Search - Bellini, Freni, Kraus :: Bellini: I Puritani

A GREAT PERFORMANCE THAT CAN BE OBTAINED ON OPERA D'ORO FOR

L. Mitnick | Chicago, Illinois United States | 10/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is quite possible that the sound on this particular edition may be superior to the one on the much, MUCH less expensive Opera d'Oro (also in Amazon's inventory), but then again it may not be.

The sound basically is no better than what one would have encountered on a 1962 monophonic broadcast - no better and no worse. It is very listenable. The performance itself is a revelation. Mirella Freni, 27 years old at the time of this performance, sings Elvira with a melting beauty that, truth to tell, eludes both Callas and Sutherland. Freni may lack the dark "sock-it-to-'em" vocalism of Callas as well as the sheer coloratura abandon of Sutherland - but she makes a stunning account of the role anyway. Her lyric soprano had a fluidity and color to it that enabled her to sing this role beautifully. She doesn't include any top E flats (as do Sutherland and Callas), but Bellini never wrote them anyway. In Freni's case, the lack of these stratospheric notes matter little - the voice is gorgeous and the singing is superb. Alfredo Kraus is every bit as good ---- he is in superb early prime voice here, and it's a pity that he couldn't have been engaged to sing the role on Sutherland's first studio recording. No --- the robust and flamboyant vocalism of Pavarotti, while effective in it's way, is no match for the lyricism, elegance, and class that was a trademark of Kraus' art for so many years. The man was as smart as a fox - he remained in his particular repertoire and never compromised his instrument. He was a wonderful Bellini and Donizetti tenor and this role could have been written for him.

The baritone and the bass here are fine, and they make a nice enough impression with their duet in the third act, but Freni and Kraus are the thing here, and they are truly something to hear and to treasure as long as people are listening to great singing.

A great performance!"