Mozart: The Mozart Glyndebourne Collection [DVD] [1973] [2006]

Each of these 1970s Glyndebourne Opera productions of the six best-known Mozart operas has been issued singly previously. Now they are boxed together (each in its own case and with booklets that are unchanged from the single issues) and marketed at a price break for the Mozart fan. I've reviewed each of them before and will refer in this review to my earlier reviews here at Amazon.

They rank, in my opinion, from simply wonderful to disappointing, but on the whole they are really quite good. They are Così fan tutte (1975), Don Giovanni (1977), Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Abduction from the Seraglio, 1980), Idomeneo (1974), Le Nozze di Figaro (Marriage of Figaro, 1973), and Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, 1978). I will make a few comments about each but suggest you look up my reviews of the single releases. (For each individual review go to Amazon's search function and plug in 'Glyndebourne' and a keyword from the title of the opera.)

Così fan tutte: 4 stars. With a cast of mostly young unknowns but with a young Thomas Allen as Guglielmo. The young cast move well and sing beautifully. A traditional production (as all of these productions are - and all the better for that!). Highlight: Tenor Anson Austin, an Aussie, as Ferrando -- his 'Un aura amorosa' is honeyed and gorgeous.

Don Giovanni: 3 stars. Benjamin Luxon a bit wooden as the Don, although he sings wonderfully. Bernard Haitink in the pit. Less than wonderful sound. High point: Horiana Branisteanu as Donna Anna.

Die Entführung: 4 stars. A very nice production. Valerie Masterson as Constanze. The wonderful Willard White as Osmin. His singing and acting are fabulous. Ryland Davies, whose tenor voice has always been exceptionally beautiful, is the Belmonte. The orchestral playing under the exceptionally sensitive direction of Gustav Kuhn is sensational. Whatever happened to Kuhn?

Idomeneo: 2 stars. This is the clunker in the group. The opera is given incomplete -- the first scene is cut, for instance. And the sound is glassy. Richard Lewis as the King is past his prime. What a shame his portrayal hadn't been captured ten years earlier. Josephine Barstow's Elettra is the vocal and dramatic standout.

Le Nozze di Figaro: 5 stars. I titled my earlier review 'As Near to Perfection as I'm Ever Likely to See.' A sensational cast (te Kanawa as the Countess, Luxon as the Count, Ileana Cotrubas as Susanna, Frederica von Stade as Cherubino, and the marvelous Norwegian baritone Knut Skram as Figaro). The only fault I can find with this production is that it is of its time and the video and audio reflect that, although they are more than acceptable. Musically this one is extraordinarily satisfying.

Die Zauberflöte: 5 stars. A wonderful production with Felicity Lott as Pamina, tenor Leo Goeke as Tamino, Luxon as an excellent Papageno, Elizabeth Couquet a terrific Papagena (she actually gives the character some depth), and May Sandoz as Queen of the Night. Thomas Thomaschke is a fine Sarastro but he's a bit too young for the part. Bernard Haitink in the pit.

Scott Morrison

This is a pretty good deal for what it is. Bear in mind that the productions were filmed in the 70's and 80's so they obviously didn't have DVD in mind back then, and some weren't high budget to begin with. The Idomeneo has some problems, so i wouldn't buy that one seperately. The others are mostly standard productions. The particular production of Die Zauberflote included here was staged years later by the Met and did quite well there. This one features Felicity Lott as Pamina which i'd say was worth the price of admission. Not every production has big names in it, tho there are a few. These were filmed live, with polite British audiences.
Benjamin Luxon performs a few of the lead baritone roles very well, and Jamaican bass Willard White is interesting in an otherwise mostly waspy lineup of performers. The various conductors featured are all excellent. This box set is a good introduction to become familiar with Mozart's most popular operas, if that is what you're out to do. Good homework if you plan to see them live (which you really must do!)

These are six of Mozart's finest operas put on by a very fine opera company. And for around 50 bucks it is totally worth it...these are staples that every opera singer/opera lover should have in their collection