Elizabeth Schwarzkopf

Advantages: Highly Addictive - Makes You Want To Time Travel
Disadvantages: Highly Addictive - People May Think You Have Joined A Cult

...sung in - I presume Latin or some kind of Ye Olde Englishe... *sheepish grin* It becomes necessary to want to sing along. I assure you you will be in minutes. (Only Track 1- the Virgin Queen has english lyrics, which are - a stroke of genius in my opinion - based on an actual piece of writing by Elizabeth I herself!) Admittedly, you do have to be in a certain mood for this kind of music, and the less open-minded of us may be inclined to shun you in fear of you being some sort of religious nut. That is the slight downside - if there could be one - that the Medeival Baebes inevitably sound somewhat like a Church Choir albeit one transported from a renaissance faire and high off LSD. Yet, I am an out and out non-beleiver and am still incredibly able to appreciate the magic of this style of music. I suggest you play it loud and proud out... Read review

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Advantages: One of the finest casts ever
Disadvantages: Mono Sound, that's all

...MOZART - COSI FAN TUTTE - KARJAN EMI PLEASE COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW SO I CAN IMPROVE MY REVIEWS IN THE FUTURE!!! 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... Read review

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Advantages: One of the best Ferrando's on disc
Disadvantages: Overpriced

...looking for a library addition for yourself, I would recommend the Schwarzkopf/Ludwig recording under Karl Bohm, or if you prefer something more modern sounding (I know that Schwarzkopf can be an acquired taste…), go for the Amanda Roocroft/Rosa Manion recording under John Eliot Gardiner, which is roughly contemporary with the recording I’m reviewing here (both of these other recordings are available at around the £25 mark). IS IT GOOD VALUE? Hell no. My final words on the subject. IS IT WORTH BORROWING FROM THE LIBRARY? I’d never say any recording of anything WASN’T worth borrowing from the library. It’s an interesting early career bit of Renee Fleming, an equally interesting bit of late career Solti, and a why isn’t he the “fourth tenor” bit of singing from Frank Lopardo. SUMMING UP If you need a Cosi fan tutte in your record... Read review

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