Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Colin Davis, Georg Solti :: Essential Mozart Opera

Bon appetit!

Smorgy | Southern California, USA | 09/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 2CDs set is quite a good compilation of arias from Mozart's best known operas. The cast is awesome, too.



The trouble is Mozart wrote so many wonderful arias that when you try to compile them from many operas, lots of the great ones like 'Non piu di fiori' and 'Deh per questo istante solo' from La clemenza di Tito get left out (tho having Teresa Berganza's version of 'Parto ma tu ben mio' makes up for it somewhat). A lot of chorus pieces from Idomeneo but none of Idamante's arias, no Elettra's famous rage aria, and no 'Traurigkeit' from 'Die Entfuehrung'?



Bottom line, there's a good mix of arias of all varieties, and all are marvelously sung (especially the Cosi fan tutte trio 'Soave sia il vento' with Lorengar, Berganza, and Bacquier). I think the line up could have been better, tho. It won't fill you up, perhaps, but it will wet your appetite for complete set of the operas included."

A voice teacher and early music fan who LOVES Mozart

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 11/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OVER TWO AND ONE HALF HOURS OF GLORIOUS MELODIES.

Every piece that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756-1791) wrote bears the mark of the unique genius that caused Haydn to say to Mozart's father,"I declare to you upon my honor that I consider your son the greatest composer I have ever heard." Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not crowded his mind, giving him no peace until he put them on paper.



He first visited Italy when he was only thirteen and he lost his heart to Italian opera. Two later visits confirmed his passion, and his own operas are more Italian than German. He wrote his last opera, 'Die Zauberflote' (the magic flute) when he was ill and depressed, but he controlled his depression and made of it a sparkling comedy.



Where his mortal remains lie buried is unknown; his immortal works have a place in the hearts and minds of all true musicians, who echo Rossini's statement "There Is Only One Mozart."



These two CD's include music from seven operas, all wonderfully sung by nineteen opera singers of note, under the skillful direction of four capable conductors: Sir Georg Solti, Neville Marriner, Colin Davis and Istvan Kertesz. The selections and singers are listed in the information provided with the recording, so I won't list them in my review.



Obviously when a compilation exists in any record album, the selections are not always the favorites of the buyer,but I would be hard-pressed to dislike any of the songs included on these discs.



Many of my personal favorites ARE included and I list a few of them, for maybe they are yours also: 'Dove sono' (Marriage of Figaro) sung by Kiri Te Kanawa- 'Der Holle Prache kocht in meinem Herzen' (famous Queen of the Night aria from Magic Flute)sung by Cheryl Studer- 'Deh, vieni alla finestra, o mio tesoro'(Don Giovanni) sung by Bernd Weikt. As for the rest of the selections, I enjoy them tremendously.



What a pity that Mozart died so young! What wonderful unsung melodies must have remained in his head!!!!"