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Mozart Die Zauberflöte

19K views 77 replies 23 participants last post by  Ulfilas 
#1 ·
My recordings of this magical opera are piling up a bit. But what recordings do members of TC particularly like and why?
 
#36 ·
Of course, the Queen of the Night herself doesn't make a recording, but you also get the VPO, Stuart Burrows, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Hermann Prey. A fantastic performance all around, and the most exciting IMO. Zu Hilfe! Zu Hifle! is spine-tingling.
 
#50 ·
I have Bohm and Klemperer and loved both! I also have the Sir Colin Davis recording, but it's been too long since I've listened to it to give an opinion. I know I at least LIKED it a lot, it's hard for a conductor to ruin a Mozart opera for me. I really enjoyed Rene Jacobs as well, though not quite as much as Klemperer.
 
#51 ·
It is hard for a composer to ruin Mozart's music, but I never understood the love Klemperer gets. For me, he completely damages Fidelio with his soft and plodding conducting, and completely misses dramatic points in Zauberflote with his plodding conducting. In the opening it sounds like Tamino is crawling from a giant serpent that is pursuing him and singing a lullaby.
 
#52 ·
I was doing a list for a Zauberflöte challenge (outside HIP) and I was wondering...

Karajan WPO 52
Fricsay RIAS 55 --
Böhm WPO 55
Klemperer 64 PO
Böhm BPO 64 (F)
Solti WPO 69 --
Suitner SKD 71 --
Sawallisch BaySO 73 (F)
Levine WPO 81 --
Haitink SOdBR 81 --
Karajan BPO 84 (F)
Solti WPO 91 --
Abbado MahChO 2006 --


The recordings that have -- are in doubt for me. The ones I know they have dialogues have (F).

Which have dialogues?
 
#53 ·
I can help you with this question! The recordings WITHOUT dialogues are:

Karajan WPO 50
Böhm WPO 55
Klemperer PO 64

Recordings with the dialogues spoken by ACTORS are:

Fricsay RIAS 55
Davis Dresden 1984 (not in your list, but for completeness)

All the other recordings on your list have dialogues spoken by the singers.
 
#56 ·
Nice choice Pugg. Btw Happy Easter.
 
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#63 ·
I gave it a listen a couple of years ago as I'm a Furtwaengler fan, however I found the singing somewhat disappointing and this is probably the opera where a slow approach is least productive. If ponderous Mozart is your thing, then the Klemperer is an all round better option. It's on YouTube so you should be able to find it there to listen to.

N.
 
#64 · (Edited)
I'm not sold on Furtwängler's Don Giovanni, which is on Orfeo too. Sound's poor (even considering the date). Rather listen to Sony/Mitropoulos or Decca/Krips, for example. This Zauberflöte doesn't grab me either, even though I AM actually a big Furtwängler fan. I've got the classic Böhm one...

Regards,

Vincula
 
#69 ·


On November 20th, 2020, Decca are releasing a 1978 recording of Die Zauberflöte by Alain Lombard and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. The cast includes Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberova, Kathleen Battle, Kurt Moll and Jose Van Dam, but "urprisingly, this recording has never made it to CD". My first thought was that this is some sort of creative marketing, but a cursory look online reveals no legitimate CD version of this recording. I wonder why? And I also wonder why Decca used a version of the original LP artwork but added a sickly tint to the original natural colors?

The release is available to pre-order at Amazon (it's not yet listed at Amazon.com, but when it is you can just switch the domain name), but right now, the only info in English is at Australia's Classics Direct:

As the musical director of the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg and the Opéra du Rhin in the 1970s, Alain Lombard recorded a large array of repertoire with the orchestra, almost exclusively for Erato. Among the few recordings for other labels, he made one for the French Barclay label in 1978: Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.

A real gem looking at the incredible cast, a veritable "Who's Who" of opera singers of the time: Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberova, Kathleen Battle, Kurt Moll and Jose Van Dam. Surprisingly, this recording has never made it to CD. It is now being re-issued on Decca, with the original texts and libretto.
However, translating the information at Tower Records Japan reveals a little bit more:

The first CD of a gem opera with gorgeous cast members

French conductor Alain Lombard made many recordings mainly on the Erato label in the 1970s as music director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rhein Opera. And one of the few recordings I've made to other labels is The Magic Flute on the 1978 French Berkeley label. Starring Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberová, Kathleen Battle, Kurt Moll and other amazing jewel-like casts and famous opera singers of the era. Even more surprising, this recording has never been on CD. This Berkeley recording will be released as a 2-CD set for the first time from Decca. Includes a 100-page booklet with original text and lyrics (German, French, English). (Universal Music / IMS)
 
#70 ·


On November 20th, 2020, Decca are releasing a 1978 recording of Die Zauberflöte by Alain Lombard and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. The cast includes Kiri Te Kanawa, Peter Hofmann, Edita Gruberova, Kathleen Battle, Kurt Moll and Jose Van Dam, but "urprisingly, this recording has never made it to CD". My first thought was that this is some sort of creative marketing, but a cursory look online reveals no legitimate CD version of this recording. I wonder why? And I also wonder why Decca used a version of the original LP artwork but added a sickly tint to the original natural colors?

The release is available to pre-order at Amazon (it's not yet listed at Amazon.com, but when it is you can just switch the domain name), but right now, the only info in English is at Australia's Classics Direct:

However, translating the information at Tower Records Japan reveals a little bit more:


The best new I heard in years, my old LP are worn out, fantastic, thank you .
 
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