Sony BMG, 2007
“My personal pick for giving this year is the Classical Opera Company’s glorious The A-Z of Mozart Opera, which is fresh, diverse, insightful and illuminating (everything that such recital anthologies usually fail to be).” Gramophone
Classical Opera’s début CD, ‘The A-Z of Mozart Opera’, was selected for Gramophone magazine’s annual Critic’s Choice in 2007. Based on the coincidence that Mozart’s first opera (Apollo et Hyacinthus) begins with ‘A’ and his last (Die Zauberflöte) with ‘Z’, this disc takes the listener on a chronological journey through Mozart’s operatic canon, featuring an aria or ensemble from fifteen of his operas.
The outstanding cast features acclaimed British artists Susan Gritton, Mark Stone and Matthew Rose, Swedish soprano Klara Ek, Dutch mezzo soprano Cora Burggraaf and five of Classical Opera’s former Associate Artists – sopranos Rebecca Bottone, Martene Grimson and Anna Leese and tenors Allan Clayton and Andrew Staples. The recording was devised and conducted by Ian Page.
“… uniformly superb interpretations… an auspicious début recording of intelligence, finesse and quality.” Gramophone
Track Listing
- “Natus cadit, atque Deus” from Apollo et Hyacinthus
- “Amoretti, che ascosi qui siete” from La finta semplice
- “Diggi, daggi, schurry, murry” from Bastien und Bastienne
- “Se viver non degg’io” (original version) from Mitridate, re di Ponto
- “Fra i pensier più funesti” from Lucio Silla
- “Geme la tortorella” from La finta giardiniera
- “Viva l’invitto duce” from Il re pastore
- “Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben” from Zaide
- “Parti, te lo commando… Andrò ramingo e solo” from Idomeneo
- “Konstanze… O wie ängstlich, o wie feurig” from Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- “Bravo signor padrone… Se vuol ballare, signor Contino” from Le nozze di Figaro
- “Deh vieni alla finestra” from Don Giovanni
- “Non v’è più tempo, amici… Di scrivermi ogni giorno” from Così fan tutte
- “Ah, perdona al primo affetto” from La clemenza di Tito
- “Hm! hm! hm! hm!” from Die Zauberflöte
Running time 67’47
