Le nozze di Figaro

I am no expert on this opera with its somewhat typical-for-the-period involved tale of love and betrayal, but this is a very fine disc. Produced by the same mob that did the excellent Barber of Seville, it is traditional with just a touch of modern clean lines here and there. The cast are outstanding and just about everyone looks the part. The short interview doco is very interesting and overall this is an outstanding contribution to opera on BD. No need to hesitate

One of Elizabeth Schwarzkopf's great Mozart Opera recordings

Superb performance, stage and musical direction, and magnificent voives! Gorgeous historical costumes, wonderful light and shadow effects. One of the best Nozzes you can get.5/5

This performance from 2009 is a new production of the opera by Emilio Sagi and is of the full non-cut version of the opera. This is important as it makes sure that the original balance of the composition as conceived by Mozart is retained with all characters fully drawn by the appropriate recitatives and arias. This desire for completeness was very important to Sagi and conductor Lopez Cobos as they individually explain in the accompanying bonus interview.This approach extends to the staging which is not only generous in its sumptuousness but also manages to create a great sense of 3D. This is done through imaginative and frequent use of intermediate gauze curtaining beyond which relevant action continues supplementing that of the foreground. The fine costuming continues these themes of historically accurate and generous detailing.In summary therefore it would be fair to state that this is a remarkably satisfying feast for the eyes and the senses in terms of staging.Great attention has been brought to bear on the roles of all the characters seen on the stage at any one time and also wherever positioned both in terms of drama and stage depth. These roles never cease to act their parts fully in character even when not the prime focus of attention, thus giving a great boost to the continuing sense of reality. This was a prime aim of the director and in that he totally succeeds. He also has firmly established the various connections with Seville by underlining Mozart's inclusion of the Fandango which would have been known to both the Count and the Countess as well as Figaro. (See Rossini's Barber of Seville).Musically this is a first rate production with characterful singing of accuracy delivered by everyone without exception. Tezier, as the Count, gives the most impressive performance I have ever seen from him largely because he is so fully inside the part that he is able to rise beyond the notes and is really able to communicate to those on stage throughout. He is ably supported by Barbara Frittoli as the Countess, now ten years older than when she gave a wonderful rendition of Mrs Ford, a Merry Wife of Windsor, in the Royal Opera's production of Verdi's Falstaff. At this point in the story she is just about the correct age to be believably paired with Tezier as his wife.Luca Pisaroni is also outstanding as the rather naïve, young Figaro partnered by Isabel Rey as Susanna, his new wife, and claimed by Jeannette Fischer as Marcellina, ultimately revealed as his long-lost mother. Both sing and act their parts with all the skill resulting from years of operatic experience. However, as the clarity of the excellent recording only makes too clear, both of these women are about the same age as each other and certainly much more advanced in years as the much younger groom/son they covet. This, in a production that aims at such veracity of detail, may seem a little odd to some while others will not consider it a matter of importance especially as their roles are otherwise so well done. All the other parts are taken and delivered with equal commitment and complete conviction, and I include the many non-singing roles.The recording provides excellent DTS-HD sound as well as stereo and reveals the excellence of the orchestra and the many orchestral details so frequently brought out by Lopos Corbos under his exhilarating musical direction. The visual recording is in the same league with crisp and accurate camera work. Technically we seem to be moving into a new era of technical excellence as this is not the only such example that I have been fortunate enough to experience lately.This outstanding issue must surely please a great number of people for a great deal of the time. In my opinion it would be less than just to award less than the full 5 stars, so well done Teatro Real for yet another fine recording on your new `own' label.............................................Some dialogue from the comments section that may offer further help:A feast for the eyes, but.....When listening with headphones I sometimes noticed a slight roar or humming. Of course it's not loud, but in quiet passages(recitatives e.g.) a bit annoying.Anyone else who has noticed that? (U.K. review)I have not tested this issue in that way but the Shostakovich 5 on EuroArts clearly picks up the air conditioning low rumble which is particularly distracting in all quiet passages - and there are many. I shall check this issue with headphones when I have the chance but my sub woofer goes down to 13hz and would normally detect this sort of problem.Ian GilesYou can hear it best in the first two acts. Afterwards it gradually decreases.Air conditioning, yes, it sounds plausible. The recording was made in July, at that time it can be pretty hot in Madrid. (U.K. review)

