Lucia Di Lammermoor

T-C · July 15, 2007, 04:48:27 AM

For my taste, the Met DVD with Levine is currently the best DVD version of Turandot, superior to the Australian one. Eva Marton is very good here. And I second Mike's recommendation for the Mehta CD recording. This is my first choice for a CD recording of Turandot.

Tsaraslondon · July 15, 2007, 08:34:37 AM

Quite how we got to discussing Turandot in a Lucia di Lammermoor thread, I'm not sure. However, here I go with my tuppence worth.

I would second the Mehta recording as a first choice. Unsurprisingly for those who know me, I also love the Callas recording, but I feel, in this of all operas, stereo sound is really important, and however good the Callas performance, the sonics do rather let it down. Shameful to think it was recorded in mono only, as late as 1957. And that, of course, is another problem. It catches Callas just that bit too late in her career; after all, she had given up singing Turandot back in 1949. Her singing is a lot more secure than one might have expected at this stage, but it does put an almost intolerable strain on the voice, and in the Manon Lescaut she recorded immediately after, you can hear how much it affected her and, in many places, she sound utterly exhausted. Still Callas is never uninteresting, and here you feel that it is actually Turandot's vulnerability that has made her so cruel. She melts in the final scene more convincingly than anyone. Another problem, for some, is Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's finely nuanced, but somewhat sophisticated Liu. Personally I love it, but quite understand why many don't. I would just mention the exquisite pianissimo on the words mi hai sorriso, when the Prince asks her why she has remained faithful to Timur and her miraculous shading of the line in the mini aria Tanto amore, segreto e inconfessato. Oh, alright, she does sound more like a Viennese countess than a Chinese slave girl, but I just can't help myself. I love it. That said Caballe is also pretty miraculous on the Mehta set. Fernandi was an odd choice, especially when you think Corelli was an EMI artiste at that time. He doesn't do badly, but he is definitely no match for Pavarotti at his finest. Zaccaria is excellent, as is the veteran Giuseppe Nessi as the Old Emperor. But what sets the seal on this recording, causing further regret that it wasn't recorded in stereo, is the superbly dramatic conducting of Tullio Serafin.

So, go for the Mehta, but if the Callas/Serafin is reissued at bargain price, as it no doubt will be quite soon, then add that to your collection as well.

yashin · July 17, 2007, 02:03:54 AM

Back to lucia. I have the Sutherland DVD from Australia and must admit to liking it. The sets are darkly lit and olde-worldy but the singing is good. I also have the more modern DVD with Alvarez and Bonfadelli. I am not keen on this version at all. Whilst i like both singers -the setting, the slow speed of the playing just left me indifferent.

On CD i have nether heard the Sutherland/Pavarotti version. However, i enjoy the Callas/Di Stefano version and the version with Dessay and Alagna. The Chandos-Opera in English version is also worth searching out with Elizabeth Futral a splendid Lucia.

On the point of Turandot-this happens to be one of those occasions where i disagree with every Opera book/review-i dislike the Mehta/Sutherland/Pav version. I just don't get it! There is no tension, no atmosphere and i just don't believe it. I much prefer the Domingo/Karajan version -what glorious playing from the orchestra-and the Liu is to die-for. Never has this opera moved me more.

I enjoyed the Met DVD for Marton and Mitchell. Marton is at her recording best. Mitchell sings like the diva she is vamping up the role. Domingo sings well but i don't like that they taped over the last note of nessun dorma-it is fake and looks it! However, the opera is much more than one note. The DVD Gergeiv/Schnaut/Botha is quite good-the setting anyway. Very interesting. The singing is luke-warm. Schnaut-shouts, Botha just doesn't have the heft of voice required on this occasion and his huge frame looks awkward. Gallardo-Domas as Liu is awful.....shame i like her.

knight66 · July 17, 2007, 02:16:57 AM

Another cace of one man's meat being another's poision...well, perhaps not that deadly a contrast. But we all have our differences in taste. I rarely respond to Domingo, though I can see he is the greater artist between himself and Pavarotti.

The Mehta version has been the favoured version for a long time now, but other versions have their qualities. There is one with Nilsson and Bjoerling and another with Caballe, this time as Turandot rather than Liu. I have not heard either set, but I know they have their fans.

Mike

Michel · July 17, 2007, 03:56:09 AM

Quote from: knight on July 17, 2007, 02:16:57 AM
Another cace of one man's meat being another's poision...well, perhaps not that deadly a contrast. But we all have our differences in taste. I rarely respond to Domingo, though I can see he is the greater artist between himself and Pavarotti.

The Mehta version has been the favoured version for a long time now, but other versions have their qualities. There is one with Nilsson and Bjoerling and another with Caballe, this time as Turandot rather than Liu. I have not heard either set, but I know they have their fans.

Mike

I've always liked Domingo at his best, he has a remarkably pure, unstrained voice that I enjoy, particularly in some tenor roles, such as Parsifal and Aida.

Tsaraslondon · July 17, 2007, 04:57:49 AM

Quote from: yashin on July 17, 2007, 02:03:54 AM

On the point of Turandot-this happens to be one of those occasions where i disagree with every Opera book/review-i dislike the Mehta/Sutherland/Pav version. I just don't get it! There is no tension, no atmosphere and i just don't believe it. I much prefer the Domingo/Karajan version -what glorious playing from the orchestra-and the Liu is to die-for. Never has this opera moved me more.

But it it's a Turandot without a Turandot. This is one of those occasions where Karajan's risky casting just didn't pay off.
Other appreciable performances? I remember someone once playing me a live account from the San Francisco Opera, with Caballe as Turandot and Pavarotti as Calaf. It was conducted by Riccardo Chailly and is absolutely thrilling. Leona Mitchell was the Liu.
Another one to look out for is a live Stokowski account with Nilsson, Corelli and Anna Moffo as a lovely Liu, which neatly brings us back to the start of this thread.

knight66 · July 17, 2007, 05:13:25 AM

Quote from: Michel on July 17, 2007, 03:56:09 AM
I've always liked Domingo at his best, he has a remarkably pure, unstrained voice that I enjoy, particularly in some tenor roles, such as Parsifal and Aida.

It is a great voice with a great artist using it, but I find him insufficiently visceral most of the time. I saw the Walkure on TV from the Proms last year and thought he was tremendous. But he rarely etches words into my brain, or makes me feel like he is flying with the music. Pavarotti on a good day has a directness and a golden sound that I respond to more readily. I admit that amongst my favourite tenors is Jon Vickers and he is definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

Mike

yashin · July 17, 2007, 10:32:00 PM

I have the San Fransisco live recording with Caballe, Mitchell and Pavarotti. It is indeed a very good version. Think it is released on Gala.

Sarastro · December 20, 2007, 10:50:19 PM

Sutherland is a tremendous Lucia, no doubt (my favorite recording is with Merrill and Siepi

, Cioni), I also like Callas's recording with Cappuccilli, Caballe...hm, she has a brilliant voice, but seems to be a little heavy, and Carreras is wonderful, one of the best Edgardo's (imho).
I wouldn't recommend Studer/Domingo, though Marin takes an advantage of original Donizetti's tonics...it's curious, anyway. And I don't feel to much of Lucia in Gruberova's recordings.
My favorite is Moffo-Bergonzi-Sereni (G.Prêtre cond.), I like them all: Sereni doesn't have a luxurious voice but he's a rare musician, Bergonzi and Moffo are very, very good. Moffo in her element.