Mozart: Idomeneo

[Papageno]

Which performance of Mozart's Idomeneo would you recommend?

[Mozart]

D'oreste D'aiace!

[Tsaraslondon]

Idomeneo was recently the subject of BBC Radio 3's Building a Library. The reviewer, Christopher Cook, came down in favour of the Gardiner on DG Archive.

[knight66]

I have three audio only versions.

The oldest is conducted by that very civilised musician Sir John Pritchard. It is live from Glyndebourne in 1964 and has Pavarotti as Idamante, Richard Lewis and Janowitz. Although it is miles away from the HIP approach of my other two sets, it has lots to recommend it. Though Pavarotti's foray into Mozart is no more idiomatic than Domingo's was in the same opera.

Mackerras gives us a somewhat different singer as Idamante....Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and she is excellent, detailed, right inside the part and a Mozartian of real style. Bostridge is good in the title role, though I prefer Anthony Rolfe Johnson in the Gardiner set. His Idamante is Anne Sophie von Otter. Almost as good as Hunt Lieberson. As Elettra, Barbara Frittoli is first rate for Mackerras. It can sound strident as the character is so on the edge, but Frittoli stays inside the part, but does not become tiring to the ear. Martinpelto for Gardiner to my ears is just a bit strident, but gets round the notes impressively.

As to the approach by each conductor. They are each first rate, though I feel that Mackerras has this music more inside him and I have not always been convinced Gardiner has the kind of Mozart style I relate to. However, I would not be without either set and they would each give a lot of pleasure. The sound on both the modern sets is excellent.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

Mike, if I remember rightly, the reviewer eventually narrowed it down to the Mackerras and the Gardiner, but finally plumped for the Gardiner, because of the superiority, in his view anyway, of Rolfe Johnson's Idomeneo. He had high praise for the rest of the cast and the conducting in both recordings.

[knight66]

I missed that review, but I agree re Rolfe Johnson....really, I want them both. In fact, I think one will just hit the machine right now.

Mike

[Papageno]

Idomeneo was recently the subject of BBC Radio 3's Building a Library. The reviewer, Christopher Cook, came down in favour of the Gardiner on DG Archive.

Gardiner's performance is with von Otter, yes?  I prefer her German performances.
I'm listening to the Mackerras, very good, thanks for the recommendation Tsaraslondon.  I'll try to listen to the other performaces you've recommended.
Thanks

[Mozart]

How many times did idomeneo play in the original production?

[Mozart]

D'Oreste, d'Aiace
Ho in seno i tormenti,
D'Aletto la face
Già morte mi dà.

Squarciatemi il cuore
Ceraste, serpenti,
O un ferro il dolore
in me finirà.

[Mozart]

I finally got Mackerra's Idomeneo. Its top notch! Finally one better than Bohm's.

[Morigan]

Just never get the DG DVD with Pavarotti in the title role!!