1). CD Infomation:
(a) - 3 CDS (72 tracks)
(b) - Accompanying book (204 pages, commentary and background information in Italian, German, French and English)
(c) - Language of opera - Italian
(d) - Total running time, 161' 28"
2). Background to the Opera:
Don Giovanni was one of ... Read review
Recorded live at the 1956 Salzburg Festival, this is one of the great Don Giovannis on ... more
disc. Why? Look at the cast list--the top Mozartians of the 1950s in their prime. Cesare Siepi was THE Don of his generation, a carefree rake with a glorious bass voice. Fernando Corena, for all his stage mugging, was made for Leporello. Elisabeth Grummer's powerful Donna Anna reminds us of her shameful neglect by recording companies. Lisa Della Casa's Elvira is beautifully sung and characterized. Leopold Simoneau was the best lyric tenor of the era; his sweet-voiced Ottavio is unforgettable. But the real hero is Dimitri Mitropoulos, who leads a performance of great intensity, yet never breaks the classic frame. --Dan Davis
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Advantages: A nice relaxing album Disadvantages: Needs an aquired taste
1). CD Infomation:
(a) - 3 CDS (72 tracks)
(b) - Accompanying book (204 pages, commentary and background information in Italian, German, French and English)
(c) - Language of opera - Italian
(d) - Total running time, 161' 28"
2). Background to the Opera:
Don Giovanni was one of Mozarts greatest opears, and as a result is one of the most popularfor all those who have a ... ...about an Italian Nobleman, Don Giovanni, who is a great womaniser. Consequently, Don Giovanni, has been remarked as a "light-hearted sexual promiscuity".
Life for Don Giovanni is fine (a minimum of 6 girls a night!), however, after he rapes Donna Anna, and murders her father (the Commendatore) , after he challenges him to a duel once he discovers Don Giovanni at his game! From that point, Don Giovanni's luck with women changes, ... more
1). CD Infomation:
(a) - 3 CDS (72 tracks) (b) - Accompanying book (204 pages, commentary and background information in Italian, German, French and English) (c) - Language of opera - Italian (d) - Total running time, 161' 28"
2). Background to the Opera:
Don Giovanni was one of Mozarts greatest opears, and as a result is one of the most popularfor all those who have a taste for the delights opera provides. Don Giovanni is all about an Italian Nobleman, Don Giovanni, who is a great womaniser. Consequently, Don Giovanni, has been remarked as a "light-hearted sexual promiscuity".
Life for Don Giovanni is fine (a minimum of 6 girls a night!), however, after he rapes Donna Anna, and murders her father (the Commendatore) , after he challenges him to a duel once he discovers Don Giovanni at his game! From that point, Don Giovanni's luck with women changes, and his life changes from a game to a daunting problem, ending in his judgement by the ghost of the Commendatore, in the greatest male trio written for opera. After demmanding Don Giovanni repents, which Don Giovanni immediately refuses, the Commendatore drags him down to hell, and revenge has been granted.
3). The Album:
This is a superb performance of the opera, and fully reflects the genius behind it. The opera contains many amusing as well as inspiring pieces of music, such as arias, where Don Giovanni's servant, Leporello, is counting out the number of Don Giovanni's conquests, great duets, which are bursting with romance such as "La ci darem la mano". However, it is trios such as the finale, which make Don Giovanni the great epic it is! "Don Giovanni, a cenar teco" (where the ghost of the Commendatore arrives and demands repentance) makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, such is the power and atmosphere of this sinister and mysterious piece of music.
The singing in this album is of huge quality. The leading singers (Eberhard Wachter, Joan Sutherland, Luigi Alva, Gottlob Frick, Elisabeth Schwartzkopf, Giuseppi Taddei, Piero Cappuccilli, Graziella Sciutti) create sumptuous leagto (smooth) lines of music as well as creating sumptous musical delights with their arias, which echo the emotion and feeling of the story with passion unmatched in any other opera recording.
Funnily anough, this is an album which can turn even the strongest of opera haters into opera lovers, as this opera has a style of music for all, from light hearted musical jokes, to deep and serious music, and is well worth a try.
The accompanying book with the CD collection, allows full understanding of the opera, and so makes the listener fully aware of the story line, even though it is being spoken in Italian! The Book itself contains a full track list, along with a list of characters involved, a detailed background to Mozart and the opera, a synopsis to the opera, allowing the understanding of the story, and a full translation of the words per track in 5 languages.
Disadvantage:
Opera is an aquired music taste, but as I have said above, many have been converted by this opera.
