Truly masterful performances.
Abel | Hong Kong | 02/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An entire album of Haydn's opera buffa arias. Such recording, according to Herr Quasthoff, was only done before by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
Granted that all the tracks are from the same genre of operas by the same composer, one would immediately question - what a homogeneous category!
Even if the genre sounds homogeneous, the only homogeneous aspect in this album is the consistently high standard of performance.
Thomas Quasthoff really goes behind each character in the different arias. There is no repeatedness in the tracks. Each piece is well-thought out and uniquely handled.
Of course, the arias suit Quasthoff's voice to a 'T'. But what really marvels the listener is the ultra-fine characterisations. There can simply be no doubt left to the listeners that the different arias relate to different characters.
This aspect alone is sufficient for listeners to raise their hats, let alone that the accompaniment as well as the singers concerned are stylistically distinguished and musically adept.
These days, singers love to pull off with 'single composer' solo albums. Quasthoff's Haydn album, imhv, tops such list of solo albums."