Mozart: Don Giovanni, Part 1

Don Giovanni, K 527 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Performer: Harry Van der Kamp (Bass), Nanco De Vries (Bass), Hubert Claessens (Bass), Werner Van Mechelen (Baritone), Elena Vink (Soprano), Christina Högman (Soprano), Nancy Argenta (Soprano), Markus Schäfer (Tenor) Conductor: Sigiswald Kuijken Orchestra/Ensemble: La Petite Bande, Capella Compostelana Period: Classical Written: 1787; Prague Date of Recording: 10/1995 Venue: Galician Auditorium, Santiago de Compost Length: 141 Minutes 8 Secs. Language: Italian It says something about how the recording industry has changed that just a decade or so after Philips released its complete Mozart Edition to general acclaim, this new one appears at super-budget price, and it's just as good. Hopefully its various components will remain in print longer than the Universal titles, for some of them are very good indeed. This includes the complete symphonies featuring Jaap Ter Linden and the Mozart Akademie Amsterdam on period instruments (this latter also available separately on SACD), as well as the piano concertos with Derek Han and the Philharmonia under Paul Freeman. Both the string quartets and quintets are very well done by such groups as the Brandis and Orlando quartets, and you get Kuijken in the three great Italian comic operas (Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosí), as well as Mackerras' stylish Telarc performances of The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Magic Flute. We've already reviewed several of the early operas, very nicely done by Musica ad Rhenum under Jad Wentz, and the there's even the classic Schmidt-Isserstedt Idomeneo with Nicolai Gedda, Edda Moser, Peter Schreier, and the Staatskapelle Dresden. In short, this edition offers about a 50/50 mix of pre-existing material and new performances, and such is the quality of Mozart performance today that you can purchase this 170-CD set with complete confidence. It also comes with an introductory CD containing notes, sung texts for the sacred and miscellaneous vocal works, and all of the opera librettos. Whether you will want this much Mozart is very much a matter of personal choice; certainly most of his early stuff is pretty ephemeral, but it's also just plain pretty, and unfailingly pleasant. Granted, you can do as well or better with individual performances of the well-known masterworks, but taken as a whole this remains impressive, and quite a bargain. – David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com [reviewing the original version of the Brilliant Classics Complete Mozart Edition] ----- Brilliant Classics' Complete Mozart Edition, released in 2006, was an international hit, winning plaudits from critics and customers alike for the quality of the music making and representing great value for money. Why, then, have they chosen not to rest on their laurels but to improve upon this successful product? Here are some of the reasons: 1. The interpretation of Mozart’s music continues to evolve and, four years on from the original release, Brilliant Classics’ Complete Mozart Edition has evolved with it. Now included are new recordings by prominent Mozart performers such as Giuliano Carmignola (violin concertos) and Oficina Musicum (La Betulia Liberata). Several of the recordings have already won the coveted Diapason d’or. 2. The Enhanced Contents - Brilliant Classics’ Complete Mozart Edition contains: • 170 CDs representing the entirety of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s oeuvre in historically informed performances. • 1 Interactive DVD: The most comprehensive survey of Mozart’s life and music, a step-by-step celebration in sound and vision of the creations of a genius (more info attached) • 1 CD-ROM containing liner notes and performers’ biographies in English, librettos and sung texts, complete 2010 Brilliant Classics catalogue Include all of the concertos, symphonies, chamber music, divertimenti, sonatas and of course the operas. Performances by such outstanding soloists and ensembles as: Jaap ter Linden, Peter-Lukas Graf, Giuliano Carmignola, Karl Leister, Bart van Oort, Salvatore Accardo, Bruno Canino, Nobuko Imai, Claron McFadden, Sigiswald Kuijken, Zoltan Kocsis; Chamber Choir of Europe, Choeurs du Théatre Royal de la Monnaie; Mozart Akademie Amsterdam, Philharmonia Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Wiener Akademie, Orchestre du Théatre Royal de la Monnaie, Staatskapelle Dresden, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Kammerorchester Berlin, English Chamber Orchestra, Brandis Quartet 3. The Packaging: the new, redesigned packaging means CDs in slipcases and the complete set neatly displayable in a single, attractive space-saving box. For reasons of completeness, pure musical enjoyment, scholarly research, attractive, space-saving design and price, you cannot afford to be without Brilliant Classics’ improved Complete Mozart Edition. Mozart Interactive • An Interactive DVD by Titus Leber • The most comprehensive survey of Mozart’s life and music, a step-by-step celebration in sound and vision of the creations of a genius • Experience Mozart’s Universe, his life and his music in this encyclopaedic DVD production of unprecedented scope and content • Interactive DVD, simply operated through remote control on TV More than 2 hours of interactive navigation along some 80 classical music video clips • Additional 7,5 hours of music featuring Mozart’s most famous tunes and arias • Video clips from and introductions to 20 oparas • A “Data-highway”in 3D animation points the viewer to the major events in Mozart’s life and his era, and offers deep insight into his musical creations. • Narrators: Simon Broad, Miguel Herz-Kestranek, Mijou Kovacs, Heinz Christian Sauer • Featuring amongst others: • Berliner Philharmoniker/Herbert von Karajan, Samuel Ramey, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Kathleen Battle, Julia Varady, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Paata Burchuladze, Barbara Hendricks, Nicolai Gedda, Anneliese Rothenberger, Edda Mozer, Theo Adam, Sir Colin Davis Format 4:3 Sound 2.0 Language: English, Deutsch, Français NTSC - DVD Video Dolby Digital