Die Zauberflate (The Magic Flute) Highlights

Since the release of Claudio Abbado's first recording of Mozart's Magic Flute in April of 2006, the international press has been in raptures over the magnificence of the performance.

Now, on one single CD, all of the greatest moments from Mozart's wonderful opera are gathered together. The excellent young cast under Claudio Abbado conducting the Mahler Chamber Orchestra includes René Pape as Sarastro, Christoph Strehl as Tamino, Dorothea Röschmann as Pamina and Hanno Müller-Brachmann as Papageno. The queen of the night is interpreted by the excellent Hungarian singer Erika Miklósa.

'This is certainly the most desirable version using modern instruments to appear since Solti's second recording in 1990....Abbado assembled (a cast) predominantly chosen from a youngish generation of German-speaking singers, each of whom approaches his or her role with fresh sound and interprets it in impeccably Mozartian style. The Tamino and Pamina are well nigh faultless. Tamino has been taken by many outstanding tenors on disc but Christoph Strehl, a name new to me but already in great demand in Mozart on the Continent, sings with a Wunderlich-like strength and beauty, and rather more light and shade than his famous predecessor brought to the role....He is partnered by Dorothea Röschmann, who has already appeared as Pamina at Covent Garden, and in many other houses. Her full-throated, positive singing, finely shaped, cleanly articulated, is a true match for Strehl's. Hanno Müller-Brachmann is a properly lively and amusing Papageno, and delivers the role in a richer bass-baritone than many interpreters provide.....The Hungarian coloratura Erika Miklósa has been making a speciality of Queen of Night over the past few years and shows just why in a technically secure and fiery account of her two arias. René Pape sings Sarastro: now at the peak of his career, he conveys all the role's gravity and dignity in a gloriously sung performance.' Gramophone