Customer Reviews

Bellini - La Sonnambula / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Ghiaurov · NPO · Bonynge

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is hands down the Sonambula to have. It's a wonderful cast, and boy!, do they sing up a storm! Yes, I know some of the pieces have been transposed down, but Joanie & the Big P. really tear into this stuff & the result is a tremendous amount of fun. Let's face it, the Callas recording is marred by disfiguring cuts and an indifferent supporting cast. Callas is also an acquired taste, the voice can be irritating, infuriating, and downright coarse whatever the artistry behind it. The earlier Sutherland recording is also complete, but it lacks the verve of this recoding. She was certainly sumptuous, (so it's worth finding) however she seems to be having more FUN this time around. Besides, who can pass up Pavarotti for the light voiced whining of Niccola Monti. He made a mess of the Callas Recording also. Plus you get the wonderful Nicolai Ghiaurov. Get this recoding and just ENJOY it. There are some things that shouldn't be over analyzed and Sonambula certaily qualifies.

First, let me say I decided to review this La Sonnambula after I saw so many reviewers that rated it with one or two stars (!!!) because of a weak and immature argument: she was too old to sing Amina! I think the point should be exclusively her voice, her technique, her interpretation. Even if you don't like this recording, please write a review that explains clearly and intelligently your reasons. Singers like Joan Sutherland, Birgit Nilsson or Leonie Rysanek could still thrill an audience in their late 50's or even in their 60's! I'm not claiming Sutherland is in her very peak here or this is the best La Sonnambula to own, however I suppose a review is a compilation of your thoughts and opinions and not a commentary with two or three words.

This was recorded in 1980, when the digital era was still blooming. One of the best advantages of this recording is exactly the clear, ample and sweet sound, which shows perfectly the excellent voices joined here. At the time this was recorded, there wouldn't be any better cast than this: Joan Sutherland, the best coloratura soprano of her time, even in her late career; Luciano Pavarotti, who had the most incredible high notes and the most flawless vocal technique to sing the difficult role of Elvino; and Nicolai Ghiaurov, who was simply the greatest basso still singing at that time.
Joan Sutherland at this period of her career had lost the youthful, velvety and pure sound of her voice and the unhuman ease at the top. However, let's not make comparisons. Whatever imperfections her voice has gained as she aged, this is still La Stupenda! The creamy and huge sound, the impeccable coloratura, the ringing high notes are still there, though they obviously don't come as easy as twenty years earlier. Then, when we listen to Sutherland more carefully, we notice that there's a great difference between this Sonnambula and the early one: while young Sutherland is fresh, innocent and girlish, mature Sutherland is more sensitive, expressive and artistically mature. Her diction got infinitely clearer and more dramatic. Besides, her ability to express through her voice and entonation improved as she got older, so that she can still sound innocent and dreamy despite her mature and heavier voice.
The rest of the cast is not less important. Pavarotti's Elvino is magnificent, though his voice is bigger than the ones we are used to hear in this role. Vocally, his bright sound and amazing high notes are as impressive as ever, and dramatically he's a very lively Elvino. Rodolfo is sung by Nicolai Ghiaurov, whose lush voice is real gift for the listener. Bonynge's conducting is also more vivid and passionate here than in the earlier version.
In overall, it's a much satisfying performance and an excellent recording! Besides Sutherland's still amazing Amina, we have Pavarotti's captivating Elvino, Ghiaurov's sumptuous Rodolfo and Bonynge's lively conducting. Surely it's not a flawless recording nor is it the definitive version. If this is the first time you're buying La Sonnambula, choose Callas' or Sutherland's live recordings recorded in 1955 and 1961, respectively, or Sutherland's 1962 studio recording. However, if you just want to listen to some great singing, believe me: this is really worth a listening!

Sutherland's sheer pyrotechnics are still here, but unfortunately, gone are her famous high notes. I hear pushing on ALL the high notes here. The great voice that was the envy of the operatic strastosphere is only human, and to hear that vocal phenomenon, listen to Dame Joan's earlier Amina she recorded over 10 years earlier. At that time, Sutherland was beyond criticism.

This is the second best Sonnambula to this opera fan. The best being the one recorded by Joan Sutherland in 1962. Sutherland is ever so slightly past her prime here, but still a huge force to reckon with. Pavorotti is also quite good. But to have heard the best there is, check out Dame Joan's earlier set.

If this is supposed to be Joan Sutherland past her prime, I can't imagine how great she must have been when she WAS in her prime. Well, prime or not, I enjoy her and the rest of the cast very, very much. This is great singing to me.

I thought that the Callas perfomance was excellent. This one is even better. The recording is excellent and the voices magnificent. One thousand stars.

sutherland is old as the hills when she recorded this one, would recommend the earlier version, but she is still amazing

For a true performance of the fiendishly difficult role of Amina, look to Sutherland's earlier version. She is OK here, but to have heard her sing the role in the 1960's when she was the greatest colortura of our time, this recording shames in comparison. Pavorotti is surprising good as Elvino, however.

...Sutherland's earlier Sonnambula, recorded in 1962, shows a fresher voice, much freeer on the high notes. That recording was unbelievably brilliant, this one is very good. London/Decca should re-release the earlier version on it's budget label. It would sell!

Granted, Sutherland should have recorded Sonnambula with Pavarotti much earlier but she didn't, it happens. I still find this a beautiful recording with Sutherland at her best considering the stage of her career. This is one of her greatest late recordings. Even at this age one realises this is a role perfect for her voice. Some of the highest notes don't come easy (and this can be fascinating at times) but I know a dozen other coloratura sopranos who even in their prime don't have such a blooming upper register. The agility is still remarkable albeit a few messy trills. Last but not least I also feel she communicates the character wonderfully. If only there were more aged sopranos like her around today.

I also didn't expect to like Pavarotti in this recording but he too, surprised me. His singing is brilliant and the voice is almost as fresh as in the 70s. Luciano's gorgeous, ringing lyric tenor brings Elvino to life. Ghiaurov is a marvel as usual and the rest of the cast competent. The older Bonynge is a better conductor. Sutherland's Amina can be heard at her full glory in the early '60s (the live recording with Cioni is strongly recommended) but I really enjoyed this late recording.