Wordsworth, Capella Istrapolitana: Mozart – Overtures: Don Giovanni, Figaro, Così, Magic Flute, Abduction, Idomeneo and many others (APE)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Capella Istropolitana
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Naxos
Size: 290 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Apollo et Hyacinthus, opera, K. 38 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Bastien und Bastienne, opera, K. 50 (K. 46b) Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Mitridate, rè di Ponto, opera, K. 87 (K. 74a) Overture. Allegro
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Mitridate, rè di Ponto, opera, K. 87 (K. 74a) Overture. Andante grazioso
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Mitridate, rè di Ponto, opera, K. 87 (K. 74a) Overture. Presto
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Lucio Silla, opera, K. 135 Overture. Molto allegro
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Lucio Silla, opera, K. 135 Overture. Andante
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Lucio Silla, opera, K. 135 Overture. Molto allegro
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# La finta giardiniera, opera, K 196 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Il rè pastore, opera, K. 208 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Idomeneo, rè di Creta, opera, K. 366 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), opera, K. 384 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Der Schauspieldirektor, opera, K. 486 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

# La Clemenza di Tito, opera, K. 621 Overture
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Capella Istropolitana
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

Full of Joie-de-vivre

This 1988 Naxos recording is one of a Mozart series that Barry Wordsworth made with the Capella Istropolitana. And as with the symphonies, these overtures have a lot going for them. The playing is fresh and full of joie-de-vivre, the sound is (despite the echoey Concert Hall in Bratislava, Slovakia) perfectly acceptable, and the notes are helpful. Particularly praiseworthy of course is the decision to record Mozart’s early overtures and to put them in chronological order, thus giving a context to the better-known opera introductions, which are here recorded successfully and with great gusto. Perhaps this is not quite up to the standard of some of the leading period instrument ensembles (e. g. Tafelmusik on Sony), but for a budget CD it is a remarkably good effort.