Le nozze di Figaro (Kleiber recording)

Le nozze di Figaro
Studio album by Erich Kleiber
Released	1955
Studio	Redoutensaal, Vienna
Genre	Opera
Length	172:28
Language	Italian
Label	Decca
Producer	Victor Olof, Peter Andry

Le nozze di Figaro is a 1955 studio recording of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera of the same name released by the Decca label with the Vienna Philharmonic and Choir of Vienna State Opera conducted by Erich Kleiber. The cast of singers include Lisa Della Casa as the Countess, Hilde Güden as Susanna, Suzanne Danco as Cherubino, Cesare Siepi as Figaro and Alfred Poell as the Count, as well as Hilde Rössel-Majdan, Fernando Corena and Murray Dickie.

The recording was released in 1955 and received critical acclaim for its conducting, singing and orchestra playing. Critics noted the immersive drama of the performance, the beauty, elegance, and unvarnished nature of the singing, the balance, cohesion, and blend of the parts, the high quality of the recording sound, and the conductor's mastery of the work. Hilde Güden garnered particular praise for her performance, while music critics viewed the recording as a sincere representation of Mozart's music. The opera recording was unusual for its playful, punchy, and lively tone, elements of dramatic acting, and inclusion of all the recitatives. The recording is now considered a classic of the gramophone and has been ranked among the top classical music recordings. In 1999, Decca rereleased the recording as part of its Legends – Legendary Performances series.