Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Franz Joseph Haydn :: Anne Sofie von Otter: Opera Arias: Mozart, Haydn, Gluck

A Charming Disc

Steven A. Peterson | 03/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection finds Von Otter at top form and paired with a very sympathetic accompanist. (Would that Pinnock did more vocal pieces, his Haydn Mass is also lovely.) While I am not usually a fan of the scattershot recital approach, this one works. If you like either Von Otter (and how could you not?) or Pinnock, this disc is self-recommending."

Fine work

Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 03/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mezzo soprano Anne Sofie von Otter's talents are well illustrated on this CD. She sings works by Mozart, Haydn, and Gluck. I'm not sure that her singing knocks my socks off, but she is very good indeed at her art.



Some illustrative cuts:



"Voi che sapete," the well known aria from Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro." She displays a smooth and rich mezzo voice here. She is backed on this CD--ably--by the English Concert, led by Tevor Pinnock. von Otter's vocal technique works well on this piece.



From Gluck's "Alceste," we have "Non ti turbate." Again, richly song. What a creamy smooth voice! No harshness is discernible to me in her singing.



From Mozart's "Don Giovanni," "Batti batti, o bel Masetto." This is normally sung by a soprano, but von Otter does a fine job with this aria. Hers is an affecting version of this piece.



Haydn's "Deh soccorri un'infelice" from his "La Fidelta Premiata" is also well sung. She displays none of the annoying affectations that some singers display. It sounds like she took a shot at a trill in this piece, without a lot of conviction. Still, a minor issue. Toward the close, she demonstrates nice vocal agility.



All in all, a well sung CD, illustrating her lush voice nicely. Interested in mezzo sopranos? You probably ought to take a listen to Anne Sofie von Otter."

A real gem on a great recording.

Abel | Hong Kong | 02/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to tell you how horribly upset I was to have this CD stolen from me by my friends (who dared not admit it!)

I bought this together with Ms. Bartoli's "Arie Antique". I love both discs to death.

Ms. von Otter has a very different timbre from Ms. Bartoli. However, in terms of singing, both artists were at their absolute peak in those two discs.

My favorite song on this disc, Gluck's 'Oh, del mio dolce ardor bramato oggetto', though also an Italian 'antique' composition, was NOT on Ms. Bartoli's disc. Ms. von Otter sung it with such soul and voice that I really wonder (increasing more so these days) if Ms. Bartoli could be as good!

I heard both their 'Voi che sapete', and must say that I preferred von Otter's, though Bartoli gave an almost equally good interpretation in her own Mozart album.

Having reacquired this lost album recently, I would add that Ms. von Otter's interpretations in the rarer Mozart operatic works are a real wonder. Compared with Ms. Fleming's Mozart album wherein contained a number of Mozart's rare works, the singing of Anne Sofie von Otter clearly is of a much more convincing standard. As the singer herself puts it: 'On passionate women and moustaches', undoubtedly this disc demonstrates the full musical capability of hers in both genres to a fascinatingly high standard."