Otter is astunner with real energy (she's more to make him stretch unappealingly. This is not arrogant than mischievous in "prendero quel alikeable set, for all its strengths. brunettino"). Szmytka is the perfect co-con- Cosi has always caused trouble. Even if we spirator to van Dam. The recording is atmos- take for granted that mate-swapping was all the pheric, the continuo clever but unobtrusive. operatic rage in 18th-century Vienna (in 1770 Both love duets are sexy and meaningful. We an by Haydn on the subject appeared; in know these characters by the end, and we like 1785, one by Salieri), and that it was rumored them. This is apearl of aset. that the Emperor himself chose the subject, Ican't say anything even close to that about this work is special. Mozart found the libretto the new Barenboim Cosi. His tempi and dynam- "frivolous and degrading" (although he ic approach are so erratic that it seems as if he's approved of the opera's subtitle: "The School dealing with the opera number by number for Lovers"), and Beethoven was so shocked rather than as awhole. The "Sento, o Dio" by its immorality that he composed Fidelio, a quintet is perversely slow, while Dorabella's poem to conjugal love and fidelity, as an anti- "Smanie implacabili" is breakneck fast. Occa- dote. The music was presented for years (up to sionally recitatives are so lethargic that all real- 1909 in Dresden!) with different, less offensive ity goes out the window, and both finales stop libretti, and it was the last of Mozart's great and start incomprehensibly. works to gain popularity in this century. (Its The real successes are Bartoli and Kurt Streit: ambiguity and immorality were apparently too she alert to the text and pleasing to the ear, he disturbing for the 19th.) But as usual with graceful yet manly. Cuberli is too light, vocally, Mozart, as Ferrucio Busoni as written, "Togeth- for Fiordiligi. Rodgers and Tomlinson are im- er with the puzzle, he gives you the solution," pressive at times; more often, they're forget- and in this enlightened, more permissive time, table. Furlanetto is miscast as Guglielmo. He's there's nothing to stop us from getting every- abass and the role is composed high enough thing out of Cos/ that it has to give.

This is alist of available recordings all tip. (soprano), Dorabella (mezzo-soprano), Des- CDs each and all discussed above. Singers pina (soprano), Ferrando (tenor), Guglielmo are listed in thefollowing order: Fiordiligi (hass-), Don Alfonso (bass-baritone).

Fritz Busch conducts; Ina Souez, Luise Hellets- Riccardo Mud conducts; Margaret Marshall, Agnes grubethene Eisinger. Heddle Nash, Willi Domgrof- Baltsa, Kathleen Battle, Francisco Araiza, James Fassbaender, John Brownlee; Glyndebourne Fes- Morris, José van Dam; Vienna Philharmonic, tival Orchestra & Chorus Chorus Pearl GEMM CDS 9406. AAD, mona (1935) Angel CMS 769580 2. DDD. (1982) EMI CDHB-63864 Arnold tfistman conducts; Rachel Yalcaz Alicia Nafé, conducts; Elisabeth Schwarz- Georgine Resick, GiiNt2 Winbergh, Tom Krause, kopf, Nan Merriman, Lisa Otto, Leopold Simone-au, Carlos Feller; Orchestra & Chorus of the Drawling- Rolando Panerai. Sesto Bruscantini; Philharmonia holm Court Theatre Orchestra & Chorus L'Oiseau -Lyre 414 316-2. DDD. (1984) Angel CDHC-69635. ADD, mono. (1954) Bernard /Wank conducts; Carol Vaness, Delores Karl B8hm conducts; , Ziegler, Lillian Watson, John Ater, Dale Duesing, Christs Ludwig, Hanny Steffek, Alfredo Kraus, Giuseppe Taddei, Walter Berry; Philharmonia ; London Philharmonic Orches- tra, Glyndebourne Chorus Orchestra & Chorus Angel CDS 747727 8. DDD. (1986) Angel CDMC-69330. ADD. (1962) Erich Leinsdorf conducts; Leontync Price, Tanana conducts; Kin ite Kanawa, Anne Mur- Troyanos, Judith Raskin, George Shirley, Sherrill ray, Marie McLaughlin, Hans Peter Blochwitz, Milnes, Ezto Flagello; New Philharmonia Orches- . Ferruccio Furlanctto; Vienna tra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Chorus RCA 6677-2-RG. ADD. (1967) DG 423 897-2. DDD. (1988) Sir Georg Sold conducts; Pilar Lorengar, lèresa Ber. Sir conducts; Karita Manila, Anne gansa. Jane Berbié, Ryland Davies, Tom Krause, Sotie von Otter. Elzbieta Szmytka, Francisco Araiza, ; London Philharmonic Orthcstra, Thomas Allen, Jose van D2111; Academy of St. Mar- Chorus of the Rusai Opera House, Covent Garden tin in the Fields London 430 101-2. ADD. (1973) Philips 422 381-2. DDD. (1988-89) Sir conducts; Montserrat Caballé. Janet conducts; Leila Cuberli, Cecilia Baker, Deana Cotrubas, Nicolai Gedda, %Vladimir° Bartolijoan Rodgers, Kurt Streit, Ferrucio Furlan- Ganzorolli, Richard Van Allan; Orchestra & Cho- etto, John Tomlinson; Berlin Philharmonic, RIAS rus of House, Covent Garden Kammerchor Philips 416 633-2. ADD. (1974) Erato 2292-45475-2. DOD. (1989)

Stereophile, August 1991 181