"Le Nozze di Figaro": Interpretations challenges.
Sat, Sep 8 2012, 8:08PM
#2
RE: "Le Nozze di Figaro": Interpretations challenges.
If this performance is ever released, that will be a bliss, AC, (I agree).
The cast sounds from intriguing (Ligabue) to super interesting (Gobbi, Evans) to thrilling (Freni, Berganza). That's something to remember.
However, we are still blessed with an embarassment of choice with so many competitive recordings. So, let's thank our lucky stars.
Parla
Mon, Sep 10 2012, 11:39AM
#3
RE: "Le Nozze di Figaro": Interpretations challenges.
Hello Antony,
I was at one of those performances too, my second visit to Covent Garden (the first was Fidelio). I remember vividly the wonderful performance, As well as conducting, Solti played the continuo. In fact, I still have the programme book. (Joan Carlyle sang the countess on the night I was there). In fact I mentioned this performance once before in another thread, in relation to the changing relative cost of tickets for the opera compared with CDs (previously LPs).
I too hope it will be issued sometime soon, though I am always anxious hearing a recording of a performance that seemed so superb at the time and which has left such vivid memories: will I be disappointed?
And what a wonderful opera it is! Even after countless hearings it sounds as fresh as ever. As 33lp says, only tenors may feel underprivileged. They have their turn in Cosi fan Tutte and Die Zauberflote.
Chris
I wish Covent Garden would release their recording of the 1963 Figaro, which included (if memory serves me correctly) an incomparable Almaviva (an incomprehensible omission from his recorded catalogue) from Tito Gobbi, Geraint Evans as Figaro, Mirella Freni as Susanna, Ilva Ligabue as the Countess and Teresa Berganza as a magical Cherubino. Solti in the pit. My first experience of (I agree) Mozart's greatest opera and still the performance against which I measure all others.