Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527: Overture - download (MP3 & FLAC)

The nine large-scale Concert Arias for Baritone and Orchestra by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart date for the most part from the composer’s last creative period.

Mozart’s operas are part of our cultural heritage. Everyone knows, more or less consciously, the most famous arias, which are even available as ringtones for mobile phones! Mozart can make us laugh, dream, ponder or weep, with the brilliance and variety of Homer or Shakespeare, and with emotions constantly on a knife-edge. From The Magic Flute to Don Giovanni, from arias to overtures, here is an ideal anthology of Mozart opera.

Naïve continues its collaboration with renowned conductor, Rinaldo Alessandrini, which sees him lead the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra in an exciting release featuring the overtures from Mozart’s greatest operas.

This is in fact Alessandrini’s first recording with an orchestra playing on modern instruments and resulted from Alessandrini’s position as Principal Guest conductor of the Norwegian National Opera that he’s held since 2005. He chose this repertoire as during his years in this position, it was the sublime music of Mozart that the Orchestra responded to best.

A virtuoso on the harpsichord, organ and fortepiano, and the founder and conductor of Concerto Italiano, Rinaldo Alessandrini is considered a major force in today’s international early music scene. He and his group have created new standards of excellence in the performance of 17th and 18th century Italian vocal music. Alessandrini’s desire to re-conquer the long-neglected madrigal repertory of the early seventeenth century led to the founding of the Concerto Italiano vocal ensemble. Norwegian National Opera Orchestra is one of Northern Europe’s oldest orchestras, dating back to 1827.

Kurt Sanderling has recently been featured on BBC Legends with his recording of Mahler Symphony No.9 (BBCL42322) which received excellent reviews.

The follow-up is Mahler Symphony No.4, which unlike Mahler Symphony No.9, has never been recorded by Sanderling either in the studio or in a broadcast recording. This is a new addition to his discography.

Soprano Felicity Lott is one of the most celebrated and loved singers today and this has been recognized on the packaging by making a double bill of both artists.

Superb stereo sound from the BBC Studios in Manchester.

Kurt Sanderling, who still lives in Berlin in his 90's, represents one of the great conductors of the past - he was joint conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra during Evegeny Mravinsky's sensational years and has since enjoyed a cult status in London, Salzburg, New York etc.