Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Bonynge, Margreta Elkins :: Mozart: Idomeneo [Highlights]

A Sutherland rarity

OperaGuy | Australia | 03/28/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording, taken from a live broadcast by the Australian Opera in 1979, features Sutherland as Elettra, the "bad girl" of Mozart's rarely performed opera seria - a relatively small supporting role, considering Sutherland's current repertoire at the time of Lucia, Norma and similar bel canto showpieces. Sutherland herself made the comment that Elettra gave her the chance to sit quietly in her dressing room and get more needlepoint done!



The CD is not so much a series of highlights as simply all of Elettra's appearances in the opera, ranging from solo arias to participation in several ensemble pieces, and occasionally when one of these scenes runs into the next we get to hear (briefly) some of the other singers from the production.



Elettra spends most of the opera furious that she can't win the attentions of Idamante, Idomeneo's son, who is more interested in the princess Ilia. This gives Sutherland plenty of opportunity for strong declamatory singing, and the heaviness in the voice at this stage of her career contrasts very effectively against Leona Mitchell's limpid and lyrical Ilia in the quartet Andro rammingo e solo. Elettra's final furious vengeance aria D'Oreste, D'Ajace, where she spits out staccato descending melodic scales with machine-gun accuracy, is vintage Sutherland and tremendously exciting to listen to.



There is strong support from the other cast members. Margreta Elkins is a powerful but sweet-voiced Idamante, whose rich mezzo also negotiates the high reaches of the role with great accuracy. Sergei Baigildin in the title role was actually the understudy, after original tenor Ron Stevens succumbed to the huge vocal demands of the role after only a few performances, and gives a solid if slightly unexciting Idomeneo (although I think anyone who can get through singing this hugely difficult role deserves a medal anyway). Clifford Grant is briefly sonorous as the offstage voice of Neptune, and the orchestra and chorus under Bonynge overcome occasional messiness to provide good overall support.



An interesting and enjoyable addition to the CD collection of all Sutherland admirers, and an opportunity to hear her live in one of her most unusual later career roles. Interesting trivia: the production was designed by John Truscott, the Australian designer who won the Oscar for his work on the film of CAMELOT."