Search - W.a. Mozart, Riccardo Muti, Vienna Philharmonic :: Mozart: The Complete Da Ponte Operas (Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi fan tutte)

Good Overall

R. Gerard | Pennsylvania USA | 12/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seeing Mozart's Da Ponte opera cycle for sale at the price of only one opera it was hard to resist purchasing it (after all, it would cost at least twice as much to buy all three of these operas directed by Muti, seperately.)



This boxed set is a mixed bag of good and bad. Muti's renditions of Le Nozze di Figaro and Il Don Giovanni are both good and are even some of my favorite interpretaions of the works. There is not much to say about Le Nozze di Figaro other than the singers (I am expressly impressed with the soprano who sang Marcellina in Figaro) sing their parts perfectly. The orchestra really helps set the mood.



The hallmark of this 3-opera set, I feel, is the recording of Don Giovanni (Originally: Il Dissoluto Punito). I have always been a fan of Ricardo Muti, and I have always noticed the color of "darkness" that looms in his interpretations. This darkness makes Muti the perfect conductor of Don Giovanni, in my opinion. "Mozart's blackest opera" is presented here with the suspense the Giulini was unable to provide in either of his recordings. This is still a somewhat "Romanticized" reading of Don Giovanni, antithetical to the more recent historically informed releases by Rene Jacobs and others (which would actually rank as my first-choice recording of the opera), but Muti's set is still good.



The cast here is also well-picked. I have never heard the Commendatore Scene performed in such a delightfully terrifying manner.



Sound quality is no issue in Figaro or Giovanni, both new recordings with a resonant opera-house quality.



I appreaciate that the recitativo secco in both operas are accompanied on a fortepiano rather than on a cembalo (harpsichord), since the fortepiano continuo (not cembalo continuo) was actually the common practice in opera during Mozart's activity as a composer.



There is one big dissapointment is the sound quality of Cosi fan Tutte. It is here where I feel let down. Not only is the sound very "old" (this recording was made in 1983), it is very noticeably a live recording where the sneezing and coughing audience is heard every other second, quite a distraction to the marverlous cast, muffled by poor sound quality. It could have used digital remastering at least. The cast is excellent, and I am impressed here with Margaret Marshall's performance. But in terms of sound-quality, this un-remastered Cosi Fan Tutte is "unlistenable." Also, the Act I duet for Ferrando and Guglielmo have been cut, and Ferrando's Act II aria has also been scrapped.



But Muti's Figaro and Don Giovanni are so good that alone they are worth five stars, and compensate for Cosi Fan Tutte's sound quality quite well."

Very Very Highly Recommended

R. Gerard | 12/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Famous works. Famous conductor at an incredible price.The Don Giovanni has the scariest Commedatore scene I've ever heard. Yes, the classic Giulini is a classic. But the commendatore scene in Giulini simply cannot match the commendatore scene here. This is the most hair raising Commendatore scene ever. It is simply frightful. Giulini's sound like a day in hell. This one will send the chill down your spine and the hair standing straight up on your head. How? you may ask. It's just a simple question of balance. In Giulini, Solti , etc. the orchestra is too backwards in the Commendatore scene and indeed the opening chords of the overture. What Muti did was simple? He brought the percussions and woodwinds forward, and with stunning and eeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrieeeee effect. When I listened to the Giulini, my hair never stood up at this point. But with the Muti, my whole body turns cold as ice. It's really scary. Those with kids should be careful. Plus the Giovanni in this set gives out a long blood curdling howl right at the end.The Figaro is wonderful. Margaret Price is understated. She should be given a damehood like Kanawa. She sings as beautifully as Kanawa in the Solti set. Battle is a really smart Susanna. She somtimes sound like she's flirting with everyone on the set. The disappointment in this set is the Cosi which has too much noice from the audience. But the performance is excellent. All in all, a buy recommendation. Very very highly recommended since this is so [inexpensive]."

Magnificent!!!!

Charles Emmett | Oroville, California (the boonies) | 03/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must say that the more I listen to Maestro Muti's recordings the more impressed I am not only with his musicianship, but his concept of each work, the shaping and coloring of the orchestra and the result.What a bargain. Such wonderful singing and orchestral playing. As wonderful as the performances of 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni' are 'Cosi fan Tutti' recorded at a live performance are astounding.I have been purchasing more of Muti's recordings and notice that critics have not said too many positive things about him and wonder why. He made the Philadelphia Orchestra even better shaping them into such a polished instrument along with their astounding virtuosity. His recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic are wonderful also. I wish I knew why he really left Philadelphia. I would love to here his work with the PHO now that they have a new concert hall.Back to this recording though. No one can go wrong with this one. Three of Mozart's opereatic masterpieces in one masterpiece of a recording. Thank you EMI for offering this set."