The Greatest Recordings EVER! Mozart: Don Giovanni

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Thanks for this Dave! I love Don Giovanni, one of my favourite operas and certainly my favourite Mozart opera. My mother in her career sang both Donna Elvira and Don Anna (she preferred Donna Anna).

[@DaninMaine]

I found this recording cheap used and snatched it up. I am so glad I did! It's wonderful!

[@Therealzartharn]

I’d say 30 years ago qualifies as “recent” in classical music. There are historic recordings still in release from 100 years ago!

[@petterw5318]

You made me realise that the famous Thibaud-Casals-Cortot trio recordings have never been out of print, and will soon be 100 years old!

[@TheAboriginal1]

Thanks Dave for another insightful talk. I should think some day your KZbin archive will be entered into the Library of Congress as a national monument.

[@philippecassagne3192]

Idomeneo by Gardiner is excellent too : I listened to several interpretations and finally chose it.

[@davidaiken1061]

Thanks, Dave, for this perceptive review. Gardiner's "Don Giovanni" was a major discovery for me. I took a risk when I bought it, since I don't always like period instruments in Mozart, but this superb realization of the opera blew me away when I first heard it. It still does. However, it's not quite my personal reference recording. That would be Leinsdorf's sadly underrated version with the unbeatable team of Siepi and Corena as the Don and Leporello, and the most thrilling accounts of the Act I and II finale's I have heard on disc. The Don's confrontation with the Commendatore is announced with a gratuitous but unforgettable tam-tam crash, and from that point on to the Don's descent into hell the listener is gripped even more than in Gardiner's also thrilling account of the scene. Leinsdorf also has Price as Elvira, another plus, though Gardiner's cast, as you pointed out, works particularly well as a team. But these two are the versions I listen to when I want to hear this amazing opera.

[@jacquesgillet3449]

Did you listent to the Moralt version featuring George London as Don Giovanni and Simoneau as Ottavio ? A must. But the ladies are also brillant..

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@jacquesgillet3449 one of my faves too! Mostly for Mr London!

[@bbailey7818]

​@@jacquesgillet3449I think Sena Jurinac in that Rosbaud is the greatest Elvira there is. She nails 'Mi tradi' like nobody else.

[@bbailey7818]

I'm very fond of the Leinsdorf also. My only regret is that Peters wasn't chosen as Zerlina instead of Ratti.

[@davidaiken1061]

@@jacquesgillet3449 Yes, I heard the Moralt once a long time ago. My memory of it has faded, but I do recall that I didn't think the conducting had enough vitality, though the cast was fine.

[@WesSmith-m6i]

Dave, did this one ever catch me by surprise. Not just because I figured you would choose something else for your Greatest Ever, but because of all the numerous recordings of Don G that I've heard, I never even bothered listening to this one. I guess I thought it would be just like Norrington's Don G, and passed it by. Okay, I admit my narrow mindedness, but am willing now to make amends and listen to Gardiner's recording. Thanks, as always, for bringing fresh insights my way. Wesley

[@dr2549]

Exactly my thoughts... You saved me typing

[@andre_p]

I have this Gardiner recording, listened to it last month as a matter of fact. I don’t like it very much. Don Giovanni ‘lite’, with artificial banter and a lot of proficient but faceless singing.

[@jaykauffman4775]

Certainly right about the scenery. In one of my favorite productions just about the only scenery is a bed!!!!!

[@ChristopherW-u6o]

Great review: love your enthusiasm,

[@fjblanco]

For me it’s been a toss up between Ostman/Drottingholm, Mackerras/Scottish Chamber and Gardiner…. Gardiner has that dramatic edge the others don’t. Excellent review. Please do Cosi!!!

[@67Parsifal]

The JEG series of Mozart operas is very strong, isn’t it? He even manages to make Idomeneo interesting, which I didn’t think was possible.

[@francoisjoubert6867]

Oh Dave - you have upset all the Schwarzkopf people! I imprinted on the Giulini and it is still one of my favorite recordings.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Schwarzkopf people are always upset about something.

[@Warp75]

@@DavesClassicalGuideHahahaha yeah those opera nuts really are nuts

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Well it doesn’t help that their darling was an overrated Nazi 🙃

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

@@DavesClassicalGuide😂

[@bbailey7818]

If Cancrizans were limiting me to only one Don Giovanni forever I'd unhesitatingly choose the Giulini EMI out of the twenty plus I own.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I wouldn't disagree with you there.

[@misterflamingo]

Really enjoyed it. He does do a really good job with the Orchestra and the colors are amazing! Also found the singers to indeed be "engaged" in the action and putting in some decent acting work. I still have a soft spot for Sciutti as Zerlina and Wächter as the Don from the Giulini version but the Orchestra and the acting of Gardiner's recording gets me :)

[@woomichen1378]

The Gardiner Figaro was also on DVD. Not sure if this recording was filmed. That Figaro, filmed in Paris and out on CDs, was awesome to watch.

[@stevecook8934]

It was filmed. Semi-staged in the Concertgebouw.

[@lauterunvollkommenheit4344]

I don't know about a DVD. The Concertgebouw video is of a different performance. The CDs in question were recorded at the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele.

[@kedemberger8773]

You can find the semi-staged Concertgebouw video on youtube. Pretty easily. The best staged dinner scene ever IMO. The CD performance was recorded live further along the tour, in Ludwigsburg.

[@jackwern8685]

I bought the Archiv box of the complete Mozart operas conducted by Gardiner, 18 discs for £34! Truly terrific recordings.

[@BaarnVictor]

I agree. Other good recordings are Davis and Giulini. Gardiner dropped a bit in my estimation when I heard Östman's Don Giovanni. Gardiner is a copy of that recording. That Ostman recording is also definitely recommended.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Gardiner has more orchestral heft and drama than Ostman.

[@BaarnVictor]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I agree.

[@peterdragon2822]

I find this recording to be too zippy. Let me just mention Giulini, Böhm and Maazel (The Movie-Soundtrack). And yes, there are a bunch of great recordings.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Nah!