Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
An all-star cast and conductor, with an equally stellar set of recording engineers working at the dawn of the digital era, have produced a iMarriage of Figaro/i that is probably the one to pick if you can stand living with only one. Georg Solti, a conductor sometimes noted for violence, has mellowed considerably for Mozart; the conducting is vigorous, the tempos often sharply contrasted, but the work is seen as a whole (a very large, complex whole) and balance and proportion are maintained. The whole cast is fine; the most notable work is done by Kiri Te Kanawa, who owned the role of the Countess for a generation; Frederica von Stade, a hilarious and musically sensitive Cherubino; Samuel Ramey as Figaro; and Thomas Allen as the Count. i--Joe McLellan /i

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-22 rating:
It does not get better ...
I believe, like many other reviewers here, that this recording is the finest of this perfectly proportioned opera. It is quite literally flawless. Amongst the many wondrous highlights, I am at a loss to describe the tender and layered vocal beauties contributed by Lucia Popp. Recorded at her musical peak, her version of 'Deh vieni non tardar' sets the benchmark in the art of perfect vocals. An angelic delight. A categorical must-have disc for any music collection.

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review by: date: 2008-03-04 rating:
Technically and aesthetically brilliant production
The furious pace of Solti's overture annoyed some early critics but I find it totally in keeping with the inane plot of this great opera. Described as demonstration quality by the Penguin Guide on release, this version of Mozart's masterpiece is also a masterpiece of human engineering. Twenty years on, it is still the yardstick for opera on CD. Now for the music. If you know opera, you know how good this cast is, and they perform at their peak here. It's silly to have favourite bits of opera, but we all do it, and mine is less than four minutes on disk 1. Cherubino's aria "Voi, che sapete" is, in my view, one of the most sublimely beautiful pieces of music ever written. Only Mozart could have assigned such a joy to so ludicrous a character. But, the whole work is littered with almost equal gems. I've had this since it was released and it still sparkles.

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review by: date: 2008-01-24 rating:
Without equal
Mozart's music simply defies belief. Possibly the greatest three hours in musical history. Whatever your musical taste, this compilation will fire your spirit to an unimaginable high. Not a single note is wasted, so sit back and let the music wash over you.

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review by: date: 2007-12-12 rating:
Near Perfect
It's difficult to see how this recording could ever be bettered; the cast is to die for - Sir Tom and Dame Kiri as the Almavivas especially. If I were to nit-pick, Sam Ramey's Figaro could do with a bit more line in his singing, and a lot of the recits feel rushed by live-performance standards - although most listeners will be waiting for the numbers, so probably won't find that such a drawback anyway. Especially since it's now available at around half its original selling price, there's really no excuse not to own a copy.


review by: date: 2002-05-09 rating:
Simply The Best!
Although this recording is now seventeen years old, it remains (for me, at least) the best one available by a long way. The all-star cast cannot be bettered and I would single out Lucia Popp for her brilliant portrayal of Susanna. If you only want one recording of "Le Nozze di Figaro", you won't getter a better one than this.

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