Mozart operas

[Mozart]

But they are the essential part of the plot.


Anyways, what did we think of Idomeneo Harry?

[Larry Rinkel]

But they are the essential part of the plot.

No one disputes that. But when playing a recording, I am free to skip the musically dull parts, repeat tracks, play numbers out of sequence, etc. In the opera house, on the other hand, I must follow the work in sequence from start to end.

[marvinbrown]

No one disputes that. But when playing a recording, I am free to skip the musically dull parts, repeat tracks, play numbers out of sequence, etc. In the opera house, on the other hand, I must follow the work in sequence from start to end.

  Or you could always import from your CD the arias and ensembles tracks only and burn a new disk with the recitativos taken out.  I have done it with Le Nozze Di Figaro, but I kind of like the recitativo of Don Giovanni- its a more interesting story line as far as I am concerned and I like to follow the plot, gives the music more meaning.  Incidently Karajan has recorded only the arias and ensembles of Mozart's The Magic Flute, it is on EMI classics with the Wiener Philharmoniker (Dermota, Seefried, Kunz, Lipp, Webber are some of the singers) I just can'tfind a link for it on the internet for some reason.


  marvin

[Harry]

I read to my surprise that some members think, that I only played the Mozart operas once, and than throw them in the refusal bin.
This is blatant nonsense. Each box that is send to someone else in the world, has been listen by me at least 4 times, very attentively.
I decided that Mozart operas are not really my thing, but that I think that the music is fabulous, just not my thing.
So I do not throw Mozart in the refusal bin after one hearing. I do not know where this notion comes from.....

[Harry]

Mozart.

Zaide.
Deutsches Singspiel in zwei Aufzugen, KV 344.

Libretto: Johann Andreas Schachtner.

Zaide, Sandrine Piau.
Gomatz, Max Ciolek.
Allazim, Klaus Mertens.
Sultan Soliman, Paul Agnew.
Osmin, Klaus Mertens.
Narrator, Gregor Frenkel Frank.

Radio Kamerorkest/Ton Koopman.
Recorded 25/2/2001.

Well again a Mozart opera, and again a soprano is the cause of me disliking it. Sandrine Piau 's voice I love to hear, but in this performance she sings as if all air is pushed out of her. A good narrator, and the rest of the performers is very good, as is the orchestra under Koopman. I think the music very boring, and so this one will go in the refusal bin.

[Harry]

Mozart.

Le Nozze di Figaro.

Claessens, Oelze, Groop, Kamp, Cramoix,
Choeur de Chambre de Namour, La Petite Bande,
S. Kuijken

Sound samples
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/9756014?rk=classic&rsk=hitlist

This opera buffa I actually like. All involved are excellent, and the recording is very good.
Blimey I actually like it....... 

[Harry]

Mozart.

Idomeneo.

See link for details

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Idomeneo-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B000005GPO/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196263361&sr=1-26

Playing this for the fourth time, now, loving the music, but I am not sure about the performance..... 

[Mozart]

Mozart.

Idomeneo.

See link for details

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mozart-Idomeneo-Wolfgang-Amadeus/dp/B000005GPO/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196263361&sr=1-26

Playing this for the fourth time, now, loving the music, but I am not sure about the performance..... 

The music has tons of potential, I just have never found the right recording.

[Harry]

Mozart.

Le Nozze di Figaro.
Opera Buffa in quattro atti, KV 492.
Libretto di Lorenzo da Ponte

Il Conte di Almaviva: Huub Claessens.
La Contessa: Patricia Biccire.
Figaro, cameriera del Conte: Werner van Mechelen.
Susanna, cameriera della contessa, Christiane Oelze.
Cherubino, paggio: Monika Groop.
Marzellina, governante: Beatrice Cramoix.
Bartolo, medico: Harry van der Kamp.
Basilio, meastro di musica: Yves Saelens.
Don Curzio, giudice: Philip Defrancq.
Antonio, giardiniere del Conte: Jean-Guy Devienne.
Barbarina, figlia di Antonio: Marie Kuijken.

Choeur de Chambre de Namur
La Petite Bande/Sigiswald Kuijken.

Recorded June 1998, live at the Palacio de Congresos y Auditios. La Coruna, Spain. The recording is superb.
Licensed from Accent.

I think I keep this one! Having played it now several times, this one has staying power. It has all to do with the very intimite performance. It is done without the normal pomp and circumstance normally attached. Voices are all fine, story is brought about effectively, and aided by a good Choir and Orchestra.
Of all the operas by Mozart this one I like best. Only two operas, well that's a bad score I say....
Pity he did not write operettas.

[Mozart]

Goooood! Very Goooood! This was my first opera also. You are on your way! By my math this makes 4, but i need an abacus to count
Now we just need Don Giovanni and you'll be a MozartManiac yet! 

[Morigan]

Ah, Mozart's operas. This is what made me jump into the opera bandwagon  .

I've always thought that the best DVD can make you enjoy an opera a lot more than a recording... My favourite Mozart DVD is Ponnelle's film for Così, with the sublime Grubevora as Fiordiligi. The MET Don Juan comes close second, although Furlanetto's performance as Leporello was somewhat a let down (he's getting old).

[Mozart]

I have been looking for this one forever...and I finally got it! And it is wonderful! Buy it! Now!




**Dessay, Bartoli and Piau are great but the men suck...I just assumed you knew that 

[Mozart]

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/DekHxpubjtI

[Opus106]

[Click on image for details]

Is this the Mozartean equivalent of what Karl affectionately refers to as "The Cube"?

[DarkAngel]

I think it is time to energize this thread with a new infusion of spending
Anyone purchase the Jacobs/HM versions of the major Mozart operas, comments?

[Wendell_E]

I think it is time to energize this thread with a new infusion of spending
Anyone purchase the Jacobs/HM versions of the major Mozart operas, comments?

Got 'em all.  Love 'em all.  I need to get the lastest (Idomeneo).

[DavidRoss]

Got 'em all.  Love 'em all.  I need to get the lastest (Idomeneo).

Ditto.  Except I'm not attracted to Idomeneo and am ardently awaiting The Magic Flute.  I rarely choose anything else these days, even Giulini's Giovanni (& Figaro) or Böhm's Cosi.  Sparkling, lively, lovely, with all the engaging virtues of period instrument performances (especially the fruity winds and scrunchy strings!). 

[Que]

Got 'em all.  Love 'em all.  I need to get the lastest (Idomeneo).

Thirded, buy with confidence. 

Q

[DarkAngel]

If we agree that Jacobs/HM is best modern HIP Figaro......what about favorite classic CD version?

I especially like to compare the female trio of Contessa/Susana/Cherubino

 Schwarzkopf/Moffo/Cossotto

 Te Kanawa/Popp/Von Stade

 Janowitz/Mathis/Troyanos

 Te Kawana/Upshaw/Von Otter

[DarkAngel]

I love the Figaro scence where the love struck rogue Cherubino serenades Contessa with aria Voi Che Sapete
Have watched almost every available Voi Che Sapete video on You Tube, love the Cherubino character!