Search - Mozart :: Mozart: Four Operas

Classic performances for less than a full priced CD

Timothy R. Carpenter | Philadelphia, PA | 03/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are the classic Mozart operas recorded by Decca in 1954/55. They are wonderful performances featuring some of the best Mozart conductors and singers of the time: Cosi: Böhm / della Casa, Ludwig, Dermota, Kunz, Schoeffler; Figaro: E. Kleiber / Gueden, della Casa, Danco, Siepi, Corena; Don Giovanni: Krips / Danco, della Casa, Gueden, Dermota, Siepi, Corena, Berry, Böhme; Flute: Fricsay / Streich, Stader , Otto, Haefliger, Fischer-Dieskau, Greindl. All but Magic Flute are with the Vienna Philharmonic. I haven't compared the sound with the Decca masterings, but the sound is good 50's mono. No librettos but individual track listings are provided. At under $20 this is a steal. If you don't already have these performances, BUY THIS!"

Classic 1950's performances in a super-bargain box

Ralph Moore | Bishop's Stortford, UK | 12/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While none of these four performances might necessarily be a first choice for an individual recording, as a super-bargain box set this is self-recommending, featuring as it does an array of the finest German singers to be found in the mid 1950's conducted by four master-Mozartian conductors in Böhm, Kleiber, Krips and Fricsay respectively. The sound is remarkably clear and the packaging attractive, being the by now conventional format of a sturdy box containing cardboard slipcases. The only obstacle to acquiring this as, or for, a Mozart novice, is the lack of libretto or even synopses; it is obviously assumed that the collector already has them, so if you do decide to give this to a Mozart tyro, remedy the omission. At this price - even cheaper on Marketplace - it is absurd to complain. It is true that some individual performances are less than ideal; Poell's Count Almaviva is blustery and dry of voice, his Italian intermittently Teutonic - a flaw occasionally apparent in other singers, too; in "Die Zauberflöte" Greindl's Sarastro is a little lugubrious and Stader not ideally pure as Pamina but you do get dialogue unlike some contemporaneous versions and there is a sense of ensemble about each opera rather than that impression some more modern recordings give of a random gathering of star singers. But talking of stars, just look at some of the names here: Lisa della Casa, Christa Ludwig, Cesare Siepi, Hilde Gueden, Rita Streich, Suzanne Danco, Anton Dermota; so many great singers sounding as fresh as you could wish. (Here, to select an example at random, Dermota shows off his breath control by delivering the long phrase of "cercate" in "Il mio tesoro" in one breath unlike in other recordings.) The quality of performance, interpretation and sound is high throughout all four operas and this set represents a supreme bargain."

You're foolish not to buy this set!

F. Tibets | Boston | 05/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are classic performances from the 50's in decent sound. At this low, low price, there is simply NO logical reason not to buy this box. Rita Streich's Queen of the Night is worth the 10 bucks alone! Superb!"