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This will be the Magic Flute chosen by most people who want to live with just one. It finds Georg Solti in a relatively relaxed state of mind, with an excellent if not particularly famous cast, and an orchestra and chorus that any conductor would give his left arm (not the one that welds the baton) to work with. The singers are not particularly well-known (London seems to have set up Solti as the star of this production) but a lack of celebrity attitudes and close attention to the conductor have paid substantial dividends in this production. Sumi Jo, in a spectacular and dramatic performance of the Queen of the Night’s two arias, attracts special attention, as do Uwe Heilmann (Tamino) and Michael Kraus (Papageno). –Joe McLellan
…Pero nada mas. Muy bien cantada, con un reparto donde destacan los seguros agudos de la Reina de la Noche de SUMI JO. UWE HEILMANN hace un Tamino notable, aunque no nos hara olvidar a Fritz Wunderlich, mientras que MICHAEL KRAUS es un mas que correcto Papageno, que explota su vena comica, pero vocalmente no es Fischer Dieskau, claro esta… KURT MOLL es un Sarastro realmente autoritario, y RUTH ZIESAK una dulce Pamina. Los secundarios cumplen bien en sus respectivos roles. Los efectos sonoros (truenos, pajaros etc) se hacen por momentos excesivos, que es otra de las cosas que perjudica a esta version, que dirige un inspirado GEORG SOLTI.
Rating: 3 / 5
This is captivating from start to finish. Great performance.
Rating: 5 / 5
What I love this CD for is Ruth Ziesak’s wonderful, very sensitive Pamina and the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. As a fan of Böhm’s recording of the Magic Flute with a simply unbeatable Fritz Wunderlich as Tamino, I find Heilmann’s performance particularly unsatisfactory; also Jo’s Queen of the Night and the Papageno on this disc do not really convince me! What I would warmly recommend instead is the video of the Salzburg Festival performance of Die Zauberflöte from the early nineties with Anton Scharinger (as a brilliant Papageno!) plus Deon van der Walt and Ruth Ziesak (as an absolutely lovable young couple) – which is also accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Sir Georg Solti.
Rating: 3 / 5
This is a fine recording, but Solti’s 1971 recording is much better.
Hermann Prey is the most incredible and charming Papageno I have ever heard.
Christina Deutekom is the most thrilling Queen of the Night I have ever witnessed. Believe me you haven’t heard anything like her…and she will KNOCK YOUR SOCKS off with her voice.
Stuart Burrows is my favorite Tamino, and all the principles here are wonderful….
This is hands down my favorite recording of this great opera- it is a must, this new Solti isn’t.
The ’71 recording is recommended everywhere I turn…order the ’71 Solti and you’ll be in for an amazing spiritual joyride!
Rating: 4 / 5
Solti’s is a spectacular performance. Tempi are quick and appropriate (instead of the usual stodgy style performances by other conductors).
Jo’s Queen of the Night is brilliantly sung. Makes me wonder why anyone wants to listen to Peters on the Bohm set.
In fact, I compared this set to Bohm’s set. There is just no comparison. The Solti wins hands down. The only reason I bought the Bohm set is Wunderlich’s Tamino.
The other set to own is Klemperer’s legendary 1964 recording. But Klemperer’s is a slower performance. Heavier, weightier and more romantic. Solti’s is the Mozartian – quick, light and fun.
To sum up, the top two versions are Klemperer’s and Solti’s. For quick tempi, choose solti. For heavier, weightier singing, choose Klemperer.
Buy the Bohm as a 2nd or 3rd set. Not a first set. Bohm’s Queen of the Night is a failure. Roberta Peters is just not technically competent for the role.
Rating: 5 / 5