Search - Gioachino Rossini, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Alberto Zedda :: Rossini - Semiramide / Tamar, Scalchi, Kunde, Pertusi, Zedda, Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival

An overall good recording...

04/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of "Semiramide" is an excellent recording, if you are looking for well-sung Rossini duets, but the arias, for the most part, drag by at unexplainably slow tempi and could use more refreshing coloratura.



The singers follow this tendency. Iano Tamar sings well enough in the duets, but she sounds strained in her showpiece aria. Her diction leaves much to be desired. Gregory Kunde as Idreno is slightly better, his second aria is quite strong, but he completly fails to deliver "Ah dove, dove il cimento". With Gloria Scalchi's Arsace everything is better: she sing very well throughout and I liked her second aria very much, though "Ah! quel giorno" could use some new ornaments. It should be noted that her voice is very light for Arsace, so don't expect thunderous chest notes. Still, she sings with energy and conviction. Personally, I think that the best singer on this recording is Michele Pertusi as Assur, his voice is quite big, his coloratura is excellent, his Mad Scene is a real diamond of this recording. Alberto Zedda conducts the opera well, though some of the arias tempi is just to slugish!!!"