Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail - Rothenberger, Krenn, Blegen, Stolze; Solti. Berlin, 1966

Listen to a Sample:

Georg Solti is clearly enjoying himself in this lively recording of Mozart's first great comedy. He whips the forces of the Berlin Radio Orchestra into something I can only describe as a "highly controlled frenzy" during the overture, then settles back into an easy, relaxed and very bright mode for the rest of the opera. His cast matches the approach, with Anneliese Rothenberger providing a sparkling Konstanze, Judith Blegen a pert, accurate Blöndchen and Werner Krenn a smooth Belmonte. Best of all is Oscar Czerwenka's booming Osmin. The dialogue is heavily cut (and delivered, as was traditional, by a separate cast of actors rather than the singers themselves), and a few arias also get the chop, but you can't ask for more clarity in this performance.

OD 11188-2