Search - Rossini, Brediceanu, Romanian Opera of Bucharest :: Barber of Seville

Good musicianship, lacking in vocal splendour

Simon | Auckland, NZ | 06/06/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"To be honest, when I picked this CD up for NZ$3, I wasn't expecting much. This performance is from a set of Romanian opera performances recorded during the Soviet era. I was to some extent surprised, however. The outstanding protagonist is Magda Ianculescu, as Rosina. Her voice, though not overly pleasant as it goes into the higher registers, is a reliable, adaptable little soprano one. Despite her vocal limitations, she brings sparkle to the role through musical characterisation and imaginatory colaratura interpolations. She is matched in this regard by the Figaro, Nicolae Herlea, who also offers good characterisation despite the grainy quality of the voice. It is hard to be so optimistic about either the tenor, Valentin Teodorian, or the two basses, Gabor and Loghin. All three have rather strangulated tones that make their performances less effective. In saying this, however, there is a pleasing ensemble feel to this performance. This is important in Rossini. Everything is sung confidently and backed up well by the conducting of Brediceanu. Though not the finest recording available and not worth paying full price for, still rewarding in its own way."