Search - Mozart, Della Casa, Ludwig :: Mozart: Così fan Tutte (1955 Studio Recording in Stereo)

Cosi fan tutte

Celia J. Berveiler | 01/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm glad this came out on CD. The best cast, the best conductor. I especially like Lisa della Casa. She always sings with so much warmth."

A Fine Old Così Fan Tutte

F. Rupert | 04/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I always enjoyed the old stereo LP version of this 1955 stereo Così; it's now available in pretty good sound as an MP3 download for the price of a hamburger. How can you possibly go wrong? Newer versions have better sound but they don't exceed this as a performance.



Unlike later recordings, which have more sense of staging, this one has more of that 40s and 50s opera sound of "singers glued to their microphones." Nonetheless, the cast is excellent and the singing is superb, as is the playing of the orchestra. Paul Schöffler is especially noteworthy as the scheming, cynical Don Alfonso. Lisa della Casa and a young Christa Ludwig take the two female leads and are great. Dermota is quite wonderful as Ferrando; I find his style just right for the part. Böhm keeps things moving but gives the music and singers space--you never feel as if somebody had a train to catch. Some of Böhm's other opera recordings are pretty brisk (Tristan und Isolde for one), but this one is middle of the road in pacing. Many of the "standard" cuts are observed, so if you view every word of recitative as precious, this isn't for you.



The sound shows its age but is quite OK. My one gripe is that each act is a single track. This makes finding you favorite aria a pain."