Adriana Lecouvreur

Francesco Cilea (Composer), Richard Bonynge (Conductor), Welsh National Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Bryn Terfel (Performer), Carlo Bergonzi (Performer), Cleopatra Ciura (Performer), Colin Cue (Performer), Deborah Roberts (Performer), Frances Ginzer (Performer), Francesco Ellero d'Artegna (Performer), Joan Sutherland (Performer), Leo Nucci (Performer), Michel Sénéchal (Performer), Peter Bronder (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Bryn Terfel, Carlo Bergonzi, Cleopatra Ciura, Colin Cue, Deborah Roberts, et al.
• Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: Richard Bonynge
• Composer: Francesco Cilea
• Audio CD (October 10, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000I8OFGO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,726 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars V.F.O. (Veterans of Foreign Operas), February 13, 2009

By 

Paul A. Dunphy (Bogota, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adriana Lecouvreur (Audio CD)

To paraphrase G.B. Shaw, Joan Sutherland sings Adriana and Carlo Bergonzi sings Maurizio...and they're both old enough to know better!
As Dame Joan's career was winding down, she decided to tackle several verismo roles - Adriana Lecouvreur among them. As on her video from the Australian Opera's production, it was a serious miscalculation. Her singing is effortful and lacking in any chest voice. There is no dramatic bite and her spoken Italian in the monologues is embarassing.
Carlo Bergonzi is painful to listen to. Even with transpositions, he can't seem to sing on pitch. Two singers who should have given this opera a pass.
Cleopatra Ciurca's mezzo is several sizes too small for the Principessa. Leo Nucci's Michonnet is pleasant.
Richard Bonynge seems to hold the orchestra back and the lush orchestral passages are passed over with little care. The whole thing comes off as a big bore and only confirms the work's lack of popularity.
Fortunately, there are enough fine recordings of this opera to choose from. Recordings are available starring Scotto, Tebaldi, Olivero and Caballe. If you want Joan and Carlo, pick recordings from their prime and leave this one alone!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Adriana, April 13, 2008

By 

Rocco R. Seeno - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adriana Lecouvreur (Audio CD)

Recorded too late in either Sutherland's or Begonzi's careers! Should have been done fifteen years earlier with Pavarotti! Wobbling and warbling at times instead of lyrical singing! Rest of the cast is fine and singing is very good as is orchestra. Beautiful music is marred by the leads' attempt at singing. Why did Decca ever release this one during both singers' lifetimes? Surely Joan couldn't have approved of this recording. Doesn't do either' reputations any good. Hard to listen to at times.