2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a curiosity - a must for Verrett fans, January 20, 2000
This review is from: Un Ballo in Maschera (Audio CD)
I would give this more stars if you didn't have to fight the recording quality, which ranges from average to bad - voices disappear and distort, the orchestra is compressed, balance levels are not consistent.
Apparently Verrett was not a success in this role - so that Abbado went on to make a studio recording with Ricciarelli. Certainly some of the results are a little ungainly, but Act 2 contains some of the most thrilling singing I have heard from this singer - the grand arching phrases in her Act 2 aria are epic - and the ensuing duet with Pavarotti really generates excitement. Act 3 is less succesful 'Morro ma prima in grazia' suffers from problems with register breaks, and the magical final farewell of the lovers, accompanied by Verdi's bitter-sweet stage waltz is spoiled by Abbado pressing ahead too much; both singers have to gulp to keep up. The supporting cast is very strong, Obratsova stentorian and Cappuccilli very involved. The conducting too is fiery, as you'd expect. Not a prime recommendation for 'Ballo' obviously, but worth hearing Verrett and big Lucy in full flood in act 2.
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