Search - Jorma Hynninen, Thomas Allen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro (Highlights)

The Best Conducting of this Opera I have Heard!

gellio | San Francisco, CA | 10/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to highly disagree with the previous reviewer. While the cast is not as great as some others on record, it is more than adequate, and Margaret Price is truly glorious as the Countess.The stars here are definitely Muti & the Vienna Philharmonic. This recording is the perfect vehichle in which the Vienna Philharmonic showcases why it is the world's premiere orchestra. I have never heard this score played with such dazzling brilliance as the Vienna Philharmonic does here. It is simply absolute remarkable perfection. That alone gets this recording five stars.Furthermore, Muti's conducting is sheer briliance, and makes the most sense of any conducting I've heard of this, my favorite opera, on record. I love the Giulini reading, and Bohm and Solti's, but there are times I question their tempi. Particularily in the 2nd Act Finale. There are moments it's apparent that the action should be slapstick but the conducting seems sluggish.When I want to be wowed by orchestral power and brilliant conducting, this is the Figaro I listen to. Miraculous!There is a complete recording available. I highly recommend this recording. Another plus- the numbers have been given separate tracks from the recatitive - so when you just want to listen to the music - you can listen to the music."

Extremely dry recording, Muti's direction is lifeless...

gellio | 12/12/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"What a disaster, you would think Ricardo Muti, a good opera conductor, would do well with this recording, but his conducting is so terrible, it's shameful. The only good member in the cast is Margaret Price's Countess. Allen's Figaro is not only wrong, he cannot even get the notes right. Kathleen Battle is at her worst here. And Murray's Cherubino is way to "breathy" and easily forgettable. The sets with Bohm and Giulini are excellent. Don't buy Solti though, since Solti, like Muti, tends to miss the charm of this opera."