Both of these performances have been available in one form or another since 1956 (Figaro) and 1953 (Bastien). Neither is necessary for most collections. Oddly, Böhm’s take on Figaro is stuffy and joyless; his later recording for DG shows great improvement. It isn’t just the tempos, which are slow and slower; it’s a general outlook of weightiness. This reflects on his cast.
Susanna is wonderfully sung by Rita Streich and is matched by Walter Berry’s Figaro, but there’s no wit, no give-and-take. Sena Jurinac’s Countess is gorgeous, with a knock-down “Dove sono”, but also a truly turgid “Porgi amor” that her singing can’t revive. Paul Schöffler’s Count sounds old and woolly (he was 59 when this was recorded; the other cast members were in their 20s and early 30s) and he works very hard just to hit the notes. Christa Ludwig’s Cherubino lacks daring. Very odd indeed–there’s such good singing from almost everyone (including minor parts), but it’s a performance that’s dead in the water. Sound is mono and flat but clean.
Bastien…, a Singspiel from a 12-year-old Mozart, is hardly a masterwork, but it gets a perky reading from Berry, Ilse Hollweg, and Waldemar Kmentt under John Pritchard. The dialogue has been pared down enough to make the work a tolerable 40 minutes, and Berry in particular sings his lines with involvement. Sound is boxy but okay. Never mind.
