tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851616.post3161626867717083763..comments2023-09-12T11:16:57.372-04:00Comments on Likely Impossibilities: Die Zauberflöte: The best spirit in the worldMicaelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17424063023952527613noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851616.post-79354677656341108292010-11-04T22:02:23.179-04:002010-11-04T22:02:23.179-04:00You know Zerbinetta, my general experience with Mo...You know Zerbinetta, my general experience with Mozart in Vienna has been very similar to what you describe here. Spot "international" casting but generally high quality ensemble singing, reasonably coherent drama - within the confines of the production - and very good or better orchestral playing. Very different form other parts of the repertoire. A few years ago I saw a consistently high level Zauberflote even in the absence of any stars of even reasonably well know singers (I can't even remember any of the singers though I'm don't think any of them were at the level of a Kuhmeier or Youn - who happened to be, somewhat surprisingly, a very good Leporello a little bit earlier. By contrast, several day later I saw a Rosenkavalier with Garanca's ideal Octavian and a very good Marschallin from Debbie Voigt (?!?!?) surrounded by performances which I hesitate to complement by calling them mailed-in, uninspired conducting and sloppy orchestral playing. True, the production is about as old as the Met's (though I think its holding up better) but that antiquity hasn't prevented a much higher level of performance in a comparably aged Figaro. They just seem to get the Mozart right more often than other things - even a DRK. <br /><br /><br />Enjoy the RCO. It is a little early but they're always great and last year I heard Jansons conduct a superb Tchaik 4 - my favorite - with the BRSO at Carnegie.marcillachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890948953007381186noreply@blogger.com