The age of miracles has not yet passed. After centuries of revolutions and wars and genocides, it is still possible for love and laughter to be prized and praised. And the proof is this recording of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Claudio Abbado directing the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, and a cast of mostly young and entirely dedicated singing actors. Certainly the greatest living conductor -- who else is equally excellent in Mozart, Mahler, and Ligeti? -- Abbado leads a performance at once wholly ...
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The age of miracles has not yet passed. After centuries of revolutions and wars and genocides, it is still possible for love and laughter to be prized and praised. And the proof is this recording of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Claudio Abbado directing the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, and a cast of mostly young and entirely dedicated singing actors. Certainly the greatest living conductor -- who else is equally excellent in Mozart, Mahler, and Ligeti? -- Abbado leads a performance at once wholly fresh and beautifully polished, a performance of wonderful wit and tremendous depth, a performance so full of heart and soul and spirit that it makes one joyous just to hear it. Name for name, except for incomparable René Pape as Sarastro, the cast might not be the greatest ever assembled, but the energy and enthusiasm more than compensates for the lack of star power. Just as impressive is the playing of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. It is technically as fine as the best orchestras,...
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