Mozart: La finta giardiniera

Year: 2006
Genre: Opera
Cast and Crew: Il Podestà Don Achise: Rudolf Schasching, Sandrina: Eva Mei, Il Contino Belfiore: Christoph Strehl, Arminda: Isabel Rey, Il Cavalier Ramiro: Liliana Nikiteanu, Serpetta: Julia Kleiter, Nardo: Gabriel Bermúdez
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart   Wikipedia
Libretto: Giuseppe Petrosellini
Orchestra La Scintilla der Oper Zurich (on historical instruments)
Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Stage Director: Tobias Moretti
Video Director: Felix Breisach

Description:

While this opera is not in the same class as the later Mozart masterpieces, it is nevertheless very enjoyable. Apart from the less forceful voice of Liliana Nikiteanu in Act 1 (she warmed up later), the singing is very good, accompanied by the Zurich Opera Orchestra playing historical instruments and conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

In common with many operas the storyline is not very deep or involved but is performed here with gusto and affection. The costuming is attractively modern and the set very plain but this does not detract from appreciating the performance. The most amazing attribute to the work is that Mozart was only 18 when it was composed. Yet it is more sophisticated than many other operas and deserves better recognition that it is usually accorded. [Amazon UK - customer review]

Recorded live at the Zurich Opera House, Germany, 23 & 25 February 2006.

Production: UK | TDK
Runtime: 03:06:58