Emil Gilels - (The) Mozart Recordings

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: Classic Brendel, good sound
Disadvantages: Classic Brendel

...as he does with those of Beethoven or of some of the other composers Brendel has studied over the years. Nevertheless, Brendel must still be considered one of the great living pianists, and by many, one of its greastest living interpreters of Mozart and here he turns in classic performances, ones which are constantly enriched by the great man's wisdom and deep sensibility. Brendel is often called an "intellectual" pianist or "the thinking man's virtuoso" and on this disk, we can find justification for these opinions. One feels that every bar, every note has been carefully, maybe over-carefully, studied and pondered at length and so articulation, phrasing and a sense of an overarching feeling of musical structure are all, always, present. But one cannot help but feel that Brendel fails to achieve an adequate balance between this... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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

...the Royal Festival Hall, May 1994, and released by the Decca Record Company on 444 174-2 as a 3 CD box set, with full 4 language libretto (French, German, Italian and English). Although technically still full price, you may be lucky enough to pick this up heavily reduced at specialist classical music stores, or on eBay. Current Amazon price is £40.99. Onto that later… THE CAST Fiordiligi – Renee Fleming; Dorabella – Anne Sofie von Otter; Ferrando – Frank Lopardo; Guglielmo – Olaf Bar; Despina – Adelina Scarabelli; Don Alfonso – Michele Pertusi Chamber Orchestra of Europe, conducted by Sir Georg Solti London Voices THE RECORDING Decca have (well, had really, they’ve carved the company to the bare bones these days) every right to be duly proud of “The Decca Sound”. It was unique – clear, forward, balanced, “live” sounding (even in... Read review

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