Bartoli)then look elsewhere. Drama, comedy, precision, movement and just great interpretations, then this is the recording for you.

For me the great merit of this recording has always been Margaret Price. Her creamy, warm tones are perfect for the Countess, and she alone is reason enough to own this recording. The stars above all belong to her (and if it was her and not the recording in question, it would be ten stars instead of four). It's a pity she doesn't seem to be as famous as the other Countesses and her albums are relatively few.

I have to completely agree with the previous reviewer. This is my favorite opera, bar none. I have several recordings. When I purchased this recording, I had listened to this opera 100's of times, and I heard new things here. And, I still continue to hear new things here everytime I listen to it.

The subtilities in the score of this opera are absolutely astounding, but rarely heard. However, they briliantly shine in this recording. I try to ignore the main melody and listen to the wonderful world of orchestral texture and brilliance that lies beneath it.

The stars of this recording are definitely Muti & the Vienna Philharmonic. There is no recording in my collection that compares with these two elements.

The Vienna Philharmonic showcases here why it is completely unchallanged as the world's greatest orchestra. The playing is crisp, emotional, brilliant, and fresh. Every nuance can be completely heard, and it is all perfectly developed. The energy with which they play this score is unparalled. Perfection. Sheer perfection!

Muti's conducting is wonderful as well. I love many other sets, but sometimes feel the conducting is sluggish at moments when the comedy should be more slapstick- particuarily Bohm, Solti, and Guilini in the 2nd Act Finales. Muti's speeds seem perfect.

Yes, the cast on here is not as wonderful as those of Solti, Bohm, or Giulini but they are certainly more than adequate and Price's reading of the Countess is glorious. I prefer Allen in the role of the Count (on Solti) but his Figaro is fine. Battle's Susanna is wonderful, although I do prefer Moffo (Giulini).

There are many great recordings of this opera - but if you want to hear a glorious score played like non other on record - this is the recording for you.

This is the Figaro I listen to most because the conducting and orchestral playing are simply in a class of their own.

Enjoy!

I loved this recording.The sound quality was superb.Kathleen battle sings in this marriage of figero as if mozart picked her out for the part himself.There are many other great singers to listen to,also.Buy it and wear out you cd player.Long live OPERA!!!

Although this recording is precise, and the sound quality is brilliant, the whole performance feels so uninspired and boring. Allen makes a very dry Figaro, and Muti conducts the whole piece without any emotion and almost no sense of spontaneity or magic. No gusto, no charm, no joy...just a bunch of notes...I really love the Marriage of Figaro and was quite disappointed with this recording.

This production of Mozart's Figaro is good but is SO generic it makes me sick. I like Ricardo Muti (particualy for his fast tempi) but he conducted this piece like he'd done it so many times it was boring. The orchestra (Vienna philharomic) are good but are sometimes rushed. Another problem are the horribly boring recitatives. They are taken so slow that all the suspense/comedy are taken out of them. Now on to the singers. Thomas Allen is an acceptable Figaro but (like Muti) sounds bored. Kathleen Battles Susanna is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise horrible production. Jorma Hynninen is good as the Count and does the best with what he has. Margaret Price is a very boring Countess. She sings very well but doesn't put any life into the part. Ann Murray's Cherubino was very believeable. The rest of the cast is pretty much a bunch of nobodys. Marcellina (Mariana Nicolesco) sounds a little screechy but turns out a wonderful Il capro e la capretta, Bartolo (Kurt Rydl) is also very well sung, Basilio is a little generic but manages to pull off his In quegli anni. The rest of the cast is not even worth mentioning because they were just getting another paycheck. Very bad production overall. My verdict: But the highlights!

I loved this recording.The sound quality was superb.Kathleen battle sings in this marriage of figero as if mozart picked her out for the part himself.There are many other great singers to listen to,also.Buy it and wear out you cd player.Long live OPERA!!!