Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leonard Slatkin, Georg Fischer :: Mozart: Opera Arias

Grateful that we had Popp

08/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to especially comment upon Popp's rendition of Mozart's famous motet "Exsultate, jubilate." I was actually very MOVED -- I know the piece is in turn peacefully and innocently joyous, but I was really MOVED, almost to tears. Amazing. One hardly needs to listen to other recorded versions by all those chirpy light sopranos. Listen to Popp -- one graceful but far from aloof or condescending, agile and bright in timbre but also substantial.



There must be a heaven, since Popp is a more than first-rate angel. "Angel/angelic" are terms much abused, but here... one has to amaze at the absolute perfection in every turn of phrases, the taut legato lines, and beautifully placed notes with all the rounded shine of them. I tend to think that one should be grateful that we were given a Mozart, and today I have to say we ought also to be grateful for a Popp.



[To be sure, the orchestra accompaniment is rather old-fashioned, but that shouldn't distract the pleasure.]



As for other pieces, Popp doesn't necessarily enlighten as much in them, but her performance is never less than superb. Her sincerity and love for music are everwhere apparent. It's nice that Popp tackles the two donnas' arias from DON GIOVANNI. She's probably more of an Anna instead of an Elvira, whose aria taxes her somewhat on high and requires a deeper kind of sorrow. Still, all in all this is a great CD indeed, and no music lover should deprive him-/herself of this most treasurable and enjoyable experience."

We lost her far too soon........

Robert C. Hufford | Hopewell, VA USA | 08/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late soprano Lucia Popp was a real treasure in earthen vessel...she matured over the years from a coloratura to a lyrico-spinto, on several occasions singing different roles from those she had done earlier in the same operas. She NEVER failed to bring joy.........



Lucia was born to sing Mozart, and the great composer might well have written with her in mind. This release from at least two LPs is 77'24" of pure perfection. I'll only mention two examples...three cuts from "The Marriage of Figaro" show her in three different rolls, all done with beauty and style. The closing "Exsultate, jubilate" is as close as we're likely to get to Heaven's music this side of eternity.



Lucia was a pure delight, stolen from us by a brain tumor. She never failed to give us her all...grab this, and meet a truly great singer."

Lucia - we love you even IF you have imperfections!

Abel | Hong Kong | 02/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The liner notes of this remastered version of Mozart album from the late queen of lyrical sopranos Lucia Popp was written by Grammphone's top vocal critic Mr. John Steane.

Mr. Steane chose to point out the 'imperfections' of Lucia's singing.

First of all, he claimed that Lucia had a metallic edge that marrs a truly pure voice.

I don't know what standard of 'purity' is being aimed at. I myself are not that scared of 'edginess', if such do not surface at wrong places. Lucia's so-called edginess NEVER surfaced in any unbecoming manner. Yea, it was there, but, SO WHAT?

The voice is VERY beautiful, so beautiful that NO soprano today could ever come close - not Damrau, not Netrebko, no way Gheorghiu, no way Fleming.

So? Why complain? Why split hairs?

Music is made for enjoyment, not for crticism's sake. Give me a break!"