Beethoven: Fidelio - Mödl, G. Zampieri, Ernster, Ego; Horenstein. Athens, 1957
$9.95
Description:
From her opening spoken lines, Martha Mödl captivates as Leonora. She conveys both the desperation of her plight and the cunning she employs to manipulate Rocco in pursuit of her goal. Unfortunately, her voice in 1957 was not at its best, most notably during her aria, which at times, to be blunt, is challenging to listen to. However, in less vocally demanding passages, she demonstrates why, from an interpretive standpoint, she remains one of the great Leonores of all time. That said, if you are looking for exquisite classical singing, this is probably not the recording for you.
Giuseppe Zampieri delivers a secure performance, though his voice has a noticeable bleat that can be distracting. The rest of the cast is competent, serving the production adequately. Conductor Jascha Horenstein brings energy to the orchestral performance, delivering a spirited reading that includes a rousing Leonore No. 3. The sound quality is very good.
OD 10692-2
