Which "Fidelio"?
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 12:24PM
I have the Salzburg performance conducted by Furtwängler but the sound of the orchestra is poor, the chorus is too close and there is much clumping on the stage. Which modern version would you recommend?
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 2:15PM
#2
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I have the Salzburg performance conducted by Furtwängler but the sound of the orchestra is poor, the chorus is too close and there is much clumping on the stage. Which modern version would you recommend?
Klemperer on EMI, Masur, and the new Abbado are all excellent choices in my opinion.
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 3:30PM
#3
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
Would you prefer Abbado to Bernstein, cast and recording included?
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 4:44PM
#4
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
Yes, I would on the whole. Bernstein's is an impressive reading orchestrally(and certainly an impressive recording) but to my ears Kollo's voice, never a particularly attractive sound to my ears, is unsteady when pressurised and I've never been a fan of DFD, even in a comparatively minor role. I also find Janowitz beautiful but rather anonymous. Given that the Abbado has Kaufmann, I suppose that I must admit to some prejudice, but given the choice between the two, it's certainly the one that I'd go for.
Having said that, it's been some while since I've listened to the Bernstein, so this is a good excuse to get it down and have a listen. If there's a change of mind, I'll be sure to let you know!
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 5:45PM
#5
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
Please do let me know. Several people on Amazon have expressed reserves about Abbado's Leonora - and she has a bigger role than Florestan. So the decision will have to depend on the conductor. Is Abbado more subtle than Bernstein? Can he match him for drama? Then there's the Prisoners' Chorus: that is the highlight for me. Which version has the most moving version?
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 10:39PM
#6
RE: Which "deli"?
Abbado without a doubt. Nina Stemme is excellent in her role. It is an Opera that can all to often come across as a pantomime, not in this case. Top of the list, above Klemperer and above Fricsay.
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 11:53PM
#7
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I forget now, who sang widow Twankey in the Bernstein recording.
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 12:08AM
#8
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I forget now, who sang widow Twankey in the Bernstein recording.
Should have quit while you were ahead there, Dr. B
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 12:17AM
#9
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I grew up with the magnificent reading of Klemperer and a cast that deserves almost all the superlatives (Vickers at his best, Ludwig superb along with Frick (an unsurpassed Rocco) and Berry. The recording is still quite impressive and utterly convincing, including a very uplifting and moving Prisoner's chorus.
Karajan (on Emi as well) is also an interesting recording with Vickers still in good and mature form. Helga Dernesch is a very moving and idiomatic Leonora, while Karl Ridderbusch is a very fine Rocco. The recording is at the usual very high Karajan standards.
Bernstein is my third choice, though Kollo's Florestan is a rather mediocre performance. However, Janowitz is a glorious singer and her Leonora has a moving and subtle character. Among the others, Hans Sotin is a solid Rocco. The recording is at some very satisfying standards of DG.
Sorry, but Abbado is not a quite convincing performance and his Leonora is a good today's soprano of some high standards, but there is no comparison with any Ludwig, Dernesch or Janowitz (or Nilsson).
For those interested in the original 1805 version of the Opera, the very good German label OEHMS has very recently released a live perfomance with today's viable singers and a very impressive recording.
Parla
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 12:45AM
#10
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I forget now, who sang widow Twankey in the Bernstein recording.
When you find out why don't you nominate him for the "Hall of Fame" and take your time about it?
Klemperer on EMI.
Never bettered and I know some adhere to Bernstein but Bernstein is Bernstein and the Furtwangler is cut and rushed.
For those that want sound above all, then Abbado but it's not a Klemperer.
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 8:35AM
#11
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
There is an excellent budget version on Naxos (1998) conducted by Michael Halasz with a distinguished cast including Gosta Winburgh, Inga Nielsen, Alan Titus and Kurt Moll. It was highly recommended by Alan Blyth no less, in Gramophone.
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 10:05AM
#12
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
For me too Klemperer is unsurpassed even after all these years. But another underrated (in my view) version is that of Ferenc Fricsay, with Leonie Rysanek deeply moving as Leonora, Häfliger a fine Florestan, Frick as Rocco, DF-D at his best as Pizarro, Seefried as Marzelline. The recording still sounds good too.
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 11:45AM
#13
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
I'd forgotten about the Halasz. Preferable to Abbado?
And the Fricsay with a lightness of touch more in keeping with opera-comique, or whatever the German equivalent is, and with tempos that are very late twentieth/early twenty first century!
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 12:18PM
#14
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
Hmmm...I'm still hesitating. I've not always found Abbado very convincing in Beethoven - a bit soft-edged. The Klemperer I have already so I thought a newer version might be an idea, with one eye all the time on the elderly Fricsay version.
Fri, Apr 20 2012, 4:25PM
#15
RE: Which "Fidelio"?
To make things more complicated, if you wish to compromise a bit with the sound, there is also a very rare and fine indeed live performance of Karajan from Wiener Staatsoper (on 25 May 1962), with Vickers, Ludwig and Janowitz as Marzelline (a true gem!) and Walter Berry as Pizarro (on DG).
Another great performance is the one with Klemperer (recorded in 1961) from Covent Garden, with Sena Jurinac (a very fine Leonora), Vickers, Frick, Hans Hotter as Pizarro (!) and Elsie Morison as Marzelline (on Testament). A superb Fidelio, second to none.
From the more modern ones, there is Haitink with Norman, Goldberg and Moll on Decca, Masur with Altmeyer, Jerusalem and Nimsgern on Sony, Harnoncourt with Margiono, Seiffert, Polgar, Leiferkus (!) and Bonney (!) on Teldec and Mackerras with Benackova, Rolfe-Johnson and Vogel on Telarc.
Maybe you have to choose more than only one, but you know better, anyway.
Parla
I have this 1950 Furtwangler's recording too, great artistically speaking but poor sound indeed. The other I have is the Karajan & BPO on EMI: a better stereo sound (1970) (Dernesch & Vickers & Van Dam) and a good reading.
I know Klemperer's rendition w/ PO (Ludwig & Vickers & Berry), also on EMI from the early 60s has a great reputation.
I listen to Fidelio just occasionally so I cannot comment w/ details those recordings, but it is something to start with. Best.