The Sheer Genius of Mozart's Figaro Septet

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Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Act 2 Finale, 1976. Film Directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Figaro - Hermann Prey
Susanna - Mirella Freni
Count Almaviva - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Countessa Almaviva - Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Marcellina - Dame Heather Begg
Dr. Bartolo - Paolo Montarsolo
Don Basilio - John Van Kesteren

[jasonhurd]

One of Mozart's three greatest operatic act-finales. The cumulative power and sweep of its entire twenty-minute length (this is the final section thereof) are unmatched in the repertoire. However, it certainly doesn't 'play itself', as it were. In addition to seven superlative singing actors, it requires a dedicated conductor and a director of genius to pull it off, and it gets both of those here in Karl Böhm and Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. Puccini makes one weep through the melody and the dramatic situation, Strauss through the soaring soprano lines, but Mozart through the perfect architecture and Shakespearen quality of the characters. An absolute gem. Thank you, Manoli!

[aetion]

Excellent performance! It couldn't be but excellent with such a cast.
Thank you, dear Manoli.

[aetion]

They are all great, as is the music of course, but I always have a preference for Hermann Pray. Along with Tito Gobbi and Nicolae Herlea, he is considered one of the best Figaro (Mozart and Rossini) ever!
Thanks again, Manoli.

[onigbajamo]

Really weird to have Freni as Susanna to Kanawa's Rosina. Reminds me of Borkh & Tebaldi in Turandot.

[leeroger]

manoli s have u heard gabriele fuchs do mozart she has a beautiful voice