Search - Monteverdi*G. :: Lincoronazione Di Poppea

Beginning with Monteverdi: An Affordable, Well-performed 'L'

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 12/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those music lovers who love the works of the early masters yet are unwilling to buy a plush four disc box set that is usually required for capturing the magic of Claudio Monteverdi's magnum opus 'L'Incoronazione Di Poppea' this recent release (three discs instead of four) is less than the usual price of one disc by famous artists. Alberto Zedda conducts the Ochestra Pro Arte Bassano in a finely tuned (on ancient instruments) well-paced performance of this exciting masterpiece.

The cast includes some well known as well as lesser-known names and the role assignment may bother some, but in all this is a workable solution to owning a Poppea to become familiar with the beauties it holds. The cast includes Daniela Dessi, Adelisa Tabiadon, Josella Ligi, Armando Caforio, Susanna Anselma, Carmen Gonzalez, Barbara Lavarian and others. They are strong, in touch with the style required and present a dramatic interpretation.

Once the listener grows to love the work then probably other recordings with bigger names will be purchased. Having just heard what is probably the perfect cast and performance of this opera by the Los Angeles Opera - the brilliant Harry Bicket conducted authentic instruments from the harpsichord, Susan Graham was the stunning Poppea, Frederica von Stade a wholly satisfying Ottavia, David Daniels a perfect Ottone, Kurt Streit a captivating Nero, Reinhard Hagen a bold Seneca etc etc etc - this listener will wait until someone of great insight assembles this extraordinary ensemble for recording before buying yet another Poppea.

But for the novice this very affordable set is a fine start, one sure to make believers out of those who think that Monteverdi operas are just static oratorios, when they actually are some of the more successfully dramatic works ever written. Grady Harp, December 06
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