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5.0 out of 5 stars
Opera in English: Problematic, April 9, 2011
This review is from: Verdi: Rigoletto; La Traviata; Il Trovatore (Highlights) (Audio CD)
The English National Opera has long performed all operas in English. For many hearing the libretto, usually silly in Italian at best, is even more distracting when the singers attempt to make the story more clear by singing in English translations. For the most part the words remain indistinguishable. But the aspect of ENO we forget is the quality of performances by great artists they have presented.
In this collection of excerpts from 'La Traviata', 'Il Trovatore' and 'Rigoletto' on two CDs, once getting past the English 'libretto', there are some very fine performances. The album is worth the price of purchase for a very surprising 'Rigoletto' - Peter Glossop owns the title role, but it is the aria 'Caro Nome' as sung blissfully by Elizabeth Harwood that is staggeringly beautiful and technically perfect coloratura singing. Her ornamentation is breathtaking and her sensitivity to pianissimos and floating of lines is as fine as any soprano who ever sang this role! Elizabeth Harwood ((27 May 1938 - 21 June 1990) may not be a super-famous opera personality, but her talent was extraordinary. This is a performance of an old warhorse aria for the ages! Grady Harp, April 11
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