Search - Giovanni Pacini, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra :: Pacini: Alessandro nell'Indie [Hybrid SACD]

Pathbreaking Pacini opera

B. Cathey | Wendell, NC United States | 03/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pacini's ALESSANDRO NELL'INDIE, as Jeremy Commons suggests in his detailed notes accompanying this release, is a significant event in Pacini's long dramatic career, and equally important in the history of Italian opera. Commissioned by Teatro San Carlo of Naples, here Pacini begins to find his own voice. Certainly, the influence of Rossini is strongly felt, but there is also much more here. Metastasio's grand and formal text is artfully converted into a real "grand" opera. For the first time Pacini seems to be moving beyond the tuneful crescendos and concertatos of Rossini. The dramatic line is much more intense than in his earlier works. Pacini's approach is somewhat "classical," as the subject matter dictates, and one gets the feeling of ceremonial elegance throughout.



Musically, ALESSANDRO points ahead to arguably Pacini's greatest work of his "first period": L'ULTIMO GIORNO DI POMPEI, which is certainly a masterpiece (and which enjoys a fine recording on the Dynamic label). But I dare say that it is because of ALESSANRO that he could write L'ULTIMO

GIORNO.



Certainly, L'ULTIMO GIORNO and later his "reform" second period operas SAFFO, MEDEA, and MARIA REGINA D'INGHILTERRA, and later VIRGINIA, are more "mature" and perhaps more accessible to a first-time listener to Pacini's music. But ALESSANDRO is well worth a try. It may not have the

show-stopping scenes of a SAFFO or the brilliant cabalettas of L'ULTIMO GIORNO, but repeated playings reveal a gorgeously written opera drama. It holds up quite well.



Of the cast, Bruce Ford is, now, a bit past his prime. Still, he handles the role of Alessandro well enough and it is easy to feel his deep committment to the score. Claycomb and Larmore are easily the stars of the show, as Cleofide and Porro. Both deserve highest praise, as does Opera Rara for this revelation. Recommended."

Not Pacini's Best

Kenneth Gilman | Miami Fla | 03/11/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let me say first that I love Pacini's music & that I was very excited that another of his operas was to be recorded. As you may know, there are pre & post reform Pacini operas. Of the six operas of Pacini that have been recorded, three are pre & three are post. The post reform operas (Sapho, Medea & Maria Regina) are so much better that I have to wonder why this second rate opera was chosen to be recorded when I suspect that there a quite a few post reform operas of Pacini that are much better. The quality of the singing, sound, booklet are all 1st rate, as usual with Opera Rara. Still, I have to wonder, with so little of Pacini's music recorded, why record this one? There are many unrecorded operas from his post reform period and if they are half as good as Sapho or Medea they'd be twice as good as this opera."