Mozart: Don Giovanni - Wächter, L. Price, Berry, Güden, Wunderlich, Sciutti, Panerai; Karajan. Wien, 1963
$24.95
Description:
Pros:
- This is truly a Don Giovanni fit for any desert island.
- The star of the evening is Leontyne Price who is found here at her absolute peak. Her voice combines power and agility, and she produces some of the most beautiful tones I have ever heard.
- Eberhard Wächter brings a suave yet understated confidence to the title role, although I have to admit, I do prefer hearing a bass in this part as his voice sometimes gets a bit lost in the lower register.
- Fritz Wunderlich demonstrates what a truly great Mozart tenor sounds like and is compelled by the Viennese public to encore "Il mio tesoro".
- The rest of the cast includes Walter Berry as Leporello, Graziella Sciutti as Zerlina, Walter Kreppel as The Commendatore and Rolando Panerai as Masetto.
- Herbert von Karajan brings a touch of romanticism to Mozart's score, and the violins of the Vienna Philharmonic must be commended for their playing which is nothing short of exquisite.
- Pervious versions of this recording were about a half-step under pitch. I have repitched it.
Cons:
- None to mention.
In Mono
OD 11686-3
Listen to a Sample:
Don Giovanni - Karajan - Wien 1963
Just marvellous, what else ! Absolutely a must have
Dream Cast Now at the Correct Pitch!
This performance was once available on the now defunct Verona label in a transfer a full half-tone flat. Correct pitching of these older broadcasts is so important; many terrific recordings have been issued flat or sharp thereby ruining a great performance (even EMI got some of the Callas broadcast performances wrong). There's no excuse for it. We are in Andy's debt that he has issued this terrific Giovanni at the correct pitch. And it is terrific. Wunderlich gets to encore "Il mio tesoro" and Price gets an enormous ovation after "Non mi dir". Gueden is very good, if slightly past her prime. Wachter and Berry make a great servant and master pair, Sciutti and Panerai an excellent downstairs couple. Karajan actually sounds engaged in the performance! The sound is excellent broadcast mono. Thank you, Andy!
Dream cast! Good sound.
Absolutely superb from beginning to end! Price's Donna Anna is beyond belief! Not a weak link in the cast. Von K. leads a spirited performance and Wunderlich manages to stir the Viennese audience enough that they demand and get the just-as-good encore of "Il Mio Tesoro." I have obtained several superb performances of various works from Opera Depot. THIS tops the list!
Captivating
Agree with all the positive comments here. I bought this for Price & Wunderlich but was captivated by the rest of the cast, too, including the Zerlina, a singer unknown to me. David M.'s comment on Waechter's Don is spot on. The orchestral sound in this mono recording shifts between muddy and oddly imbalanced. But the voices come thru clearly. And what voices!
