Pacini - Maria Regina d'Inghilterra / Miricioiu · Ford · Plazas · Fardilha · A. Miles · PO · Parry [Box set]

Nelly Miricioiu (Artist), Bruce Ford (Artist), Mary Plazas (Artist), José Fardilha (Artist), Alastair Miles (Artist), Susan Bickley (Artist), Giovanni Pacini (Composer), David Parry (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Geoffrey Mitchell Choir (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: David Parry
• Composer: Giovanni Pacini
• Audio CD (July 14, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Opera Rara UK
• ASIN: B000009PYU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,783 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An immensely enjoyable recording!, September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pacini - Maria Regina d'Inghilterra / Miricioiu · Ford · Plazas · Fardilha · A. Miles · PO · Parry (Audio CD)

So you haven't heard of Pacini. Don't let that stop you from buying this wonderful recording. Pacini was famous in his day, second only to Donizetti and Verdi for awhile. In fact, the Pacini of the 1840's was (if our limited knowledge of his mature operas is anything to go by) a more polished and artistic composer than the young Verdi. If you like Donizetti's Tudor Trilogy, you will love this piece! The music is instantly identifiable as bel canto, but there are surprises. In particular, the ensembles are very exciting. The singers (especially Bruce Ford and Mary Plazas) are first-class. Nelly Miriciou as the Queen could have sung the role with more verve and fire, but she is generally quite good. The sound is excellent. And if you haven't heard of Pacini, you will know more about him than you ever wanted to after reading the nearly 1/2 inch thick, gorgeously produced booklet that comes in the CD box!! An educational experience, AND a recording you will want to listen to over and over. Definitely worth buying.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pacini's arias/cabalettas are always melodical and lyrical, May 28, 2000

By 

J. E. ASENCIO-NEGRON "9th Earl of Darquet" (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pacini - Maria Regina d'Inghilterra / Miricioiu · Ford · Plazas · Fardilha · A. Miles · PO · Parry (Audio CD)

It is regrettable that Pacini's considerable output (more than 70 operas) were not able to survive and flourish (as those of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini) and faded almost into oblivion until they were rescued by Opera Rara for the Camden Festival in 1983. You can classify his work as belonging to the tradition of `bel canto', his melodious inspiration not as exuberant as Bellini.

Giovanni Pacini (1792-1867) was not one to subordinate a good tune to the requirements of plot and characterization in his operas (lyrical passages were elastic enough to allow growth/expansion unconcerned from the drama evolution). Many of the arias/ cabalettas seem to have little relationship to what is happening on stage (in contrast with the dramatic power & onward drive of Verdi's arias, and operas as a whole).

He earned for himself the soubriet `il maestro delle cabalette' in 1820's (in his operas, at this time, the influence of Rossini was pervasive, for example: `L'ultimo giorno di Pompei' (Naples, 1825)). Therefore, his arias/cabalettas are always melodical and lyrical.

As you could expect, the arias/cabalettas in this opera: `Maria, Regina d'Inghilterra' (Palermo, 1843) are consistently tuneful, and in this recording they are well-sung by the Opera Rara's cast (the resonant baritone José Fardilha (Ernesto, a commoner), the dark soprano Nelly Miricioiu (Mary Tudor, Queen of England ) complementing the lighter soprano voice of Mary Plazas (Clotilde Talbot) on duets, and the light and lyrical tenor Bruce Ford (Riccardo, Conte di Chambrassil).

I enjoyed the cabalettas: `Ciel che vedi il mio rimorso' (You, Heaven who sees my remorse)(Clotilde)(CD 3, Track 3), and `Tu m'ami ancora!' (You love me still!)(Ernesto)(CD 3, Track 7).

The duettino near the end of the opera is quite melodious: `Qual'ora tremenda!' (What a frightful hour!) (Maria/Clotilde)(CD 3, Track 12), and you could feel the dynamic onward rush of the Chorus of revolt, `Morte, morte all'infame Scozzese' (Death, death to the infamous Scottish...)(CD 3, end of Track 4).

From his 1840's operas (Pacini's most sucessful & individual period) you may consider to listen: Saffo (Naples, 1840), and Medea (Palermo, 1843) (both realeased on CD).

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Obscurity, August 4, 2010

By 

Kenneth Gilman (Miami Fla) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pacini - Maria Regina d'Inghilterra / Miricioiu · Ford · Plazas · Fardilha · A. Miles · PO · Parry (Audio CD)

This is one of the so-called post reform Pacini operas (along with Medea & Sapho also available on recordings). The remarkable thing about his post reform operas is the role played by the orchestra. Instead of being backround to the singers the orchestra becomes another voice. Listen to the big bravura duet finale to the first act. It becomes almost a trio with the orchestra becoming a third voice. The outragous, bombastic & altogether wonderful second act finale is one of the greatest in all of opera, not least because of the wonderful part played by the orchestra. I beleive that this new, expanded role for the orchestra that Pacini developed had a profound effect on both Verdi & Wagner. This, and the other post reform Pacini operas are wrongfully neglected masterpieces. Don 't miss them.