Beethoven: Fidelio - Mödl, G. Zampieri, Ernster, Ego; Horenstein. Athens, 1957

$8.95

Listen to a Sample:

From her opening spoken lines, Martha Mödl pulls you in as Leonora. One senses her desperation as well as her cunning in using Rocco to advance her cause. Sadly, the voice was not working for her in 1957 which is most apparent in her aria which at times, to be blunt, is painful. That said when Beethoven's writing is not that taxing she shows that from an interpretive stand-point she is one of the great Leonores of all time. Giuseppe Zampieri sings with security yet there is a bleat to his voice which is often distracting. The rest of the cast is suitable enough. Jascha Horenstein actually manages to get a sprinted reading from the orchestra including a rousing Leonore 3. The sound is very good.

OD 10692-2