Topic: Mozart's Don Giovanni

[AB68]

I am not very familiar with operas. I have only seen 2 or 3 opera performances in my entire life. So I need a reccomandation for Don Giovanni which I am going to see in Prague this summer.
A complete recording of this opera that is available on Amazon.
Hope somebody can reccomend some good recordings. Thanks in advance.

[val]

My preferred version is a legendary one, conducted by Fritz Busch, with the best Don Giovanni I ever heard, John Brownlee, and also with the best Leporello, Salvatore Baccaloni. It is a recording made in 1936 (?) in the Glyndenbourne Festival.

But there are other very good versions:

- Giulini, with Sutherland, Schwarzkopf and Sciutti (the best female trio I know).
- Rosbaud, with Stich Randal, Gedda and Danco (and the best Comendatore, Rafael Arié).
- Fricsay, with Fischer Dieskau and Seefried. (but I never liked much F. Dieskau as Don Giovanni, he seems too artificial. The best of this version is the direction of Fricsay and the best Zerlina I know, Irmgard Seefried).
- Haitink, with Allen (a superb direction of Haitink, perhaps the best since Fritz Busch, a good Don Giovanni by Thomas Allen and a superb  Elvira, Maria Ewing; the other soloists are not at the same level).
 

[hornteacher]

http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Giovanni-Fleming-Pertusi-Scaltriti/dp/B0000042GY/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-4456605-3214401?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1178795133&sr=8-3


A more recent version by Solti with Renee Flemming and Bryn Terfel.

[knight66]

This also is excellent.....a modern recording.



Mike

[uffeviking]

This also is excellent.....a modern recording.



Mike

This is the one I have been waiting for to come out on DVD; no luck so far. Can you tell us more about it? Is it as great as I expect from those two outstanding young singers and actors? I finally gave in and ordered the CD and it's on the way, should have it in a few days. 

[AB68]

Thanks for the reccomendations. I chose the Haitink version, hope it's as good as the reviews suggest. Can't wait to hear it.

[knight66]

Lis, It is an excellent all round version and the two main-men are both excellent. I am certain you will enjoy it. Abbado rarely fires blanks these days.

Mike

[Mozart]

I am going to see in Prague this summer.

You Bastard!

My first and favorite DG

[Sean]

I also bought the Haitink on CD, he's highly recommendable in Mozart and this is a particularly rich and rewarding effort all round. I got to know the piece, my first opera, from the Klemperer on LP and though flawed the conducting is superb and a fine way of getting into his suitably charmless and stoic classical style, finding things no one else does, and of course it has a special place for me.

[Que]

This is as good as it gets for non-HIP.



Q

[Bunny]

This is as good as it gets for non-HIP.



Q

Great minds must think alike.

[stingo]

I saw the Terfel/Fleming DG DVD a while back and enjoyed it. Levine does a fine job with the orchestra too.

[Todd]

Giulini first.  If you feel a need for something in better, more modern sound (and you very well may not), then Abbado.