Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Nino Sanzogno, Luciano Pavarotti :: Donizetti - La Figlia del Reggimento / Pavarotti · Freni · Ganzarolli · Sanzogno

Excellent

gks5q@virginia.edu | 04/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You can't get a better bang for your buck than this. This is a 1969 performance, Pavarotti is in top form, expect the best and you won't be disappointed. In case you didn't know, this is the opera where the famous aria with NINE high C's comes from ("Qual destin, qual favor.")."

Famous Freni-Pavarotti live performance at low cost

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 09/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""La figlia del reggimento" is one of the greatest of all operatic comedies. Here, it is performed live by a widely beloved cast and is presented in acceptably good sound. This Opera d'Oro set showcases the young Luciano Pavarotti, from a time when he could still be taken seriously. The equally youthful Mirella Freni appears and sings very well--which is high praise, indeed. To determine what an impression these two superstars make, all you have to do is read the preceding Amazon reviews.



The quality of the performance, the fame of the singers and the reasonableness of the price all demand that five stars be assigned to this Opera d'Oro set.



Having said that, I feel obliged to point out that this is far from being the best performance of "La figlia" to be found on CD. It is easily out-pointed in every aspect by the old--indeed, the ancient studio production originally issued by Cetra, now available in happily remastered form from Fonit, also at bargain price.



The general conception and execution of the old studio recording is lighter, brighter, smarter and simply more joyous than the later live performance. The soundscape of the remastered Fonit set is appreciably better than that of Od'O, too. The daughter of the regiment in the earlier set is Lina Pagliughi, an old-fashioned soprano who disguised her truly formidable technique by seeming to float like a butterfly over Donizetti's dancing melodies. In comparison, Freni, the younger of the two sopranos at the date of her recording, seems laboring, even matronly. The Fonit tenor is Cesare Valletti, a student of Tito Schipa who emerged as a better vocal technician than ever his old master had been. He sings those famous high C's far more easily and with more consistent tone than Pavarotti and, moreover, he does it while staying in character. Compared to the elegantly graceful Valletti, Pavarotti seems loud, coarse and harsh of voice."

An Amazing Production!

Opera Buff | Connecticut, USA | 02/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why this production does not receive more publicity is beyond me. Everyone sings to perfection. Pavarotti is simply awe-inspiring (9 High C's LIVE, if that doesn't tell you enough), Freni is alternately charming, sympathetic, and funny at all the appropriate moments, and Ganzogno is a paternal and yet amusing captain. It took me an entire day to get to the second act because I was too busy listening to the first one over and over and over again! My only criticism would be of the slow conducting during Tonio's famous 9-C aria, which I feel detracts from some of the excitement that it's meant to arouse. Other than that, a first rate production that I would recommend to anyone with any taste in music :D!"