This compendium of Mozart arias, duets, and a trio, a couple of which have been released before (the two “Flute” arias, by Pape and Miklosa, come from the new, complete DG recording under Abbado), seems to have been built around the spectacular new superstar, Anna Netrebko. She sings on six of the 13 tracks. Her Susanna is unaffected but sensual, and the aria is taken at a no-nonsense pace by Abbado. Netrebko expresses the rage in the recitative with teeth-gritting power before Elettra’s final rage-aria from Idomeneo, although the aria itself is a bit large for her. She sings it with real passion, though, missing only the true hysteria of the upward and downward staccato scales near the aria’s end.
Very effective is the first-act Anna/Ottavio duet from Don Giovanni with tenor Christian Strehl (Abbado’s terrific Tamino), with both singers giving their all. “La ci darem” with baritone Thomas Quasthoff is alluring; a little duet from Clemenza, with mezzo Elina Garanca (who also sings a fine “Parto, parto” from the same opera) is lovely; and “Zeffiretti lusinghieri” is as smooth as silk. Quasthoff offers a fine Papageno and Leporello, while Bryn Terfel’s rendition of the Count’s aria from Figaro is big and broad. Terfel, soprano Miah Persson, and mezzo Christine Rice end the CD with an enchanting “Soave sia il vento” trio from Cosi led by Charles Mackerras. This is a fine entry for the end of the Mozart year.