A good production of the full Opera, the singing is very good and the scenery is also good

The opening sequence whilst the overture is playing looks through a window centre stage at the comings and goings of the Counts household. I felt immediately that something special was afoot.The sets are appropriate, not extravagant but quite impressive, from the big windows in The Countess bedroom with sunlight pouring in, to the dark garden with mistaken identities in the gloom, all make for interesting viewing.The costumes all look in period, brightly coloured but not garish for the servants and mainly black and white for the four main protagonists.The acting is excellent, lots of interaction and byplay keep ones attention, Antonio with his plantpots for instance.The orchestra and continuo are crisp and well balanced to the singers.Now to the singers, Luca Pisaroni and Isabel Rey are a very animated pair of lovers, Pisaroni has a rich baritone whilst Rey is a ringingly clear soprano.Marcellina and Bartolo are not presented as buffoons either in dress or characterisation, but have just the right level of eccentricity. Fischer has a great voice and in her act 4 aria gets deserved appreciation. Chausson is also a good character singer. The pair are far more credible than in other performances that I have seen.The same can also be said of Basilio, sung by Gimenez another spot on performance.Tezier makes a wickedly scheming Count, and portrays his changes of mood with expertise both in action and voice, a good looking chap too.Comparato is a nicely laddish Cherubino, does up quite nicely as a girl too in the presentation scene. Another good voice.Cardoso in the small but pleasant role of Barbarina has another first class voice, very sweet on the ear.Antonio the gardener, played by Sola has but a small voice role, and a small part to play, but provides some well timed amusement, watch him in the background, his mannerisms amuse me.Perhaps I should not have kept Barbara Frittoli till last, but I am a bit biased, she is one of the named that I look out for. I first heard her as Liu in Turandot, and have been hooked ever since, her voice has matured and become fuller in the lower register, and here as the sad and much neglected Countess is absolutely wonderful. She too has some amusing moments, particularly in the bedroom scene, lots of hand signals and bewilderment.The two disc set has an extra about the opera, the subtitles are needed, but it fell a bit flat.The booklet has small print, sometimes gold on dark background for the listings and is not read easily, this also applies to the act arias and timings, but they are detailed.. The background notes and synopsis, act by act, are however informative and quite interesting.

This Blu-ray disc is an outstanding performance of Le Nozze di Figaro. The French baritone, Ludovic Tézier, in the role of Count of Almaviva, gives an outstanding singing and acting performance, so does Barbara Fritolli in the role od Countess of Almaviva. Luca Pisaroni and Isabel Rey also perform well in their respective roles of Figaro and Susanna. Overall, all the other roles are also well performed.One important and positive aspect of the production is that the staging and the beautiful costumes match well with the atmosphere of the story, which is not always the situation with most opera productions nowadays.Recommended without any reserve.

Die Produktion als solche ist zwar hervorragend, und Puccini erweist sich auch in diesem Werk, das ich bis anhin nur dem Namen nach kannte, als ein ganz Grosser: ein grosser Melodiker, Instrumentator und Dramatiker. Aber die Pentatone-Ausgabe ist ursprünglich von Philps Classics als Quadro-Aufnahme, (als SA-CD Hybrid Multichannel) erstellt worden. Die Behauptung von Pentatone auf der Taschenrückseite, die Platte könnte auf einem "regular cd player", also stereofonisch abgespielt werden, stimmt zwar, indem die Scheibe abspielbar ist, aber die Mischung ist zweikanalig absolut unannehmbar. Dies war ein Fehlkauf. Sie sollten deutlich machen, dass es sich um eine Quadro-Aufnahme handelt, dann ist der Käufer selbst schuld, wenn er sie kauft. Quadro hat sich ja allgemein aus naheliegenden Gründen nicht durchsetzen können.Klaus Koenig.

Si alguien quiere empezar con la ópera no hay nada mejor que hacerlo con Mozart. Esta es de sus mejores óperas y el montaje del Teatro Real es ciertamente acertado. Hay otras versiones, pero yo tuve la oportunidad de ver este montaje en directo y de recomendar uno, sería este.

Una porducción preciosa, bien dirigida y ambientada en la época original; un reparto excelente y presentan la paritura sin cortes.

Una Caballè in grande "spolvero" nel pieno dei suoi doviziosi mezzi vocali contornata da un cast superlativo. Una gioia per i melomani.