The Marriage of Figaro

[question everything]

The local public radio broadcasted the local performance of the opera and then there was that famous song that was in Shawsahk Redemption. I think that this is my favorite scene

[longship]

1. My favorite opera. Updated. A complete performance -- the best one IMHO.

Last edited Sat Nov 18, 2017, 10:58 AM - Edit history (6)

My favorite performance is the 1960's Giulini recording with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as the countess and Anna Moffo as Suzanna.

Here:

I recently watched Shawshank with some friends. Yes, that scene is incredible. BTW, we came to the conclusion that Red was the one redeemed, not Andy.

R&K

On edit: the clip has a little bit of the recitative following the duettino. It has a bit of Fiorenzo Cossotto's incredible Cherubino.

Witness her awesome performance:

I saw Frederica von Stada sing this at the Met. It was one of her signature roles. But Cossotto is the best Cherubino I ever heard.


Another edit: The entire Giulini Le Nozze du Figaro recording is available on YouTube. It is astounding.

Act I:

Act II (absolutely awesome!):

Act III:

Act IV:

There are some cuts in the libretto in this performance, nevertheless it remains an incredible document to Mozart's genius. Giulini's pacing and orchestration are wonderful. The vocalizations are beyond question.

The cast:
* Figaro: Giuseppe Taddei.
* Susanna: Anna Moffo.
* Count Almaviva: Eberhard Wächter.
* Countess Almaviva: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
* Cherubino: Fiorenza Cossotto.

This is something wonderful.

MOZART!

[Aristus]

2. Tacoma Opera just did a production of TMoF that rivalled the one Seattle Opera did

a couple of years ago. The letter aria always brings tears to my eyes because of its association with The Shawshank Redemption.