COSI FAN TUTTE

INTRODUCTION TO COSI FAN TUTTE- KARAJAN

Opera is the single greatest art form that has ever existed. You have music. You have singing. You have acting. You have drama. You have it all.

My lenses will review some of my favourite recordings acquired after years of buying and listening to opera - helping readers through the maze of recordings available - identifying the winners and the losers - so that readers can get the most out of these terrific operas and not waste their money on inferior products.

COSI FAN TUTTE - KARAJAN

REVIEW

MOZART - COSI FAN TUTTE - KARJAN EMI

When critics line up the best available recordings of Mozart's superb comic opera "Così fan tutte" two recordings are almost invariably up there, Karl Böhm's second recording from 1962 (EMI - Stereo) and Herbert von Karajan's recording from 1954 (EMI - Mono).
The remarkable Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is present in both recording as the charming Fiordiligi. I prefer her fresher voice in 1954 but she, like the other artists in the Böhm recording, benefit from the fresh stereo sound. One of the glories of the gramophone is Schwarzkopf, Merriman and Bruscantini in "Soave sia il vento" - simply breathtaking as regards phrasing, beauty of tone and the organic feeling to the ensemble. *** YOU CAN HERE THIS SECTION UNDER "YOUTUBE VIDS - NAN MERRIMAN" FURTHER DOWN THIS LENS!***
Giuseppe Taddei (Böhm) and Rolando Panerai (Karajan) had long brilliant careers, sharing somewhat similar repertoires, and are equally magnificent in the baritone role of Guglielmo (Panerai has the more vivid voice).
Ferrando is a beautiful tenor role featuring the famous aria "Un'aura amorosa del nostro tesoro". Alfredo Kraus has a more distinctive voice than Simoneau but they both make the high-lying music sound easy. In some ways Simoneau is the most beautiful Mozart tenor I have heard on record. Listen to "Una bella serenata" for one instance.

Merriman (Karajan) has a more distinctive voice than Ludwig (Böhm). Bruscantini (Karajan) is superior to Berry as who is rather heavy sounding and cannot phrase with such elegance as Alfonso.

I feel it is very fitting that the Karajan set has become one of the "Great Recordings of the Century". This set is a very good introduction to the opera, or perhaps as an accompaniment to another set (Perhaps a version with modern sound).

