Though I prefer the Krips recording of Don Giovanni, I consider this one of the greatest renderings of the opera. Furtwangler's pace seems slow after recent recordings by Gardiner and other contemporary musicologist conductors, but the old German's sound remains incandescent, not quite as brilliant as his 1954 recording but close enough.
Maybe, Lisa della Casa seems a tad too feminine for the strong-willed Donna Elvira, but she is second only to Schwarzkopf in the role. She had a splendid voice, though I agree that she does seem a tad weak at the beginning. She was the most beautiful of opera divas of her time. She is simply beautiful on film.
Cesare Siepi made the role his personal property. Some recent singers such as Thomas Allen understand the miserable state of the character better than Siepi, but no one enjoyed playing him as much as did Siepi. Erna Berger may have been a tad into her fifties and her voice does seem small for this vital character. On key or off, Otto Edlemann's portrayal never feels exaggerated; he balances Siepi perfectly, though recent performers grasp the mirroring between the two characters better than those in this performance do. Anton Dermota had a splendid voice. No one can criticize Walter Berry.
Both performances are among the best recordings I have heard. I first saw this film when I was 12-years-old. I never lost the sense of enchantment and intrigue watching it gave me.
Maybe, Lisa della Casa seems a tad too feminine for the strong-willed Donna Elvira, but she is second only to Schwarzkopf in the role. She had a splendid voice, though I agree that she does seem a tad weak at the beginning. She was the most beautiful of opera divas of her time. She is simply beautiful on film.
Cesare Siepi made the role his personal property. Some recent singers such as Thomas Allen understand the miserable state of the character better than Siepi, but no one enjoyed playing him as much as did Siepi. Erna Berger may have been a tad into her fifties and her voice does seem small for this vital character. On key or off, Otto Edlemann's portrayal never feels exaggerated; he balances Siepi perfectly, though recent performers grasp the mirroring between the two characters better than those in this performance do. Anton Dermota had a splendid voice. No one can criticize Walter Berry.
Both performances are among the best recordings I have heard. I first saw this film when I was 12-years-old. I never lost the sense of enchantment and intrigue watching it gave me.