RECORDING OF THE MONTH RECORDING OF THE MONTH BARGAIN OF THE MONTH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony Oboe Concerto £11 post free World-wide RACHMANINOV Elegy, Preludes, Piano concerto 3 £12 post free World-wide CHAUSSON, DEBUSSY RACHMANINOV TRios 2CDs £16 post free World-wide

BUY NOW  AmazonUK   AmazonUS

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791) Cosí Fan Tutte. Highlights Fiordiligi, Celestina Casapietra (sop). Dorabella, Annelies Burmeister (m. sop). Despina, Sylvia Geszty (sop). Guglielmo, Günther Leib (bar). Ferrando, Peter Schreier (ten). Don Alfonso, Theo Adam (bass) Orchestra and Chorus of the Staatsoper Berlin/Otmar Suitner Recorded Brunnestraße Studio, Berlin, 1969 BERLIN CLASSICS ETERNA COLLECTION 0032662BC [54.06]

Berlin Classics seem to have culled a variety of sources for their ‘Eterna Collection’ series of opera highlights. This ‘Cosi’ was originally issued complete on the Ariola Eurodisc label. It is distinguished by the light handling of the score by Otmar Suitner, a natural open sound and the Ferrando of Peter Schreier, whose forward, even, expressive vocal production and characterization are distinctive and particularly welcome (tr. 6). His partner in deception, Gunther Lieb as Ferrando, is smooth and easy on the ear if without any particular distinction whilst Sylvia Geszty is a characterful Despina (tr. 5). That really is the end of the good news as the singing of neither of the sisters, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, merits a recording, nor is it particularly recommendable in a very crowded market. Theo Adam, as the scheming Alfonso, is rather heavy toned. I suspect that the limitations of the soprano, very evident in an unsteady ‘Per Pietà’ (tr. 8), explain how a highlight issue of this opera of a mere 54 minutes duration could exclude ‘Come scoglio’, and other vocal gems to be found in this wonderful work. If the intention was to provide opportunity to hear Schreier’s Ferrando, I suggest Berlin Classics should have licensed the tenor’s third recording, his second for Karl Böhm, from the latter’s 80th birthday concert in 1974, with all parts well sung, and then provided a worthwhile 70 plus minutes to give a full selection of true highlights. All in all an opportunity lost. Robert J Farr   Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage There will be NO VAT Rises [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Return to Index

Reviews from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.