Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is a comedy whose dark undertones explore the blurred boundaries between dying feudalism and emerging Enlightenment. Herman Prey's Figaro is admirably sung in a firm baritone and aptly characterized. So too, is his antagonist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Count perpetually frustrated by the scheming wiles of Figaro and Susanna, here the perky Mirella Freni, who sings and acts like a dream. The Countess is creamy-voiced Kiri Te Kanawa, and the Cherubino, Maria Ewing, looks just like the horny, teenaged page she's supposed to be. The all-star leads are complemented by worthy supporting singers, the Vienna Philharmonic at the top of its form, and the experienced Mozartian, Karl Böhm conducting a stylishly fleet performance.
Hermann Prey
as Figaro
Mirella Freni
as Susanna
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
as Il Conte di Almaviva
Kiri Te Kanawa
as La Contessa di Almaviva
Maria Ewing
as Cherubino
Heather Begg
as Marcellina
Paolo Montarsolo
as Bartolo
John van Kesteren
as Basilio
Willy Caron
as Don Curzio
Hans Kraemmer
as Antonio
Janet Perry
as Barbarina
Karl Böhm
as Self - Conductor
