Negative Positive
Title: Greatest music, though leaves out the dialogue.
Review: The Magic Flute is a singspiel, meaning that there is music of surpassing beauty with a long spoken dialogue. This performance was one of the last to keep the older tradition of recording just the music and leaving the speaking out. Fussy modern purists may reject it for that reason, but for me Klemperer's interpretation and the magnificent singing win out. I have listened to this very recording scores of times and have always found something new and inspiring with each hearing. Klemperer's tempos are just right -- not the too slow speeds he fell into, for example, in his Beethoven symphonies. This recording strikes just the right balance between the serious and the frivilous. It is a joy to listen to this outstanding opera performed with such energy and beauty.For those who MUST have the full dialogue, I recommend the performance by Mackerras on Teldec. For all others, you will find both depth and beauty in this version by Klemperer.
Is the review positive or negative? 