Mozart - Don Giovanni 1952

This Don Giovanni is a golden proof - if you didn't already knew - of Erich Leinsdorf's first class conducting. He knews this music in a way perhaps only Dr. Klemperer has done.First and foremost: you really get straight into this opera as a very dramatic work. The first cords makes you sit up and will keep you on the edge of your chair. The artists are first class, all of them. I know that many consider Miss Nilsson having a too dramatic kind of voice for Mozart, but why do you think two of the world's greatest Mozartians, Dr. Leinsdorf and Dr. Böhm, chosed her as their Donna Anna? Well, she has just the right dramatic force for this powerful role charachter. Here she sings with a beautiful, silvery tone.As this recording has not been available on CD for a long time, I bought it on used LP's from the U.S, recently. The stereo version has a magnificient sound, no less. As the records were too damaged I had to return the box and buy an available mono version. It's wonderful, but the sound much more constricted. On this CD edition the sound has been restored with care.Urania's new release comes as a true gift, and the sound has been processed and is excellent.

What is your preference - a good quality recording or the best performance?In this case, it is very good quality performers, but a poor quality recording. Maybe the coughs, hiccups, belches & farts add atmosphere...but they do detract from the performance. It is like going to the cinema to see an amazing film on the same night as the international popcorn appreciation society.As for the actual performances, as others say - the lead role lacks menace, but that is a personal preference/interpretation. Other than that, consistently good across the whole cast IMO.As others have said, this is a great addition for completists - however, if you are after a 'definitive' performance, look elsewhere.

What a superb performance of a sublime opera. Despite the ludicrous storyline, if I am feeling down, this is guaranteed to raise the spirits; strange really given the subject, but it's in Italian and I can't really follow it closely. The music is sublime and the acting so committed and earnest that this is a complete delight. A magnificent tour de force.

The recording of a performance I attended in 1959

A true classic of the gramophone.

Good

One of the best ever versions of this great opera. Colin Davis wonderful and stand out singers are Kiri the Kanawa and Stuart Burrows.

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