Customer Reviews

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Linda di Chamounix is a lovely opera, and we must thank the ARTS label for making this stupendous recording at such a modest price. But the chief glory, is soprano Mariella Devia, perhaps the finest lyric coloratura since the young Renata Scotto. In this age of anonymous divas, you certainly KNOW who is singing when la Devia opens her mouth. She is a very individual artist and very musical too. Tenor Luca Canonici has a most atractive voice and all the secondary roles are very well taken. Don' t miss this beautiful recording.

What a shame that this is their only studio collaboration. The Devia - Canonici partnership in the late 80s and 90s reminds me of the old Sutherland - Pavarotti, Caballe - Carreras, Ricciarelli - Carreras, Callas - Di Stefano etc. operatic couples. They might not have achieved the fame of their predecessors but I enjoy Devia and Canonici at least as much, and quite often much more than the previous couples. And I always sense a feeling of respect they have for each other.

Devia's gifts are unique among any generation of singers and to cut the long story short, I regard her as the finest lyric coloratura I've heard. Canonici is a simpler singer but this is often the case with tenors. He is rarely spectacular but his sense of style, clean cut singing and handsome voice have made me appreciate him tremendously. So far, my favourite Devia/Canonici performance is their live Amsterdam Beatrice di Tenda but this studio Linda finds them in great form too and it's a must have.

Devia would make her Linda even more exciting in later years (the '97 live performances are unbelievable) but I also like this more reserved studio portrayal. I don't regard much of Linda's music very interesting and this is the reason I've avoided recordings of this work but Devia fascinates me and I now listen to this opera more and more and actually quite like it. As for the famous o Luce, it becomes not only playful but exciting! The other roles are quite meaty and therefore good singers are needed. Apart from Canonici whom I prefer to Kraus and Valetti cause of his warmer sound, I wasn't much impressed by the others who nevertheless sing well.

Though not the perfect Linda recording due to the rather bland secondary casting, I still find this the best Linda recording on the market. Serafin's 50s recording has his very fine conducting and perhaps a bit more character from some of the cast (Cappecchi especially) but Stella's rather hard-toned Linda who's made me stay away from this opera until now, is an acquired taste. Gruberova also offers a lovely and impressive account of the title role but I like Devia's balsamic vinegar voice even more.

Linda di Chamounix is a very good opera and certainly NOT second-rate Donizetti. The story may be naïve, but the music is inspired and well written. It is true that it can only make it's mark when it is well sung, and here it has the best possible cast. Mariella Devia is one of the finest sopranos of our time, far better in my opinion than any other coloratura around, and her truly lovely singing is spectacular. Don't miss it!!

I've seen Mariella Devia perform this role and she has a wonderful controlled voice with perfect technique coupled with jeweled accuracy,pity we aren't given the pleasure of hearing on CD the many high E flats that were given with spot on brilliance live,however she is withoutdoubt the main reason for deciding to purchase this recording,Chamonix has some beautiful music but cannot match Donizetti's best works,his genius coming through only spasmodically,the rest of the cast are more than adequate,Bellini the conducter shows too much reserve at times but generally judges the change of moods well and the playing of the orchestra is solid.

I'M GLAD I GOT THIS RECORD OF AN OPERA I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HEARD. GAVAZZENI CONDUCTS A CRISP, TAUT PERFORMANCE. I DO NOT HAPPEN TO BE A FAN OF DEVIA'S HIGH, REEDY, WHITE VOICE (NO WONDER THIS OPERA WAS ONLY STAGED ONCE AT THE MET FOR A VERY SIMILAR TYPE OF VOICE, LILY PONS), BUT SHE PERFORMS WELL. I WAS QUITE TAKEN WITH PETTERI SALOMAA'S EXQUISITE, LAMBENT BARITONE AND THE PIEROTTO OF SONIA GANASSI, SINGERS I HAD NOT ENCOUNTERED. LOVELY MUSIC, IT DOES MERIT A REVIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY.

I wrote a review of this CD set (not a very good review) and it doesn't look like it's going to be posted. I hope not. This one is better, as though either were good. I had Gruberova singing this opera, but with all her facility and the beauty of her voice, I just couldn't take her sliding up to the last high notes instead of jumping (which she could have done), and then flipping them off with insoucience. I suppose this is her trademark. I don't like it. I finally replaced her Linda with this wonderful one. It is a studio recording, good clear sound, as one reviewer noted, it is hardly second-rate Donizetti, and the soprano's voice and acrobatics are flawless, beautiful and perfect. This set costs only a little over $30 + shipping and has 3 discs in it. Donizetti (who lived to be 51) was prolific, turning out something like 73 or 76 operas. I have dozens. He has been praised and vilified (I'd say maligned). He's been called everything from a consummate genius to (this from a popular book on opera by Matthew Boyden) a producer of spaghetti, that he goes down easy but there's nothing there. (This writer, incidentally, a cocky cad of the first water, threw Donizetti's own humility and modesty back in his face as though they proved his (the writer's) point. Donizetti wasn't the only musician to be cruelly and foolishly trounced.) But Donizetti doesn't need my ignorant defense. The music (like on this set) speaks for itself.