Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Gerard Korsten, Orchestra del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari :: Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor

An experienced Lucia team

Armindo | Greece | 09/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It was about time a recording company issued something new by this rare bel canto singer Mariella Devia. I guess since she's now regarded too old to advertise rolex watches we have to be content with what we get which is a recording of a live 2004 performance in her most famous role. Devia gave her final Lucia performance at La Scala 2 years after this recorded performance in Cagliari. I was there and she still sounded better than any other Lucia.



I've got more than a dozen Lucia performances by Devia, this has probably the best sound quality (studio like). It captures how she sounds in the house very well. By 2004 Devia was 56 but you wouldn't guess it by the way she sings. Her coloratura and high register embarass most younger singers, only her lower register shows now some weakness and whitening of the tone. She now enjoys phrasing the dramatic moments even more than she did before, you can almost hear Lucia crying in spargi d'amaro pianto. While I don't feel she surpasses her younger self (e.g. Roma 90, Scala 92, Florence 96) she is still the best Lucia of our time and that alone is good enough reason to get this new release.



The men are all good singers. Edgardo is Giuseppe Sabbatini, a most reliable tenor but, alas, not one blessed with an interesting voice. It's not ugly but it's just indifferent. He is musical, involved, he doesn't struggle with any passage but the sound just doesn't do it for me. Thankfully, he's so musical that he does justice to the role and the opera. Stoyanov's Enrico is not as musical but has an interesting voice. Devia has had much better Enricos beside her (Frontali, Nucci, Zancanaro to name but a few) but Stoyanov still offers a solid performance. After 3892 Raimondo performances, Colombara is probably frustrated he can't offer something more in this thankless role. His voice is now rougher but still serviceable. Maestro Korsten is sometimes heavy handed but supports his singers well. It would be nice to hear a truly great conductor handle this opera for a change. Gone are the days when Karajan, Serafin, Gardelli used to be interested in this opera.



I'm glad Dynamic recorded Devia in her most famous role since her other recordings seem to be unavailable. Overall, it's not the most exciting Lucia recording but it offers fine, or great as in Devia's case, singing and superb sonics. The set comes with full libretto (Italian & English translation) so it's friendly to newcomers. Enjoy."