Customer Reviews

Le Nozze Di Figaro

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

 

 

This is a very good, though perhaps not *great* Figaro. The highlight of the recording is the fabulous Countess of Sena Jurinac. This is a woman who knew how to sing Mozart! Her then husband, Sesto Bruscantini sings Figaro with much charm, though the voice is not the most attractive to be found in this music. Sciutti is a pert and charming Susanna and Calabrese a decent Count. The low point of the recording (for me) is the Cherubino of Rise Stevens. She sounds as if she were about 105 years old here, and she doesn't bring much life to the role. All in all however, this is a Figaro worth hearing. I wouldn't recommend it as a first recording of the opera as it does not come with a libretto.

When it was first issued in 1956, this was the first stereo recording of the complete Figaro opera. It remains the best today. Vittorio Gui conducts an ensemble that mixes freshness and lightness with complete professionalism. Sena Jurinac and Rise Stevens are well-nigh perfect in their respective roles. (How the heck did Met Opera star and New Yorker Stevens get into this European cast I wonder? No matter, picking her was a good move on the part of the producers.) It may be true that a few minutes of the original recording have been cut to fit everything onto two CDs, but that's no reason to pass up such a great performance, beautifully recorded in realistic three-channel sound that stands up well after 50+ years.

This is quite simply a classic performance. A wonderful Glyndebourne cast (Bruscantini is the archetypal Figaro) a bargin without equal. At this price no serious collector should be without it.

This is quite simply a classic performance. A wonderful Glyndebourne cast (Bruscantini is the archetypal Figaro) a bargin without equal. At this price no serious collector should be without it.

Out of all of Mozart's work this is the geatest. "The Wedding of Figaro" has been called the perfect opera. With the mind of a musical genius behind it is one of the most renowned opera's ever.