Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart :: Mozart: Die Entführun aus dem Serail

Bravo, Jochum and Wunderlich.

Abel | Hong Kong | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Stereo recording of 1965 captures the essence of Mozart's Turkish singspiel. The two choruses for the Janissaries are glorious, and Jochum's ensembles are nothing short of greatness in this recording. Just listen to the trio No. 9 between Osmin,Pedrillo and Belmonte and the chorus singing, and you will see the difference here.

The soloists are even, though not ALL top-notched. Erika Koeth wasn't the dramatic coloratura required of the role of Konstanze. Her leggiero coloratura is generally fine, but fare less well in Martern alle Arten. Lotte Schaedle suffered in comparison with the great Blonde by Rita Streich, and Kurt Boehme's Osmin, though sterling in all respects, did not surpass that of the great German bass Josef Greindl. Even so, they are all more than adequate in the respective roles.

Topping all the rest, Fritz Wunderlich did a Belmonte with such ardour and energy, with tonnes of beautiful singing, that actually redeemed any minor inadequacies in the other soloists. The No. 1 Air 'Hier soll ich dich denn schen', No. 4 'O wie anguish, o wie feurig' are simply sublime!

Any ensemble with Belmonte became a sure winner, too. The duets of Belmonte with Boehme's Osmin, Friederich Lenz's Pedrillo and Erika Koeth's Konstanze undoubtedly benefitted from Wunderlich's committed and exemplary singing."