Summary:
An opera for all that is worth a listen containing something for all. An insight into classical and operatice music is provided which helps those who are not great opera listeners or those who don't listen at all, fully understand the music they are listening to! Literally, Don Giovanni Rocks!
Advantages: Fun, comic, lyrical Disadvantages: Sung in italian
The Composer
Wolfgang Amadus Mozart was born in Salzburg on the 27th January 1756. A child protegy, he began composing from a very early age. He was at ease writing in every genre of music but it was in opera that Mozart?s chief passion lay. He composed DonGiovanni in 1787 whilst in Prague.
The Music
DonGiovanni is a comic opera dealing with the contemporary tensions of class and sex. Giovanni is a Spanish nobleman with an insatiable desire for sexual conquests. The scene is Seville, Giovanni arrives masked persued by Donna Anna who he has tried to seduce. Her father hears her cries and is killed in a duel by Giovanni. The music falls into a dramatic silence followed by a trio of male voices baritone and bass which combine to express the sadness and shock of the death. Ultimately Giovanni is consigned to eternal damnation in ...
Advantages: Kasarova's personal touch. Virtuosic without showing off Disadvantages: She doesn't keep singing forever
any legato line to achieve it. Like her idol, WA Mozart, this gal can operate within the boundary while generating a singing experience that transcends it.
The tracks included are:
1. HANDEL: Rinaldo: Or la tromba in suon festante
2. GLUCK: Orfeo ed Euridice: Che faro senza Euridice
3. MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete che cosa e amor
4. MOZART: DonGiovanni: Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
5. ROSSINI: La Cenerentola: Nacqui all'affanno/ Non piu mesta
6. ROSSINI: Il barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa
7. ROSSINI: L'Italiana in Algeri: Amici in ogni evento/ Pensa alla patra
8. DONIZETTI: Anna Bolena: Spossa a Percy/ Per questa fiamma indomita
9. DONIZETTI: La Favorita: Fia dunque vero/ O mio Fernando
10. BELLINI: I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio
Her repertoire had grown even wider since this CD ...
Advantages: Good and often outstanding performances, plus the sight of the English picnicking in dinner jackets and long dresses Disadvantages: Getting there, unless you live near Brighton; getting a ticket - you need to be persistent
the current DonGiovanni.
The biggest misconceptions about Glyndebourne are:
- you have to be a member: not true, though members and those on the waiting list get priority for the best seats
- it is very expensive: not true. Best seats in the stalls may be £100 but we regularly go for about £25 and many people stand/lean for a tenner.
Since you bring your own food and wine this outing is much cheaper than an evening in London including theatre, bar and restaurant, and the car parking is free. ...
1. Overture; ACT 1 - Notte e giorno 2. Ma qual mai s'offre; Fuggi, crudele 3. Ah, chi mi dice 4. Madamina, il catalogo è questo 5. Giovinette, che fate all' amore 6. Ho capito 7. Là ci darem la mano 8. Ah, fuggi il traditor 9. Non ti fidar 10. Don Ottavio, son morta; Or sai chi l'onore; Dalla sua pace; Come mai creder deggio 11. Io deggio ad ogni patto; Finch' han dal vino 12. Batti, batti 13. Presto, presto 14. Minuet 15. ACT 2 - Eh via, buffone 16. Ah, taci in giusto core 17. Deh! vieni alla finestra 18. Metà di voi; Se un uom e una ragazza 19. Vedrai, carino 20. Sola sola 21. Ah pietà 22. Amici miei 23. Il mio tesoro 24. Per queste tue manine 25. In quali eccessi; Mi tradì quell' alma ingrata 26. O statua gentilissima 27. Crudele! Ah no mio bene; Non mi dir 28. Gia la mensa è preparata 29. Don Giovanni, a cenar teco m'invitasti 30. Ah, dovè il perfido? 31. Harmoniemusik
Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1787
Date Recorded
1959
Conductor
Carlo Maria Giulini
Orchestra / Ensemble
Philharmonia Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble
Philharmonia Chorus Orchestra
Main Performer
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Soprano), Dame Joan Sutherland (Soprano), Eberhard Waechter (Baritone), Giuseppe Taddei (Baritone), Gottlob Frick (Bass), Graziella Sciutti (Soprano), Luigi Alva (Tenor), Piero Cappuccilli (Baritone)
Opera Part(s)
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Donna Elvira), Dame Joan Sutherland (Donna Anna), Eberhard Waechter (Don Giovanni), Giuseppe Taddei (Leporello), Gottlob Frick (Commendatore), Graziella Sciutti (Zerlina), Luigi Alva (Don Ottavio), Piero Cappuccilli (Masetto)
Location of Work Recording
Abbey Road Studio No 1, London NW8
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
26/08/2005
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