Advantages: Excellent performances in a perfect setting Disadvantages: Very minor quibbles
Background:
When it comes to prodigious over-achievers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has to be placed somewhere at the top of the list. Despite his tragically short life from 1756-1791, his musical creativity has assured him of eternal fame as long as human civilisation performs Western classical music.
But when one considers Mozart's background, one can understand where his genius came from. His father Leopold Mozart was a virtuoso violinist whose treatise on violin playing is still a standard read for any aspiring violin student today. It is also worth considering how things might have been different had female instrumentalists been able to pursue a professional career as adults - as his beloved sister Nannerl was no mean keyboard player, but obviously once she became an adult it was not really considered the done thing for her ...
Advantages: One of the finest casts ever Disadvantages: Mono Sound, that's all
MOZART - COSI FAN TUTTE - KARJAN EMI
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When critics line up the best available recordings of Mozart's superb comic opera "Così fan tutte" two recordings are almost invariably up there, Karl Böhm's second recording from 1962 (EMI - Stereo) and Herbert von Karajan's recording from 1954 (EMI - Mono). The remarkable Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is present in both recording as the charming Fiordiligi. I prefer her fresher voice in 1954 but she, like the other artists in the Böhm recording, benefit from the fresh stereo sound. One of the glories of the gramophone is Schwarzkopf, Merriman and Bruscantini in "Soave sia il vento" - simply breathtaking as regards phrasing, beauty of tone and the organic feeling to the ensemble. Giuseppe Taddei (Böhm) and Rolando Panerai (Karajan ...
with a fanfare like opening to the first movement and then launches into the main material. It has two contrasting themes in the first movement, a rhythmic one and a much more lyrical one. The first movement makes a great opening to the concerto, with a good bright tempo, a great melodic line (especially in the middle with a lovely, high, lyrical melody) and great orchestral accompaniment. The second, middle, movement is much slower and has a main string chorale (hymn like tune) which is heard at the start and end of the movement. The middle has the tuba solo which is very chromatic and leads to a climactic point. This movement isn't as good in my opinion, but as contrast is a very important part in many concerti, this is achieved, and achieved quite well. The final movement is faster again, with a rondo structure and bright dance like melody ...
![Chopin; Loewe: Piano Concertos No 2 [SACD]](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/229/Chopin_Loewe_Piano_Concertos_No_2_SACD__6197229.jpg)
