Mozart Le nozze di Figaro opera to libretto by Lorenza da Ponte. Directed 2014 by Felix Breisach at the Theater an der Wien. Stars Bo Skovhus (Conte di Almaviva); Christine Schäfer (Contessa di Almaviva); Mari Eriksmoen (Susanna); Andrè Schuen (Figaro); Elisabeth Kulman (Cherubino); Ildikó Raimondi (Marcellina); Peter Kálmán (Bartolo/Antonio); Mauro Peter (Basilio/Don Curzio); and Christina Gansch (Barbarina). Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducts the Concentus Musicus Wien and the Arnold Schoenberg Chor (Chorus Master Erwin Ortner). Staging and costumes by Doris Maria Aigner; scenic arrangement by Felix Breisach. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in Italian. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D
This video was made 6 years ago—a bad sign. There’s no director because this is an un-staged concert production of the opera. The package does credit Felix Breisach for “scenic arrangement.” That means, I think, that everyone asked Breisach from time to time, “Where should I stand for this number?” There is a stage and costume designer credited. This means, I think, that the singers may wear clothes that vaguely suggest something about their character without looking ridiculous, and there may be a few simple props. Is there some rather shameless puffing going on here? Well, maybe not. This is being touted as something really special as part of a definitive presentation by Harnoncourt of concert versions of all three Mozart/De Ponte operas. And this is offered at a premium price! So maybe there are specialist fans and music professionals who would benefit from this.
I’m doubtful. However, it’s a fact that the best live opera presentation I’ve ever seen was a concert version. I guess this means I would rather see a great concert version of “The Fat Lady Sings” than an average staged version of that great work. Maybe I should exclude this as our goal is to focus on the best of the best. But I relent. I’m giving this a D, which means avoid this unless you have a special reason to want it, say, for example, as a specialist fan or music professional who just has to know what Harnoncourt is up to.
Here’s a trailer from C Major that shows you how different this looks from an actual production of an opera:
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