2. Cinque... dieci... venti - Raimondi & Battle (Le nozze di Figaro Met'85)

See the playlist for this performance
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3BAB77289B0C9B7F

Date: 14 December 1985
Venue: Metropolitan Opera, New York
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte

Conductor: James Levine

Production: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Figaro: Ruggero Raimondi
Susanna: Kathleen Battle
Count Almaviva: Thomas Allen
Countess Almaviva: Carol Vaness
Cherubino: Frederica von Stade
Dr. Bartolo: Artur Korn
Marcellina: Jocelyne Taillon
Don Basilio: Michel Sénéchal
Antonio: James Courtney
Barbarina: Dawn Upshaw
Don Curzio: Anthony Laciura

Category:

Music

Tags:

• le
• nozze
• di
• figaro
• opera
• mozart
• met
• kathleen
• battle
• ruggero
• raimondi
• cinque
• dieci
• venti
• suanna
• soprano
• marriage
• metropolitan
• james
• levine
• opening
• duet
• scene

[vstasov]

Kathleen Battle was superb in this production! Looked gorgeous and sang beautifully. I'm so happy you uploaded this - thank you so much antmusique!

[antmusique]

You are welcome! It's a wonderful performance, so I was very happy to post it.

It's great to look around YouTube and look at all the different productions of this opera (I'm very partial to the one posted by scordeteyla!).

[Musikkristin]

This video is like a Christmas present to me, Ruggero Raimondi as Figaro - grandios. I love him as Count, never saw or heard him as Figaro.

Thank so much, he's wonderful as usual.

[antmusique]

You're welcome! I usually associate him with nobility-type characters, so it was strange at first to see him as Figaro.

[nclysander]

I've seen Raimondi's "Aprite" from this production on YouTube before, as well as his "Vedro" under Abbado, and judging from those I actually prefer him as Figaro. He is quite good in this clip. Battle, too, is young, fresh, and beautiful. Additionally, this may be some of the best acting I've seen her do.

The Ponnelle production is beautiful!

[hungup74]

BRAVISSIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII FAVOLOSIIIIII

[suzannasaw]

The only way to buy this at the metshop is in a $249 box set. Anyone know if there is a plan to offer it alone?

[AmericanEvita]

I love James Levine's energetic, gleaming pace of the score. It's really among the finest I've heard, right along with Giulini, Karajan and Bohm. Carol Vaness makes a beautiful Countess not only physically but with a strong, darkly beautiful and richly expressive voice. Thomas Allen's Count is excellent. Kathy Battle as Susanna is nothing special. Compare her to Mirella Freni's Susanna, Freni was always in character and more "alive". Kathy is mediocre here.

[carrotjuse]

Kathleen Battle is so lovely! What a voice. It's a shame that a crippling personality disorder severely damaged her career. I wish I could have seen her perform in an opera house. At least we have a few videos of her performances. Thank you for posting.

[grp1635]

According to the Met Opera Shop, this will be released on DVD in September.

[ElisabettaVS]

@GosfordAbercrombie Indeed, she is! I love her as Susanna!

[ElisabettaVS]

@blichilde Hihi, although I agree on the moustache (although - it is Raimondi, I guess not even a moustache could lower my affection) and I think he's absolutely wonderful! I love this production of Le Nozze.

[Kjevois]

"Cinque... dieci... venti..." Waow, the best opera of all time begins with a single count.

Thank you Mr Mozart !!!

[GosfordAbercrombie]

ugh! battle is mesmerizing!!!!

[clarksc1988]

I love the word Raimondi makes up at 1:10. Goes to show you everyone flubbs the words!