Haydn: La Fedelta Premiata

Haydn's operas are a revelation! I wish opera houses would perform them more often and stop producing useless contemporary works. His music is as beautiful as Mozart's and if the arias are not equally memorable, I believe it has to do with Mozart's operas never loosing popularity. Philips has done a marvellous job recording these jewels and special praise must be given to Antal Dorati, the conductor of the Eszterhaza opera cycle. La Fedelta Premiata (fidelity rewarded) was my first acquaintance with his operas, the reason merely being the well-known cast assembled for this recording. The ladies, Valentini Terrani, Von Stade and Cotrubas are all in wonderful form and their honeyed tones blend in magnificently. The veteran Luigi Alva still had so much to offer in 1975 when this set was recorded and Tonny Landy and Maurizio Mazzieri make the best out of their superb arias.

Price: $74.98