Mozart: Idomeneo / Jacobs

Richard Croft, tenor (Idomeneo); Bernarda Fink, mezzosoprano (Idamante); Sunhae Im, soprano(Ilia); Alexandrina Pendatchanska, soprano (Elettra); Keneth Tarver, tenor (Arbace); Nicolas Rivenq, baritone (Gran Sacerdote) & Luca Tittoto, bass (La Voce) with the RIAS Kammerchor & Freiburger Barockorchester, conducted by René Jacobs

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Idomeneo

Gramophone Editor's Choice - August 2009
A new recording of Mozart's most famous Opera Seria!
Rene Jacobs has spent years prefecting his craft with baroque music, especially the choral works of J.S. Bach, with the Freiburger Barockorchester. In recent years he has turned his focus to Mozart, releasing a wonderful recording of the Prague and Jupiter Symphonies, and first rate recordings of Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, and La Clemenza di Tito. This new recording of Idomeneo shows the perfect meld of Jacobs and Mozart as it is Mozart's most 'Baroque' opera. Influenced heavily by Glück while writing it, Mozart made Idomeneo his own version of 'reform opera'. The result is show here in all its glory. The singers are headlined by Tenor Richard Croft, who sings Idoemeo with effortless beauty, and Bernarda Fink, who takes on the trouser role of Idamante with her dark mezzo voice. The Freiburger Barockorchester and the RIAS Kammerchor are in solid form and provide a strong musical foundation for the soloists. On top of all this, the packaging of this set is phenomenal. Within the box are the 3 CDs of the opera, a 45 minute DVD on the making of this production, and a full libretto and appendix catalogue. The is set defines the term 'deluxe box set' and is a must have for any opera fan!
The most famous of Mozart’s opere serie has also been the most controversial not in his lifetime, but in the 20th century! Many commentators of that period saw it only as the final metamorphosis of an outdated genre, whereas, on the contrary, the young Mozart threw himself into the work with true creative fury. But that injustice has now been overcome, as is demonstrated here: after a series of distinguished Mozart operatic recordings, notably La clemenza di Tito, René Jacobs has shown he has all the requisite vigour to perform this dazzling composition, given here in the absolutely complete text Mozart intended for its premiere in Munich on 29 January 1781.

Price: $46.98