Track Listing

1. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Cinque...dieci...venti...trenta
2. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Venite...inginocchiatevi
3. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Un moto di gioia
4. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Crudel! perch� finora
5. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Sull'aria...Ricevete, o padroncina
6. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Giunse alfin il momento...Deh vieni
7. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492: Giunse alfin il momento...Al desio di chi t'adora
8. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Giovinette Che Fate All'Amore
9. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: L� ci darem la mano
10. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Masetto, senti un po'!
11. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Presto, presto, pria ch'ei venga
12. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Vedrai, carino
13. La Clemenza di Tito, opera, K. 621: Ah, perdona al primo affetto
14. La Clemenza di Tito, opera, K. 621: S'altro che lacrime
15. Die Zauberfl�te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Bei M�nnern, welche Liebe f�hlen
16. Die Zauberfl�te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Schnelle F��e, rascher Mut
17. Die Zauberfl�te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Ach, ich f�hl's, es ist verschwunden
18. Die Zauberfl�te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?
19. Die Zauberfl�te (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620: Tamino Mein!...Wir wandelten durch Feuersgluten

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #164979 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com essential recording
American soprano Barbara Bonney has emerged as one of the most engaging interpreters of Mozart's heroines on the stage today. Indeed, the selections offered here--culled from various full-length recordings over the 1990s--are about more than beautiful singing: Bonney's portrayals of four Mozart heroines are rich in vivid characterization and emotional nuance and are models in their own way of "vocal acting." Bonney makes a particularly appealing Susanna with her natural, unforced sound and remarkably poetic phrasing (the Figaro selections include the two new arias Mozart later interpolated for a favorite singer, which are rarely heard in stagings of the opera). Gorgeously floated pianissimos and a deliciously lilting legato give her Zerlina a knowing, sexually charged charm, while her Pamina is both vulnerable and radiant. And, unlike the dime-a-dozen Mozart excerpt albums, this one provides not only arias but duets (with Hakan Hagegard's characterful Count and Don Giovanni and Bryn Terfel's Masetto, among others) and a few ensemble scenes. Most of the selections are conducted with grace by period-instrument maven Arnold Östman; two selections from La clemenza di Tito under Christopher Hogwood will tempt the listener to take a closer look at these artists' complete recording of a neglected Mozart masterpiece. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews

Mozart + Bonney=Outstanding!
I consider Barbara Bonney to be the ultimate Mozart soprano, and that's it! Her beautiful and lyrical soprano is just perfect for the music. Her performance in Die Zauberflöte with Östman/Drottningholm is the best I have ever heard in that opera. The music of Mozart doesn't really require any Wagner-sopranos with huge vibrato and tasteless phrasing. No, it's more suitable for the lovely and brilliant sopranos like Barbara Bonney!

Nice, but quiet
I bought this CD about a year and a half ago and play it all the time, but I do have to turn up the volume, especially in the car (which is a lousy place to listen to serious music anyway). I still prefer Bonney's "Deh vieni" to the other recordings I have, including Bartoli and Upshaw. I love the "Sull'aria," something omitted from a Nozze Highlights CD (also featuring Bonney) I also own. If you like Bonney, you'll probably love the recording.

Solid Mozart singing from opera's leading current soubrette
This cd has excellent recorded sound, and Barbara Bonney's light, sweet soprano is heard at its freshest. For young sopranos studying Mozart roles, it would be a valuable purchase. Bonney sounds most at home in the Magic Flute selections where her obvious love for the music is really apparent. I give only 4 stars however, because I personally prefer a bigger voice in these roles like Swenson. But this should not deter Mozart and light soprano fans as diva prefences are all a matter of personal taste.