Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Milnes · Ghiaurov · ROH Covent Garden · Bonynge

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
This was Joan Sutherland's second recording of Lucia, made with an all-star cast in prime vocal condition, and it is a must for those who believe that bel canto opera should live up to its descriptive title: "beautiful singing." In the 10 years since her first Lucia recording, she had settled more comfortably into the character and become even more expert in the music. Her costars are among the greatest singers of our time, a point that is particularly important in the ensemble singing. Maria Callas is more dramatic, and her Lucia is a must for Callas fans, but this set is a joyful celebration of the glory of the human voice. In purely musical terms it is the best-sung Lucia on record. --Joe McLellan

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-04 rating:
Splendid!
This is the first recording of "Lucia di Lammermoor" that I've ever bought, and I do believe that this is going to be the last the I've ever bought. It's an almost perfect recording, with a clever conductor and a spectacular cast of singers. Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti sound amazing when they sing their parts; the "Mad Scene" in particular is spine-tingling. The supporting cast (Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Huguette Tourangeau) make it all the more complete. I did have a problem with the recording's "sound effects"; it's kind of distracting once you get into this studio recording. But SFX aside, this is one of the greatest acheivements in opera CD history. I highly recommend it to opera beginners, and to those who don't even like Donizetti.

Grade: A

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review by: date: 2008-08-25 rating:
It is just impossible to overlook this record.
What Pavarotti does here is totally amazing. For me, the highest point of the opera is "Tombe degli avi miei" and "Fra poco a me ricovero". It is a riveting scene, when Edgardo sings next to the tomb of his ancestors his love and inevitable sacrifice to Lucia, who, unknown to him, was already dead. Sutherland is a joy to hear too. Pavarotti and Sutherland made various records together for Decca in the 70s and this one is by far the best of the lot.

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review by: date: 2007-03-24 rating:
A splendid version of Lucia
This is probably one of the top versions of Lucia di Lammermoor, one of Donizetti's greatest works. The cast displays such stalwarts as Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiarov, Luciano Pavarotti, and--of course--Joan Sutherland. Richard Bonynge did much background research to create a Lucia more consistent with the composer's vision of the opera; he also conducted.

Some representative segments of the opera. . . .

A very nice ensemble scene, "Cruda, funesta smania," features lively singing. Sherrill Milnes' rich voice is well displayed. The ensemble sings with great spirit.

A nice aria, "Regnava nel silenzio" is followed by a wonderful cabaletta, "Quando, rapito in estasi." This is one of Joan Sutherland's signature pieces. Here, she is at the "top of her game." The aria is smoothly sung. She shows agility and some nice trills. Although her voice is heavier than some other coloratura sopranos, she is most effective and deploys excellent technique and skills. In the cabaletta, she displays nice florid singing the first time through, replete with some nice trills. She also has some fine runs and hits a series of high notes with ease. On the repeat, she sings a trill off a high note (nicely done although not perfectly done). Her technique is excellent and she hits the final high note with ease.

"Chi me frena in tal momento" is one of the all time great ensemble pieces in opera. Pavarotti's rich and youthful voice sounds splendid. Sutherland's voice soars above the ensemble. All manner of emotions and thoughts are displayed by the various singers. The voices meld well together for an effective ensemble "feel."

One of the top cabalettas in all of opera has to be "Spargi d'amaro pianto." Sutherland sings it well and cleanly. The first time through, her voice and technique are rock solid. She shows off some nice trills and some well executed runs. The repeat is iconic. Good technique, a trill off of a high note, and a well executed final high note. All in all, Dame Joan sparkles.

This is one of the top versions of "Lucia di Lammermoor," and it stands up well after the intervening decades.

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review by: date: 2007-01-08 rating:
A Colassal Lucia
Sutherland's first recording of Lucia was terrific but the second beats it on all counts.The supporting cast is superb. Pavarotti in his youth singing a very stylish Edgardo. Ghiaurov brings his beautiful voice to the bass role. Sherril Milnes is wonderfully evil as Enrico and his Act 1 duet with Sutherland is sensational. As for Sutherland she is generally superior here to her first recording, with the exception of her first act aria. The famous high notes are here in their glory; the high D at the end of the first act and the E flat at the end of the mad scene are among her best on record. Her interpretation has deepened, especially during the mad scene. At the point where "Alfin Son Tua" begins to the point of the flute duet, she delivers some of the most moving singing I have ever heard - reaching a heartbreaking level that I normally asoociate with a Billie Holiday not an opera singer. In conclusion this is one of Bonynge's better conductiong jobs and the RHO orchestra and chorus are excellent. The sound quality is very good.


review by: a music fan date: 2006-05-15 rating:
"Stupendous" but...
As someone who is a relative newcomer to opera, although I find Dame Joan's sound and coloratura breathtaking, it was Callas's perfomance that really drew me into this story and made it a more cohesive allround experience for me. And I think I can say this of their Normas as well. That being said this is an amazing perfomance and "Chi Mi Frena" sounds exquisite with all these marvelous singers joining their talents.
Ultimately I love both the Divas for very different reasons, but if you need to be drawn in by the plot of an opera, no one nails characterization like Callas, utterly rivetting and convincing and I might add vocally beautiful as well.

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