Search - George Frederick Handel, Ferdinand Leitner, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra :: Julius Caesar

Superb mono sound and performances

Wings42 | San Diego, CA United States | 07/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With the passing of Beverly Sills, we wondered if we should buy a copy of her recording of "Julius Caesar" on RCA, so we compared this recording, which we own, with the RCA recording (on Rhapsody). The RCA recording is wonderful, but so is this. ALL voices handle Handel's difficult and lyrical vocal demands flawlessly and passionately, especially Lucia Popp and Fritz Wunderlich. The Bavarian Radio Chorus and Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in a small baroque configuration are note perfect. This is a more traditional production than the Sills/RCA, with extensive restitatives.



Be aware that this production is in German. I much prefer opera to be performed in the language it was written in, English in this case, and I don't speak German, but this music is so beautiful and wonderfully realized that I don't mind.



Hurry while you can still buy this wonderful out of print recording. I don't think that many used copies will be showing up for sale in the future because this is one that opera lovers will want to keep in their collection."