Highly recommended

TRACKLIST
Disc: 1
1. Sinfonia/Overture - Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
2. La Mia Dorabella Capace Non E - Rolando Panerai
3. Cessate Di Scherzar - Rolando Panerai
4. E La Fede Delle Femmine - Rolando Panerai
5. Scioccherie Di Poeti! - Rolando Panerai
6. Una Bella Serenata - Rolando Panerai
7. Ah, Guarda, Sorella - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
8. Mi Par Che Stamattina - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
9. Barbaro Fato!...Vorrei Dir, E Cor Non Ho - Sesto Bruscantini
10. Stelle! Per Carita, Signor Alfonso - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
11. Sento, Oddio, che Questo Piede - Various Artists
12. O Cielo, Questo E Il Tamburo Funesto - Various Artists
13. Bella Vita Militar! - Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
14. Non V'e Piu Tempo - Various Artists
15. Muoio D'affano!...Di Scrivermi Ogni Giorno - Various Artists
16. Oh, Di, come Veloce Se Ne Va Quella Barca! - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
17. Soave Sia Il Vento - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
18. Quante Smorfie...Quante Buffonerie! - Sesto Bruscantini
19. Che Vita Maledetta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
20. Ah, Scostati!...Smanie Implacabili Che M'agitate - Nan Merriman
21. Signora Dorabella, Signora Fiordiligi - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
22. In Uomini, In Soldati Sperare Fedelta? - Lisa Otto
23. Despinetta!...Chi Batte? - Lisa Otto
24. Alla Bella Despinetta - Various Artists
25. Oh, Ciel! Mirate: Uomini In Cosa Nostra - Various Artists
26. Come Scoglio Immoto Resta - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
27. Ah, Non Partite! - Various Artists
28. Non Siate Ritrosi - Rolando Panerai
29. E Voi Ridete? - Rolando Panerai
30. E Avete Ancora Coraggio Di Fiatar? - Rolando Panerai
31. un'aura Amorosa Del Nostro Tesoro - Leopold Simoneau
32. E Come Credi Che L'affar Finira? - Lisa Otto
Disc: 2
1. Ah, Che Tutto In Un Momento - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
2. Si Mora, Si, Si Mora - Various Artists
3. Eccovi Il Medico - Various Artists
4. Dove Son? Che Loco E Questo? - Various Artists
5. Dammi Un Bacio, O Mio Tesoro - Various Artists
6. Andate La, Che Siete Due Bizzarre Ragazze! - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
7. Una Donna A Quindici Anni - Lisa Otto
8. Sorella, Cosa Dici? - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
9. Prendero Quel Brunettino - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
10. Secondate, Aurette Amiche - Rolando Panerai
11. Cos'e Tal Mascherata? - Various Artists
12. La Mano A Me Date - Various Artists
13. Oh, che Bella Giornata! - Various Artists
14. Il Core Vi Dono - Rolando Panerai
15. Ei Parte...Senti...Ah No! - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
16. Per Pieta, Ben Mio, Perdona - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
17. Amico, Abbiamo Vinto! - Leopold Simoneau
18. Donne Mie, La Fate A Tanti A Tanti - Rolando Panerai
19. In Qual Fiero Contrasto - Leopold Simoneau
20. Tradito, Schernito - Leopold Simoneau
21. Bravo, Questa E Costanza - Rolando Panerai
Disc: 3
1. Ora Vedo Che Siete Una Donna Di Garbo - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
2. E Amore Un Ladroncello - Nan Merriman
3. Come Tutto Congiura - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
4. Fra Gli Amplessi In Pochi Istanti - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
5. Ah, Poveretto Me, Cosa Ho Veduto! - Rolando Panerai
6. Tutti Accusan Le Donne - Rolando Panerai
7. Vittoria Padroncini! - Various Artists
8. Fate Presto, O Cari Amici - Lisa Otto
9. Benedetti I Doppi Coniugi - Various Artists
10. E Nel Tuo, Nel Mio Bicchiero - Various Artists
11. Bella Vita Militar! - Various Artists
12. Bella Vita Militar! - Various Artists
13. Sani E Salvi Agli Amplessi Amorosi - Various Artists
14. No, Signor, Non E Un Notaio - Various Artists
15. Ah, Signor, Son Rea Di Morte - Various Artists
16. A Voi S'inchina, Bella Damina - Various Artists
17. Fortunato L'uom Che Prende - Various Artists

COSI FAN TUTTE KARAJAN RECOMMENDATIONS

Mozart: Così Fan Tutte

This is a very good value cd - good transfer quality. PLEASE NOTE: This version comes with a synopsis of the opera - a brief rundown telling you what happens in the opera - it does not come with a libretto (telling you the words to the songs and recitatives (the bits where they talk between arias to push the story forward) so if you want to know this you might be better buying the more expensive version below other wise this is a similar (maybe even the same?) transfer as on the more expensive version

Amazon Price: $14.97 (as of 01/09/2009)

Great Recordings Of The Century - Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte / Karajan, Schwarzkopf, Merriman, Otto, Simoneau, et al

This is a different (more expensive) version of the same recording. This version includes a full libretto and lots of details about the recording. This is a good buy if you have not heard the opera before as you can read the libretto to understand what they are singing about

Amazon Price: $23.97 (as of 01/09/2009)

Mozart: Così fan tutte

This is the Bohm version i refer to in my review. This is a wonderful set in good stereo - perfect for people that want to hear a vintage cast (almost as good as on the Karajan set) in better stereo sound. Very Highly recommended.