Recommended Recordings
Compiled by Peter Russell
The two classic audio recordings both date from the 1950's: the DECCA version conducted by Josef Krips, featuring the incomparable Cesare Siepi in the title role, and the EMI rendering conducted by Carlo Maria Giulini. Both recordings are superbly well-conducted, and boast casts that are generally more uniform in quality than their rivals. Of the more recent complete recordings, the one conducted by Sir Georg Solti in the 1990's includes strong contributions from the maestro, as well as from Renée Fleming as Donna Anna and Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel in the title role. Currently out of print, there is also a vivid Deutsche Grammophon recording based on live performances at the 1977 Salzburg Festival that is worth seeking out for the late Karl Böhm's leadership of the Vienna Philharmonic, and an excellent cast led by Sherrill Milnes as the Don.
Among available DVD's of the complete opera, I find that none of them are truly definitive. The commercial film directed by in 1978 by Joseph Losey is often interesting dramatically and visually striking, if occasionally quirky. Stand-outs in the cast are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as a physically and vocally arresting Donna Elvira, José van Dam's personable, smoothly sung Leporello, and the Donna Anna of Edda Moser, the timbre of whose voice can best be described as intensely neurotic (and therefore ideal for her role).
Other options include a lovingly restored print on Deutsche Grammophon of another commercial film that is now an historic relic, dating to the 1954 Salzburg Festival. Conducted by the great Wilhelm Furtwängler, this Paul Czinner/Herbert Graf production showcases a legendary cast, most of whom sing superbly. Unfortunately, only Cesare Siepi in the title role looks, acts and moves in a manner that seems as valid in the 21st century as it did nearly half a century ago, and the overall blocking and physical production now seem as dated as the general acting method of the principals.
The 1991 Salzburg production featuring Samuel Ramey as the Don is ponderously conducted, as well as lifelessly conducted, by the late Herbert von Karajan, and features a cast of worthy principals who have done better work elsewhere. Italian director Giorgio Strehler was one of the great theatrical geniuses of the last century. But his 1989 La Scala production is busily over-directed, and conducted too frenetically by Riccardo Muti. Once again, a cast that looks promising on paper turns out to be hamstrung by the combined efforts of their team of conductor and director control-freaks.
Note: Concerning these recommendations for audio and video recordings, especially regarding audio recordings, it is critical to bear in mind that recordings go in and out of print constantly. If a recording is described herein as ?currently out of print,? it may again be available within the coming year, so it is always worthwhile to seek things out.
