Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Opera Arias & Overtures - Hi-Fi News

Sound Quality: 90%

I wonder how many SCO Players here were schooled in MOnzart when recording with Mackerras. Anyway, Argentine born composer/conductor Christian Baldini (40) makes his Linn debut with six Mozart overtures. Besides the obvious choices - Cosí Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze Di Figaro - we also have Idomeneo, La Finta Giardiniera and La Clemenza Di Tito. Each is followed by recitatives / arias sung by BBC Cardiff winner, soprano Elizabeth Watts. Her particular skill here is that she sounds as immersed as if in context of an ensemble performance, whilst the voice is centred and not too forward. Listen to the overtures in succession - there is marvellous wind articulation in the rapid Figaro! - and you find Baldini brings out their unique characters in an exemplary way. Linn provides comprehensive texts for this Usher Hall, Edinburgh production.