Mozart: Die Zauberflöte - Kollo, Mathis, Gruberova, Prey, Meven, Van Dam, Grist; Karajan. Salzburg, 1974
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Herbert von Karajan treats us to a grand reading of Die Zauberflöte which may ruffle the feathers of some purists, but it gives the opera a larger than life scope fitting with the operas’ lofty ideals. In 1974 René Kollo still had enough lyricism in his voice to muster a respectable Tamino; the heroic timbre of his voice almost suggesting a proto-Parsifal. Edith Mathis is resplendent as Pamina, lending some Mozartian grace without being dwarfed by Kollo’s tenor. Hermann Prey delivers a gracefully bumbling Papageno and Peter Meven is a sonorous Sarastro. Edita Gruberova’s hair-raising Queen of the Night truly puts the “dramatic” in dramatic coloratura. As always with a Karajan production there are impressive cameos in the smaller roles including Reri Grist’s bubbly Papagena, José Van Dam’s show-stealing turn as the Speaker and a great trio of ladies featuring Jane Marsh, Trudeliese Schmidt and Sylvia Anderson. The sound is excellent.
Disc 1 is in Mono, Disc 2 in Stereo
OD 11331-2
Superb Performance in Excellent Sound!
Die Zauberflote was always something of a specialty for Karajan. His performance here is marvelous, united as he is with a terrific cast. He breathes with his singers and keeps the pace going, unlike in later years where he became very self-indulgent. Mathis sounds creamier and more at ease than she was in the maestro's studio performance from seven years later. Her "Ach, ich fuhls" stops the show; no one breathes until she finishes. Kollo had such a pleasing voice in 1974. Prey and Grist are delightful together while Van Dam's Speaker surpasses many others. Gruberova was not yet 28 when this was performed, but she is a superb Queen of the Night who nails all the high staccati and then easily zips through the difficult triplets in her second aria. She also sounds like no one you'd want to mess with! Meven is a good Sarastro with an attractive bass. For whatever reason, Karajan assigns the two priests' music to the male chorus. The sound is very clear and focused. All Mozart and Flute fans should hear this!
Herrlich!—Himmlisch!—Göttlich
Wiener under the baton of Karajan is something very interesting to listen to—you could hear the very articulation of the strings, that "character" of the woodwinds, and the triumphant of the brasses. But the absolutepoint to get into this record is the Königin, that "Gruberova" sensation always worth every penny.