A GREAT PERFORMANCE FEATURING AND STARRING HILDEGARD BEHRENS AND TRUDELIESE SCHMIDT. A MUST!

For most people accustomed to the Hildegard Behrens of the late 80s and 90s this performance will come as a bit of a shock. Here Behrens' voice is all of a piece, even from top to bottom. The top is very secure, the low notes secure (if weak), and the middle register stable. One can understand why critics and impresarios took notice. Her triplets and trills are smudged, but Fiordiligi's vulnerability comes through convincingly. Schmidt blends beautifully with Behrens; I was glad von Dohnanyi didn't cut her second act aria. Heichele is probably best known as the Adele to Te Kanawa's Rosalinde in the video of the Covent Garden Fledermaus. She is a lovely Despina. John Stewart was an American tenor who made his career mostly in Europe. He sings a fine Ferrando (a pity a portion of his "Un aura amorosa" is missing) and is allowed one of his second act arias ("Tradito, schernito"). Workman and Weller are also first-rate. Dohnanyi leads a swift, aggressive performance. The voices are a little recessed, but certainly audible. There is some wobble in the mastertape here and there, but it doesn't last long. Occasionally bits of music are missing where, presumably, the tape had to be turned over.Not a Cosi for everyone, but Behrens' fans should definitely acquire this.