BaL 2.04.22 - Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

[Barbirollians]

Snap it up !

[RichardB]

Hang on a minute though.

Coming not long after the French Revolution

But Figaro was premiered in 1786! Who writes this nonsense? (I know it's not you, Alpen)

[Bryn]

Hang on a minute though.

But Figaro was premiered in 1786! Who writes this nonsense? (I know it's not you, Alpen)

A pedant writes, 1786 was, indeed, "not long after the French Revolution". That said, point taken.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Looking forward to this.

[Lordgeous]

And me. Nick knows his stuff - but what a task. The Kleiber has always been my goto, but just purchased the Bohm on the strength of reccomendations above.

[mikealdren]

Kleiber for me too, I also have Gui and Giulini but a modern recording would be welcome.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Must have heard this 30 plus times in various opera houses but I’ve never sat through a complete perf off disc. If ever an opera needs to be live this is the one. That said Kleiber is my go to. Not least because of the amazing string attack and rhythm he gets from the VPO . I’ve heard plenty of great singers but never orchestra playing to match that.

[Barbirollians]

Must have heard this 30 plus times in various opera houses but I’ve never sat through a complete perf off disc. If ever an opera needs to be live this is the one. That said Kleiber is my go to. Not least because of the amazing string attack and rhythm he gets from the VPO . I’ve heard plenty of great singers but never orchestra playing to match that.

It’s bound to be Ostman isn’t it - Kenyon very much a HIPP Mozart person . I disliked all three Porgi Amor extracts the one from Gardiner he chose was shrill. The Jacobs extracts I have found ghastly so far like being poked in the chest despite the quality of the singing.

No Bohm ,Gui or Giulini it seems even to be considered.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Interesting and quite right that Nick plucks out the Deh Signor Nol Contrastate quartet in the Act 2 finale. One of the great moments in all opera . And in my view John Pritchard’s handling of this section (live at the ROH ) has never been equalled. On disc Kleiber also does this magnificently . The power in that low C pedal point. On the Pritchard front what he did with the climatic final Countess’s pardoning of the Count again peerless . It was a moment of blinding grace and revelation.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

No Bohm ,Gui or Giulini it seems even to be considered.

Never say never.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It’s bound to be Ostman isn’t it - Kenyon very much a HIPP Mozart person . I disliked all three Porgi Amor extracts the one from Gardiner he chose was shrill. The Jacobs extracts I have found ghastly so far like being poked in the chest despite the quality of the singing.

No Bohm ,Gui or Giulini it seems even to be considered.

Von Stade - now that’s a Mozart singer ….

[Barbirollians]

Only for an absurd comment about Giulini being winsome . Dire BAL .

[Ein Heldenleben]

Only for an absurd comment about Giulini being winsome . Dire BAL .

I’m not a fan of the Jacobs Countess . She just sounds weird.

[Barbirollians]

I’m not a fan of the Jacobs Countess . She just sounds weird.

Let alone the conducting!

Ostman much the best of the HIPP versions I think.

[RobP]

You can also stream it from Qobuz et al. Unfortunately being recorded in crude early digital sound it is very difficult to listen to.