Search - Puccini, Marton, Munich Radio Orchestra :: Arias

Good MARTON disc

J. Anderson | Monterey, CA USA | 02/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is something all too memorable about the SOUND of Eva Marton's voice, pure and simple. This recording came early in her career, at least early in the move to Italian repertoire for this singer, and she's in providential vocal ease here. And there are a few surprises - the drama with which she invests 'Mio babbino caro' is telling; where Caballe conquers by purity of emission and fluent agility, Marton is unafraid of the wisdom of pain in her rendition. The high B at the end of 'Donde lieta' is pungent and heroically round, and her 'In questa Reggia' is cream of the crop. Marton's Turandot is a great one, especially the filmed Vienna staging by Hal Prince, with Maazel conducting, and this disc's version is top-drawer. This is not bel canto art, but the sound of Eva Marton's voice, the timbre and the rapture of its honeyed roar is something unmatched. She's more of a musician than many singers and it serves her well in the Puccini on this disc. Giuseppe Patane proves himself again to be a singer's best friend, as one of the supreme purveyors ever of the operatic conductor's art. Even if you never become a fan, if you've not heard Eva Marton's singing, you owe yourself a listen to this CD."