What is the best recording (CD ) of The Marriage of Figgaro?

Answer 1

commercially/studio recordings you have basically 3 nearly perfect recordings Solti, Von Karajan and the Levine ... I give the slight edge to the Von Karajan ... also if you are on a budget the recording on the Gala label (actually slightly better than the studio recordings of an older live performance) has legendary performers in some of their best performances .... the problem is you don't have the clarity of the studio performances and some audience noises as well

ah yes the Guilini superb recording also!!!! (knew I forgot one)

EDIT 2 there is a certain clarity, transparency in the original instrument recordings that is not evident on the "modern" instruments recordings many find that more rewarding others prefer the familiar

Answer 2

Try to find a copy of the old Vittorio Gui performance on EMI with a Glyndbourne cast. Fairly elderly, but still sounds good and a fantastic performance. The performance issued in 2006 by Rene Jacobs on Harmonia Mundi won many prizes. The 30 year old recording by Colin Davis is also excellent and can be obtained, in some countries, very cheaply as part of a box of all his recordings of the Da Ponte operas.

Answer 3

Before performances on authentic period instruments inadvertently get left out in the cold:

Arnold Ostman and the Drottningholm Court Theatre Orchestra & Chorus (the link leads to a remarkable box set of the 3 DaPonte operas and Zauberflöte for veritable peanuts in cost):
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5402568&style=classical

Answer 4

I'm a fan of the Karl Bohm recording with the Berlin Opera.

Answer 5

Some great suggestions... Also look at the Giulini recording with Gusseppi Taddei, and Anna Moffo. My voice teacher recomended it for research when I was learning the role.