Search - Christoph Willibald Gluck, George Frideric Handel, Giovanni Paisiello :: Gluck - Orfeo ed Euridice / Tourangeau, Marfitano, Hendricks, Vonk

From an Orfeo collector...

buffo_alto | New York, NY | 07/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I presently have approximately 35 recordings of this opera... It is by far my favorite opera, but for reasons I won't go into here.



Regarding this recording: I was not expecting much. I had only heard Tourangeau in secondary roles with Sutherland as the lead Soprano previously. However, I was intrigued by novelty.



And I was blown away. Tourangeau has a deep and visceral voice I never heard in her Adalgisa & company. She sings the music with an ear for musicality that astonished me -- perfectly appropriate ornamentation and phrasing, emotion welling in her voice, and outstanding cooperation with the orchestra.



Malfitano and Hendricks are in equal form throughout. The recording quality is relatively flawless. And yes, it IS the original, early Italian version of the opera. The only major cave to the 1774 remake in French (or at least it's Alto transposition) are the F's at the end of "Che faró senza Euridice."



Finally, the recital pieces of Tourangeau's at the end are well appreciated in getting to know the artist better. In all, this is a recording well worth the price."