Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0074643458825 Label: Sony Manufacturer: Sony Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Sony Release Date: October 11, 1989 Sales Rank: 201961 Studio: Sony
Rating: - Buying Adriana in an uncertain economy
Dear frugal opera lover, I have bad news for you: you'll have to buy two Adrianas. You see, one Adriana has to be sung by Magda Olivero - almost certainly, there is a law against not having an Olivero recording of this role, since it was hers from the moment she first adopted it- and Olivero Adrianas only come in live recordings, which is almost never the best thing, and definitely not if the recording predates digital technology. So, whatever recording of Olivero is presently available will give you the best Adriana there ever was, and will likely be wanting in all other aspects.
I have a recording that doesn't seem to be listed on Amazon - perhaps it's out of print - as well as this one, with Renata Scotto. Scotto is very good, but she is absolutely no match for Olivero, not vocally (she loses control in her fortissimi, while Olivero's strike you with a force seldom encountered outside of the Wagner fach) ... Read More
Rating: - One of the finest opera recordings ever
Despite my loyalty to Olivero, Corelli and Bastianini in the live 1959 Naples recording - one of the greatest documents of its kind - I have to give this 1977 set pride of place. First, the sound is amazingly clear and atmospheric; secondly, Levines's direction is so sensitive and fluent, wholly responsive to the ebb and flow of this rip-roaring verismo classic; thirdly, the singers surpass themselves: Milnes creates a fully rounded, subtly sung Michonnet and really draws out the character's pathos; Domingo is heroic and nuanced, Scotto sublime in the depth of her characterisation and the delicacy of her quieter singing, Obratsova stupendously powerful and stirring as the jealous Princess - and even the supporting cast is flawless; especially good is the bass who sings the Prince, Giancarlo Luccardi, a singer unknown to me but who ought to be more famous. OK, the beat in Scotto's voice in louder, higher passages, ... Read More
Rating: - SIMPLY AWESOME
MY FIRST ADRIANA, AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER, AND THE MUSIC. MY RULE OF THUMB FOR VERISMO: IF THERE IS RECORDING WITH OLIVERO, BUY IT FIRST. BUY LIVE RATHER THAN STUDIO. COMPARE FOR EXAMPLE HER WALLY TO TEBALDI'S, OR HER FEDORA WITH EVA MARTON'S. HER ADRIANA IS NOW AVAILABLE, WITH CORELLI AND GOBBI! I HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET. BUT I CAN TRULY SAY, SCOTTO IS OLIVERO'S REENCARNATION. SHE TOO CAN MAKE ME SIT UP AND TRY TO FORCE MY LISTENING TO THE MAXIMUM. DOMINGO IS HIS USUAL SELF: IMPECABBLE. OBRATZOVA PEELS THE PAINT OFF THE SPEAKERS. ONLY MILNES SEEMS SOMEHOW DETACHED. LEVINE IS IN A CLASS ALL BY HIMSELF. WE NEED ARTISTS OF THIS CALIBER TO RECORD SOME OF THE OTHER MOSTLY FORGOTTEN VERISMO MASTERPIECES SUCH AS SILVANO, I ZINGARI, SIBERIA, REZURREZIONI.
Rating: - The Premiere Adriana Recording
CAST: Renata Scotto[Adriana Lecouvreur] ** Plácido Domingo[Maurizio] ** Sherill Milnes [Michonnet] ** Elena Obraztsova) [Princess di Bouillon] ** Giancarlo Luccardi [Prince of Bouillon] ** Lillian Watson [Madame Jouvenot] ** Anne Murray [Madame Dangeville] ** Paul Crook [Poisson] ** Paul Hudson [Quinault] ** Paul Crook [A Man-Servant] ** Ambrosian Opera Chorus ** Philharmonia Orchestra ** James Levine (conductor)
This late 70's recording of Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur is an outstanding example of how this rare and out-of-vogue opera can be thrilling and powerfully moving. Most opera houses in the States, the Met included, don't stage Adriana anymore as it's faded into a kind of curiosity, a remnant of the turn-of-the-century verisimo opera era. Now, only two arias - "Io Sono La Umile Ancella" and "Poveri Fiori" sung by Adriana remain popular arias for concerts and recitals. This particular ... Read More
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- Buying Adriana in an uncertain economy
- One of the finest opera recordings ever
