Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Karl Böhm, Walter Taussig :: Mozart: Così fan tutte [Highlights]

Choosing between two live Cosi's from Bohm

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was impressed by a live Cosi from Karl Bohm that circulates in pirate recording, the best sound being on Opera d'Oro. It dates from 1978, four years after this rival on DG, which is in much better sound, of course, although still showing the marks of a stage production. In both instances the interpretation is unexpectedly fierce. In keeping with the problematic morals of Da Ponte's tale, these cheating lovers are a nasty lot, and form the first moment they sound angry rather than charming.



Your response to this approach, which is accompanied by a good deal of shouting, will determine how you respond to the music. After a lackluster overture, Bohm leads a vigorous account here. In the highlights album, the only one I've heard, we get a generous 72 min. of the opera. The cast is identical to the Opera d'Oro one, the only exception being that Rolando Panerai replace Fischer-Dieskau as Don Alfonso. The latter, being more suave, is preferable to Panerai, who is overbearing and one-dimensional; he undoubtedly sings well, however. The two casts were the best to be had at the time, with Janowitz excelling as one of the best Fiordiligis on disc and Fassbaender one of the most ardent Dorabellas."