Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Emmanuel Plasson, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana :: Donizetti: Parisina d'Este

Donizetti as Drama

C Christoplous | California | 04/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Parisina is an opera that has been around for a while, although not the most visible of Donizetti's works. Caballe performed the work with Eva Queler in the 1970's. This singer provided her usual suave vocal production, but the drama of the piece was neglected. There was a recent performance available on Bongiovanni, but it is cut and the singing is not up to par. This latest recording features singers that are not famous (yet) but who provide strong vocal and dramatic color. The sound is excellent and the score is relatively complete (the tenor's cabaletta is cruelly cut and shorn of both its repeat and cadenza; it comes to an end in mid sentance as it were). The soprano is especially promising and provides some pleasing piannisimi and is much more involved than Caballe. This recording is recommended to Donizetti and bel canto enthusiasts with only minor reservations."

Well performed, routine Donizetti

John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 11/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Parisina is not one of Donizetti's five best operas. It is an adequate and typical representative of the large number of good, but not great operas, he composed -- and, as is often the case, to a not very attractive libretto. In this recording, a very obscure cast gives an adequate and pleasant, but not magnificent, performance. The exception is the soprano, Alexandrina Pendatchanska, who provides some meltingly beautiful moments. The recorded sound is good and well balanced. Those who are exploring beyond the very standard bel canto repetoire should find this an interesting and satisfying recording."