{"id":34085,"date":"2019-05-01T06:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-01T10:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/operawire.wpengine.com\/?p=34085"},"modified":"2019-09-03T23:57:43","modified_gmt":"2019-09-04T03:57:43","slug":"operawires-favorite-le-nozze-di-figaro-recordings-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/operawire.com\/operawires-favorite-le-nozze-di-figaro-recordings-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"OperaWire’s Favorite ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ Recordings Of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 1, 1786.<\/p>\n

That is the day that, for many, the greatest opera of all-time<\/a> had its very first performance.<\/p>\n

“Le Nozze di Figaro” has held the stage ever since, performed by all the great interpreters all over the world. The work has also developed a healthy discography over the ages both on audio and visual media, making it impossible not to experience the opera at its best in some form.<\/p>\n

In celebration of this special anniversary, some of the opera’s devotees here at OperaWire have put together our personal favorite recordings of the opera.<\/p>\n

We encourage our readers to add their own thoughts and favorite recordings and interpreters of the work in the comments below.<\/p>\n

John Carroll<\/h3>\n

Georg Solti’s 1981 recording<\/a> was given to me by my best friend as I moved far away for grad school in 1985. I treasure this 4-LP boxed set (quite a splurge for a college student’s budget).<\/p>\n

It was the first digital recording of the work and the clear, plush sound holds up well. The cast was top drawer at the time, and is utterly iconic in hindsight: Te Kanawa, Popp, von Stade, Ramey, and Allen, with a supporting cast of names that are luxury casting, including a young Yvonne Kenny as Barbarina.<\/p>\n

All come together under Solti’s lively, elegant leadership, and Christopher Raeburn’s exquisite production to capture much of what makes this the best opera yet written.<\/p>\n