Le Nozze Di Figaro [Blu-ray]

A Leading Contender
The new Arthaus Musick release of the Marriage of Figaro was taped in 2006, and why it has taken this long for the commercial release is anybody's guess--possibly no "star power"? With the exception of Ildebrando D'Arcangelo and Diana Damrau the rest of the cast will not be well known, although Pietro Spagnoli appears in the same role in the Rene Jacobs Figaro taping. Mozart, Italy and Teatro alla Scala are not usually grouped together in one sentence. Allegedly Mozart and Italy have never enjoyed each other's company although over the years there have been great singers who have an Italian heritage and have been considered great Mozart interpreters. Most of us have looked to Austria, Germany and England for the most stylish Mozart and in truth they have led the race. This new release immediately upsets the aforementioned troika. I have no hesitation in placing it among the very best DVD's currently available even though the conductor, Gerard Korsten is a name that ill be unknown to...

An excellent 'Le Nozze' for starters!
There are of course many many recordings both audio and visual of this ever-popular opera.
This La Scala production conducted by Korsten, is however, the best starters' choice. The reasons are evident:
(1) It is authentically Mozartean in style, both musically and visually (it is a period production, not avante garde);
(2) The sets are fabulous and truly 'classical';
(3) The performers all master with exactitude the requirements of their respective roles, with some clear standouts in the main protagonists;
(4) The singing cast is of the very top rate;
(5) There is exceptional choregraphy to match the musical performance;
(6) The entire performance is bubbling with dramatic tension.
Is it really so good? It is!
The main protagonists are exceptionally well chosen and performed. Italian bass-baritone D'Arcangelo as Figaro is the 'perfect' incarnation. He has an added bonus of being Italian. Musically he is as accomplished as Hermann Prey,...

A Very French Figaro
Please ignore reviews dated before the release date October 30th, 2012. They refer to a Milan video, not to the Paris blu-ray.
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Mozart picked up musical ideas during the nine months he spent in Paris in 1778 (among them the new genre of the symphonie concertante, invented by Joseph Boulogne, le Chevalier de Saint-Georges). He also soaked up the theatrical atmosphere, dominated already by Beaumarchais. So it is not surprising that there is a very French quality to Mozart's own LE NOZZE DI FIGARO.
Philippe Jordan (age 36), son of the late director Armin Jordan, conducts a lively rendition of LE NOZZE DI FIGARO in October/November of 2010 at the Palais Garnier (Thé