Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro / Cotrubas, Pritchard

Knut Skram (Figaro), Ileana Cotrubas (Susanna), Kiri Te Kanawa (Countess Almaviva), Benjamin Luxon (Count Almaviva), Frederica von Stade (Cherubino), Marius Rintzler (Bartolo), Nucci Condo (Marcellina) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus, John Pritchard (conductor) & Peter Hall (director

Live Recording From The Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1973

Le nozze di Figaro, Mozart’s timeless opera buffa, is one of the greatest of all operatic masterpieces. It is based on Beaumarchais’ comedy Le Mariage de Figaro and tells the tale of the servant Figaro, who is about to marry the maid Susanna. Count Almaviva, keeping an eye on Susanna himself, tries to prevent this marriage with the help of Bartolo, the doctor, but is continually thwarted. This classic 1973 production by legendary director Peter Hall features a cast of renowned opera singers lead by Kiri Te Kanawa as the Countess, arguably her finest role and certainly the role that made her an international superstar. Knut Skram’s charming and charismatic take on the character of Figaro complements Ileana Cotrubas’ gentle Susanna, and also noteworthy is the outstanding performance by Frederica von Stade as Cherubino. It is doubtless thanks to the supreme conductorship of John Pritchard that excellent singers, who perform even in supporting roles, provide a well-rounded ensemble performance. Pritchard had been associated to the Glyndebourne theatre since 1947, and he gradually took over to continue Fritz Busch’s initial work as a Choirmaster and Assistant.

Price: $25.98