Search - Giacomo Puccini, Rudolf Kempe, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra :: Puccini: Madama Butterfly

A Grand Butterfly---one for the ages!

Gregory E. Foster | Portland, ME, USA | 10/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How wonderful when these type of recordings surface for our enjoyment.



Victoria de los Angeles....was there Ever a more superb Butterfly?! Certainly not...and this performance by her is One For the Ages, for sure...this was truly a Special Night for the ROH/Covent Garden!



Rudolf Kempe....a Master Interpreter for the ages.



Sir Geriant Evans, in his early years, captured for all time for us as Sharpton.



John Lanigan, more than adequate, but certainly not Carlo Bergonzi by any means, can be overlooked for his shortcomings here in light of all the pluses of this wonderful performance. I have many Butterfly recordings, and a few with de los Angeles. This is a Grand one by her, for sure, in perfect form, etc., in good sound (slightly boxy, but that is the biggest complaint I have here, and one soon becomes used to it and is quickly absorbed in the performance, easily overlooking its limitations).



Surely one of the finest performances in this series from ROH, BBC Legends, and it contains Many (by the way)! A truly fitting and lovely addition to anyone's Puccini collection...a snapshot from ROH's "Golden Age" surely!"