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MUSSORGSKY: Boris Godunov SAINT SAËNS: Samson and Delilah BELLINI: I Puritani MASCAGNI: L'amico Fritz
Four major opera releases are represented here, particularly Boris Godunov recorded in 1976 performed in the original version that ends with the Simpleton alone on stage. Martti Talvela is a powerful Boris standing up well to many other basses who have made magnificent recordings including the historic 1928 live performance with Feodor Chaliapin, later Bolshoi Opera productions with Mark Reizen (1948) and Alexander Pirogov (1949), and Boris Christoff (two recordings: 1951 conducted by Dobrowen, 1962 with André Cluytens. Many of these are reviewed on this site. My favorite is Christoff II (REVIEW). Samson and Delilah, recorded in 1991, is surely one of the finest versions on disk. Domingo is in his prime, Meier an ideal Delilah—sensuous and vocally secure. One would never expect that eventually she would be one of today's top Isoldes. I Puritani was recorded in 1979 and is magnificently sung by Montserrat Caballé and Alfredo Kraus, both in top vocal form. The Pavarotti set offers the famous tenor's
few recordings for EMI, surprisingly at budget price. Mascagni's L'amico
Fritz is
a little gem of an opera known best for the enchanting "Cherry Duet"
from
Act
II,
beautifully sung by Pavarotti and his long-time associate, Mirella Freni.
The opera is almost totally neglected in opera houses, and for good reason—not
much happens, which surely cannot be said of Verdi's Don Carlo. Franco
Zeffirelli directed this grandiose 1992 La Scala production. EMI
offers two performance from the series; specific dates are not provided.
La
Scala's
audience booed Pavarotti in one performance when his voice cracked; needless
to say, that is not included in this set. The audio recording was issued
on CD previously, the video on videotape and DVD. Now we have both included
in this budget-priced set. The performances are worthy, but this is a
rather
dull Don Carlo. Samual Ramey's doesn't have sonority necessary
for Philip, and both leading sopranos lack the vocal heft essential
for Elisabeth and
Eboli. The set also includes Verdi's Requiem. All of these were previously
issued and at full price. Now we have the Mascagni, the two Don Carlo and
the Requiem at super-budget price. CD notes are minimal, devoted mostly
to an appreciation of Pavarotti. There is a track-by-track synopsis
for the CDs, but no track information for the DVD—you'll gave to on on-screen
for that.
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