Mozart, Wolfgang: La Clemenza di Tito

La Clemenza di Tito by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Cast: Werner Krenn, Teresa Berganza, Lucia Popp, Brigitte Fassbaender, Maria Casula and Tugomir Franc, with the Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Istvan Kertesz
Libretto by Pietro Metastasio and Caterino Mazzola
Label: Decca
Catalogue number: MET 357
Country of Issue: UK
Date: 1968
Mono
Format: LP Boxed Set (3 discs plus booklet)
Label design: Decca style 2 stereo label, lilac
Discs: Near Mint, unmarked
Outer box: Near Mint,  couple of scuffs on bottom edge
Inner sleeves: original, polylined, as new
Booklet: full size 28pp, perfect

This item appears as new throughout except as mentioned above. Acquired by us in 2007 as part of a large collection but never played since.

This opera,  Mozart's last,  was until recently relatively unpopular;  it was composed in a rush and while Mozart was in his last illness, and is said to be rather wooden in its stagecraft and characterisation,  but its music  deserves a place among Mozart's best operas; indeed it was the second most popular Mozart opera, behind Die Zauberflote, from its premiere in 1791until at least 1830. It is though that the idea for the opera was rather older,  as this style of opera seria was  greatly out of fashion by 1791. This recording features a number of world-class soloists and presents the opera at its best.