What are you listening to?

[fergus]

Totally off topic but I could not help but immediately notice that the letter "Y" is in the wrong place on that "keyboard". I wonder when it was moved? [Don't mind me, it will be OK soon!]

[fergus]

I enjoyed this performance. It would not be the best “Mozartian” performance that I have heard but it was still enjoyable. This recording was made in 1954. I thought that the vocals were very fine on this performance but then I do like Schwarzkopf.

[Jose Echenique]

I enjoyed this performance. It would not be the best “Mozartian” performance that I have heard but it was still enjoyable. This recording was made in 1954. I thought that the vocals were very fine on this performance but then I do like Schwarzkopf.

That recording is considered a classic Fergus. The young Karajan was a far more stylish Mozart conductor than he later became. The cast is excellent, though I personally prefer the guys over the girls. Schwarzkopf too was a more positive and less mannered soprano than later in her career, and even if her voice was not as ravishing as Lisa della Casa´s, there´s really not much to complain.
The guys on the other hand have not been bettered in any other recording.
Pity about a few cuts, unacceptable today, but normal in the 50´s.

[fergus]

That recording is considered a classic Fergus. The young Karajan was a far more stylish Mozart conductor than he later became. The cast is excellent, though I personally prefer the guys over the girls. Schwarzkopf too was a more positive and less mannered soprano than later in her career, and even if her voice was not as ravishing as Lisa della Casa´s, there´s really not much to complain.
The guys on the other hand have not been bettered in any other recording.
Pity about a few cuts, unacceptable today, but normal in the 50´s.

I did not expect praise for this recording from you Pepe (especially for Frau Schwarzkopf) so that is a bonus!
I would be curious to know what version you would sit down to listen to if you were going to take one down from your shelf?

[ravel30]

Tonight:

Mozart Symphony No. 40 and 41 from



and

Philip Glass Symphony no. 3, Interlude no. 1 and no. 2 from the Civil Wars, Mechanical Ballet from The Voyager and The Light,
all conducted by Dennis Russell Davies



It is one of the disc that I inherited from Donny (if you remember that story). What an amazing discovery for me. I like contemporary music and this recording is exactly my kind of stuff. I find it to be intellectually stimulating. I will cherish that disc forever and hope to use it as a starting point to further investigate the music of Philip Glass.

[Diapason]

Totally off topic but I could not help but immediately notice that the letter "Y" is in the wrong place on that "keyboard".

Great spot!

[fergus]

Totally off topic but I could not help but immediately notice that the letter "Y" is in the wrong place on that "keyboard".

Great spot!

What is even more disconcerting Simon is that above the A and the S keys I can see a face, slightly reminiscent of Munch's "The Scream"!?!?!?!

[Diapason]

What is even more disconcerting Simon is that above the A and the S keys I can see a face, slightly reminiscent of Munch's "The Scream"!?!?!?!

Brilliant!!!

[Jose Echenique]

That recording is considered a classic Fergus. The young Karajan was a far more stylish Mozart conductor than he later became. The cast is excellent, though I personally prefer the guys over the girls. Schwarzkopf too was a more positive and less mannered soprano than later in her career, and even if her voice was not as ravishing as Lisa della Casa´s, there´s really not much to complain.
The guys on the other hand have not been bettered in any other recording.
Pity about a few cuts, unacceptable today, but normal in the 50´s.

I did not expect praise for this recording from you Pepe (especially for Frau Schwarzkopf) so that is a bonus!
I would be curious to know what version you would sit down to listen to if you were going to take one down from your shelf?

I have 32 recordings of Cosi fan Tutte, so I may choose one today and another the next day. Quite frankly I love all of them. Among my favourite sopranos who have recorded Fiordiligi are Lella Cuberli with Baremboim, Gundula Janowitz with Böhm, Irmgard Seefried with Jochum and Margaret Price with Klemperer. Teresa Berganza towers over all the mezzos in the first Solti recording.
But a truly great recording that would complement the Karajan since it´s as different as it can possibly be, is the René Jacobs with the marvelous Concerto Köln and some superb singers.
That´s an awesome Cosi to have.

[DaveF]

One of the most beautiful choral pieces ever written IMHO.