Search - George Frederick Handel, Gioachino Rossini, Joan Sutherland :: Evening with Joan Sutherland

Poor sound, but some great singing as Alcina

Daniel Rodriguez | Houston, TX | 11/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These live recordings are poor in quality, which might make most people want to bypass this budget recording. However, it is worth it alone for the selections from Alcina. If you own the studio recording of this opera that she made with Teresa Berganza, Graziella Sciutti, Mirella Freni, and Monica Sinclair, you may be startled by the difference in how Sutherland sang this role onstage. On the studio recording, she sounds as if she held back (perhaps, in order not to compromise Handel's intentions). Live, she sings these arias with bel canto abandon. Check out Di Cor Mio and Ma Quando Tornerai to get a feel of what I'm talking about. The trills that she sings in Di Cor Mio are "stupendous", and her bravura singing on Ma Quando Tornerai is equally as thrilling.The live tracks from Alcina are the best-sounding in terms of recording quality. The sound on Rodelinda and Semiramide is really drowned-out and disappointing. However, you have the opportunity to hear Monica Sinclair sing the role of Arsace, for which Marilyn Horne is better known for."

WONDERFUL

Roberto Gonzalez | Buffalo, NY | 06/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You will close your eyes and you will feel Joan is singing in your living room. Amazing!!!"

La Joan, still a star

Warren Taylor | the outback of Texas | 01/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Handel section of this recording suffers from the disadvantage of being blurred and fogged by poor recording that resulted from being from a live (or pirated) performance. But on the other hand, the Rossini with Monica Sinclair is stupendious. Sutherland pulls all the stops in this music and treats us to a fireworks display of sensational singing that only she could muster. At this point her voice is still facile and rich, that rare combination that only she could toss off almost on a whim. The recording is worth the technical problems. Warren Taylor"