Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7070 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-04
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 143 minutes

Customer Reviews

Still the best
Karajan (also with Vickers as Florestan) is more exciting, and Halasz (Naxos) more eloquent, but dear old Klemperer beats his way through the mature version of Beethoven's only opera with a reassuring touch. Christa Ludwig is an inspirational Leonore, and a lower-register masterclass is offered by Walter Berry (Pizzaro), Franz Crass (Don Fernando) and the subterranean Gottlob Frick (Rocco). The recording to get, if you can find it, is Fricsay's DG account from the late 1950s: more Frick (as Rocco) plus a big, warm-hearted Leonore (Rysanek), a dry but heroic Florestan (Haefliger) and the best-available Pizzaro in the snarling Fischer-Dieskau. Without that, the Klemperer has to be No.1.

Completely unique
Klemperer appeared to have a unique understanding of Fidelio. There are more overtly dramatic performances but Klemperer's goes to the heart of things. The cast has an outstanding Leonore, Florestan and Rocco, with none of the others letting the side down. Just hear the snarl of the dungeon scene to see how the conductor brings out the orchestral colours.