Search - Various Artists, John Eliot Gardiner, Leonard Bernstein :: Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 4: Fidelio/Leonore

Two good performances

cdsullivan@massed.net | Cambridge, MA USA | 03/21/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This volume contains the original version, "Leonore," and the final version, "Fidelio," of Beethoven's only opera. "Leonore is given a fine performance under John Eliot Gardiner. In an extensive essay published in the booklet, Gardiner states his case for why he thinks "Leonore" is better than "Fidelio." The main reason is that he thinks "Leonore" is a more revolutionary and dramatic work. "Leonore" supposedly catches all the fire of the young revolutionary, which is toned down in "Fidelio." I disagree with him, because the music is always more important than the drama, and "Fidelio" indisputably has the greater music. In addition, Gardiner's recording has a somewhat strange structure, with a narrator taking the place of most of the spoken dialogue. It is generally a good performance, exciting and clear, as can be expected from Gardiner, while also leaving the spiritual heights unclimbed - as also can be expected from Gardiner! The cast is excellent, and "Leonore" has a lot of interesting music cut from "Fidelio," including a gorgeous duet for Leonore and Marzelline."Fidelio" is represented by Leonard Bernstein's late 1970's recording, a fatal error when DG also has Karl Böhm's magnificent Dresden recording from the late 1960's, with Jones, King, Crass, Adam, Mathis and Talvela. Gundula Janowitz brings all her astonishing vocal beauty to this performance, but in my opinion she is somewhat miscast: Leonore is a dramatic soprano role, and Janowitz was a lyric or at best a lyric-dramatic soprano. Still, it's pleasing to hear such beautiful singing in a role frequently screamed. René Kollo is his usual self, not especially pleasing of voice but giving a riveting portrayal; Jungwirth is an adequate Rocco, Sotin a dark-toned, resonant but somewhat too bass-like Pizzaro. Popp and Dallapozza are good as Marzelline and Jaquino.Bernstein conducts, and his direction is inspired, intense and dramatic - perhaps a little too dramatic at some points. His conducting doesn't, however, possess the monumental nobility of Klemperer, or the classical mastery and inner fire of Böhm. The packaging, as always in DG's Beethoven Edition, is fabulous, with essays making the case for "Leonore" and for "Fidelio," and interesting color reproductions of appropriate artwork and musical documents. For alternatives: Gardiner's is the best recording of "Leonore" available. If you want the best "Fidelio" available, you should invest in Klemperer's classic recording on EMI, at mid price. ... Sadly, many of Böhm's recordings have suffered the same fate, overshadowed by Karajan's relentlessly publicized, repeatedly reissued performances. Böhm was the most underrated conductor of the twentieth century.Back to this set! Overall, it is a fine anthology, recommended especially to those who want to compare the two main versions of Beethoven's only opera, in excellent performances."