Così fan tutte

Karl Böhm, Conductor

Anton Dermota, Erich Kunz, Lisa Della Casa, Christa Ludwig, Paul Schoeffler, Emmy Loose
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte

This recording was my first Così fan tutte, and when I listened to it I was a little apprehensive since the plot synopsis sounded so ridiculous. But I fell in love with the opera immediately. This recording has so much life in it that it's impossible to resist.

Anton Dermota's Ferrando is breathtaking but woefully underrepresented. Where is "Tradito, schernito?" What were they thinking?! And while I'm at it, "Ah, lo veggio" would have been great too, although I realize that's often left out. But nobody sings "Un'aura amorosa" like this. And remind me not to listen to his "Fra gli amplessi" in public. I usually start to visibly melt into a puddle.

Erich Kunz is a great Guglielmo, very lively and sincere. "Donne mie" is great. So is "Il core vi dono." His voice in the latter is very coaxing and seductive, but retains a hint of playfulness, which I like.

Lisa della Casa's Fiordiligi is wonderful - maybe not the absolute best recording of this role, but right up there. "Per pietà, ben mio, perdona" is beautiful and anguished; and Dermota isn't the only reason "Fra gli amplessi" is great. The two of them really connect here.

Christa Ludwig makes a great Dorabella although she, too, is underrepresented - "Amore è un ladroncello" is cut. (She reprises the role on Böhm's 1962 recording, which is more complete and also excellent.)

Emmy Loose is everything a Despina should be - pert, funny, and beautifully voiced. I particularly liked her as a notary - her disguise scenes are maybe just a little too nasal for true musicality, but it's hilarious so you don't really mind.

I've mentioned it already, but this recording is frustratingly incomplete. Böhm, what were you thinking? I know some people think this opera drags out, but it's not necessary to butcher it. (OK, I admit I'm extra-sulky because we've missed out on a "Tradito, schernito" from Dermota.) And I'll even give him the cut pieces - but since when is it OK to play cut and paste within an aria? The "sospirar" exchange is missing from the end of "Fra gli amplessi!" That's one of my favorite moments! There's a whole section of "Donne mie, la fate a tanti" missing too, doing Erich Kunz's great performance a disservice. Other stuff has probably been cut too, I just haven't noticed yet. (Cue woeful lament.)

Despite the cuts, this recording draws together amazingly as a whole. It's a gripping performance, all the more surprisingly since it's not live. The sound's actually really good, particularly for something recorded in 1955.

If you see this around for a decent price, get it. Amazon.com has it listed as an import - I'm not sure if they can actually get it for you or not, it might be one of those deals where you wait three weeks and then they cancel your order. But I found my copy easily enough on eBay, and it's not expensive - one of those "Double Decca" sets with no libretto and no frills, just 2 CDs. (If you need a libretto you can also pick up Böhm's 1962 set, available in the Great Recordings of the Century series.)

Originally Reviewed:

23-Aug-03