Mozart: Don Giovanni (CD, Mar-1995, RCA)

This "Don Giovanni" is so far superior to so many more famous (and more expensive) sets that it's hard to know where to start. Kubelik was a great Mozartean, who combined a modern orchestral sound and sensibility with an absolute grasp of Mozart's intention and style; though tempi may sometimes be a bit broad, they're always graceful, and articulation and ensemble within them is unfailingly right. The approach is great for this work, which benefits from the sweep of the overall vision as well as the moment-to-moment felicities. First among an excellent cast is Rolando Panerai, invaluable artist, whose Leporello is the absolute reference for this role, full stop. He captures every nuance, and sounds good, too. Alan Titus is vocally not the most glamorous of Dons, but he commands the role's vacillations between suavity and brutality. After a somewhat rough Serenade, he grows and grows in stature to a truly terrifying final scene, in which he demonstrates why Don Giovanni truly is the hero of the work--you actually find yourself rooting for him as he resists the Statue's demands for repentance. Julia Varady is a very strong Donna Anna, Edith Mathis a delicious Zerlina. Arleen Auger as Elvira and Thomas Moser as Ottavio each has good and bad moments; their best moments are exquisite, and you've heard worse than their bad ones. The recorded sound is not of the best quality, but the performance is one of the most exciting and vital in the discography. Grab this, you won't regret it!