Mozart Arias

Mozart Arias cover $45.00 Out of Stock
add to cart

W. A. MOZART
Mozart Arias
Christian Gerhaher (baritone) / Freiburger Barockorchester, Gottfried von der Goltz

[ Sony Classical / CD ]

Release Date: Thursday 28 January 2016

In addition to being one of the leading and most acclaimed Lieder singers performing today, Christian Gerhaher is also a highly sought-after performer on the opera stage. Having performed in some of the world's top opera houses, Gerhaher was awarded the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his performance in Wagner's Tannhäuser at London's Royal Opera House.

Here Gerhaher devotes a complete album to arias from the operas of Mozart, together with the Freiburger Barockorchester, one of the top period instrument ensembles worldwide with a strong connection to the Mozart repertoire. The album features all the big baritone arias from Mozart's most well-known operas, including Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Le nozze di Figaro, and also includes a recording of Symphony No. 36 in C Major K 425.

The booklet features notes written by one of Germany's top intellectual authorities and experts on Mozart's operas, Prof. Dieter Borchmeyer.

"it forms a testament, albeit a variable one, to his considerable powers of characterisation. As one might expect, he brings great intelligence to bear on the proceedings. You can hear every word, and when he's at his best, you sense the complete character behind the individual aria…the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, directed by leader Gottfried von der Goltz, are lithe, persuasive accompanists." (Gramophone)

"Gerhaher is more convincing as a patrician in these arias than as a servant, more suavely believable as Don Giovanni than Leporello, more comfortable as Count Almaviva than as a slightly hectoring Figaro, but he makes an endearing Papageno, without too much trace of caricature. However it all came about, it's a thoroughly rewarding collection." (The Guardian)

"Here are tunes that could be (and in Mozart's day were) whistled on the street, sung with freshness, clarity and vigour in crisply enunciated Italian and given all the simple charm that the composer intended, as well as vividly individuated personalities…you may think you know this music inside out; Gerhaher will prove that you don't." (Daily Telegraph)

"the pleasure of this Mozartian anthology lies not so much in individual characterisation as in the powerful personal dramaturgy with which Gerhaher shapes his programme. The transformations of love, from tenderness to doubt, instability to cynicism and disillusion, form a little drama within itself...Best of all, there's his irresistable Papageno, revealing every facet of the character's audacity and vulnerability." (BBC Music)

Tracks:

Madamina, il catalogo è questo (from Don Giovanni)
Deh! vieni alla finestra (from Don Giovanni)
Fin ch'han dal vino (from Don Giovanni)
Symphony No. 36 in C major, K425 'Linz'
(individual movements interpersed with the arias)
Bravo, signor padrone…Se vuol ballare (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Meta di voi qua vadano (from Don Giovanni)
Non siate ritrosi (from Così fan tutte)
Ah, pieta, signori miei! (from Don Giovanni)
Der Vogelfänger bin ich, ja (from Die Zauberflöte)
Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen (from Die Zauberflöte)
Papagena! Papagena! (from Die Zauberflöte)
Tutto e disposto...Aprite un po' quegl'occhi (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso (from Le Nozze di Figaro)
Hai gia vinta la causa! (from Le nozze di Figaro)
Donne mie la fate a tanti (from Così fan tutte)
Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo (from Così fan tutte)