Search - Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Covent Garden Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House :: Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Milnes · Ghiaurov · ROH Covent Garden · Bonynge

Desert Island Stuff

03/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First things first: this recording is truly complete, unlike many so-called "complete" LUCIA recordings. Callas may have helped to prove that Donizetti wrote a dramatic masterwork rather than an empty-headed star vehicle, but she always performed the traditional hacked-up version, so much less dark and grand than what Donizetti actually wrote. True, not all the "extra" music is great (in particular, the bass aria "Cedi, cedi" is somewhat commonplace), but it's all dramatically essential, filling out the supporting characters and revealing the brilliance of Donizetti's structural conception. Anyone wanting a LUCIA should definitely start with this uncut version...Now, about the performance. The knock on Joan Sutherland is that her diction was poor. Why this is considered a more heinous flaw than Callas's frequently ugly sound, I'll never know. Just as Callas was great despite her faults, Sutherland is great no matter how many consonants she swallows. Another knock on Sutherland is that she's not "characterful" enough, whatever that means. Baloney. Sutherland knew what today's singers usually forget--that the characterization is IN THE MUSIC, and that therefore the key to characterization is to sing the music as well as possible. (Of course, who today could sing the music as well as Sutherland? For that matter, there were few singers *before* Sutherland, at least in this century, who could sing this music so magnificently. She is unique.) In the beauty, power, and awesome technical control of her singing--her absolute committment to the music, to Donizetti--the character of Lucia comes across as thrillingly and fully as possible. This is a supreme performance, and here in 1971, she was at her best. The other superstar singers on this recording aren't quite on this level, but they all perform well. Best among them is Pavarotti, whose performance here is a reminder of how promising he was before he started marketing himself and abusing his voice. Here he is a perfect Donizetti tenor, and a fine match for Sutherland. He also gives a good characterization of the tormented Edgardo (who, as has been pointed out, is almost as deranged as Lucia). Sherrill Milnes could never resist the temptation to ham it up (listen to his idiotic snarl of "Leggi" as he hands the letter to Lucia), and his very "hard" sound is not to everyone's taste. But he is a convincing bad guy, and does well with Sutherland in their big duet. The gorgeous voice of Nicolai G. makes for a solid, if somewhat anonymous, Raimondo. Luxury casting is provided in the form of Ryland Davies, the excellent Ferrando of Solti's first "Cosi Fan Tutte" recording, as Arturo. Bonynge, while never the most technically accomplished of conductors, clearly loves and respects this music, and gives good support for the singers. Choral and orchestral work is good; the sound, as usual on Decca/London's opera recordings, is superb, with some nicely judged sound effects. This is, in other words, the greatest recording of one of the great masterworks of opera."

Definitive recording

05/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, along with Sutherland's earlier recording are the definitive recordings of Donizetti's masterpiece. Sutherland combines both a gorgeous sound with phenomenal technique...THE most incredible technique in modern history. Only the legendary sopranos of Donizetti's time even hints at a Dramatic soprano with coloratura capabilities...and WHAT coloratura capabilities!!!! All trills, runs, staccato done to complete perfection on top of a warm beautiful spinto soprano sound. And of course the legendary high notes. Certainly no one can dispute the beauty of Sutherland's top notes, effortless, big, and sooooo clear! And of course her dramatic interpretation of Lucia is legendary. Few could argue her complete mastery of the leading role. I was at her Met debut as Lucia, and in the mad scene, she ran across the stage while attacking fiedishly difficult flights of coloratura! Sutherland received over 30 curtain calls. She is equally good here, which is to say the most amazing singing in memory."

Absolutely the best Lucia di Lammermoor around

Richard Posner | 08/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dame Joan Sutherland makes this Lucia special. I dare say the best there is. She is simple a miraculous singer with wonderful notes at her disposal that are well above high C. And she has the magnificent voice as well. I think one of the most beautiful voice in all of opera. But it's her technique that is unique. A heroic coloratura soprano with trills and and scales beyond approach. She is the kind of soprano that Donizetti and Bellini wrote their bel canto operas for. Pavorotti is also at his best here, his high notes ringing out brilliantly. This Lucis is historical. A must buy for every opera lover. A galaxy of stars."