Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Carlo Felice Cillario, Nella Verri :: Donizetti: Maria Stuarda

Good deal

Peter Goldstein | Huntingdon, PA United States | 10/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's no use blaming Caballe for not being Callas. Callas would probably have been a very powerful Maria, but Caballe does a solid job here, producing some of her trademark pianissimos and giving us a real feel for the character. On the down side, when she gets excited, as in the confession scene, the effect is wild and unattractive. Verrett is absolutely superb. The suppporting cast is good all the way through. As one reviewer commented, the sound is a bit of a problem, although by no means so bad as some live recordings. Given the lack of competition, this is a good deal."

Not recommended

J. Chiu | Washington, DC | 11/11/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"An off-night for Caballe who reveals blowsiness and stressful singing which may be traceable to Verrett who is unrelentingly aggressive and unmusical. On that occasion in Milan, Caballe apparently scolded Verrett (as she deserved for her coarse singing) and thus this recording is a failure. Fortunately (on the same label) is a far superior Caballe Maria Stuarda with Carreras as Leicester, no less, and a far more cogent Elizabeth."