Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Ruggero Raimondi, Margaret Price, Julia Varady, Lucia Popp, Kurt Moll, Stafford Dean, Hermann Winkler, Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper
Orchestra: Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Orfeo
Catalogue: C846153
Release: 2015
Size: 721 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Don Giovanni, K. 527
CD 01
01. Overture
Act I
02. Introduction. Notte e giorno faticar
03. Leporello, ove sei?
04. Ah del padre in periglio
05. Ma qual mai s’offre, o die
06. Orsu, spiciati presto
07. Ah, chi mi dice mai
08. Madamina, il catalogo e questo
09. Giovinette che fate all’amore
10. Manco male e Partita
11. Ho capito, Signor, si!
12. Alfin siam liberati
13. La ci darem la mano
14. Fermati, scellerato!
15. Ah! Fuggi il traditor!
16. Mi par che oggi il demonio
17. Non ti fidar, o misera
18. Povera sventurata!
19. Don Ottavio, son morta!
20. Or sai chi l’onore
CD 02
01. Io deggio ad ogni patto
02. Finch’han dal vino “Champagne Aria”
03. Masetto, senti un po!
04. Batti, batti, o bel Masetto
05. Guarda un po’ come seppe
06. Finale. Presto, presto, pria ch’ei venga
07. Protegga il giusto cielo
08. Riposate, vezzose ragazze
Act II
09. Eh via, buffone, non mi seccar!
10. Leporello! Signore?
11. Ah taci ingiusto core
12. Amico, che ti par?
13. Deh, vieni alla finestra
14. V’e gente alla finestra
15. Meta di voi qua vadano
16. Zitto, lascia ch’io senta
17. Vedrai, carino
18. Di molte faci il lume
19. Sola, sola in buio loco
20. Dunque quello sei tu
21. Ah, pieta, signori miei!
22. Ferma, perfido, ferma!
23. Il mio tesoro intanto
24. In quali eccessi
CD 03
01. Ah, ah, ah questa bona
02. O statua gentilissima
03. Calmatevi, idol mio!
04. Crudele! Ah no, mio bene
05. Finale. Gia la mensa e preparata
06. L’ultima prova
07. Don Giovanni, a cenar teco
08. Ah dove e il perfido
Even at the big opera houses it’s a real stroke of luck if a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni doesn’t just have a charismatic Don, but a whole ensemble that’s able to exert its magnetism over the assembled audience (and who thus manage not to follow the Don’s example – after all, his attempts at conquest go awry throughout the opera, with only the memories of earlier conquests remaining). This rare constellation – having an engaging title hero whose gifts are matched by the objects of his passion – in fact came about in 1973 at the Munich Opera Festival. Ruggero Raimondi was in his early 30s at the time and his unmistakeable, agile, irresistible bass-baritone voice veritably conquered the Bavarian State Opera. In the process he established himself as the Don Giovanni of his generation. But while he was the centre of attention, he was by no means the only sensation of the production. With Margaret Price as Donna Anna, Julia Varady as Donna Elvira and Lucia Popp as Zerlina he was faced with a trio of sopranos who in their individual arias and in their numerous, tricky ensemble numbers turned the evening into a musical feast – as we can now hear in this live recording of the opening night. In the midst of these powerful, highly individual personalities, Hermann Winkler’s lyric dramatic tenor and Stafford Dean’s agile lyric buffo bass were well able to hold their ground as Don Ottavio and the servant Leporello respectively. Enrico Fissore offered a vigorous Masetto, while Giovanni’s final descent into hell – which leaves shivers down many a spine – was made doubly gripping by the dark bass of Kurt Moll’s Commendatore and by Wolfgang Sawallisch at the helm of the Bavarian State Orchestra. This was a Don Giovanni of fast-paced tempi, with a momentum brilliantly geared to the dramatic trajectory, carried by the lyrical qualities of its singers, and with a perfect sense of poise and exhilarating intimacy at just the right moments.