Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Richard Bonynge, London Symphony Orchestra :: Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Gruberova, Shicoff, Bonynge [Highlights]

Only highlights

11/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a complete recorging of this opera with these artists, so if you find it, buy it instead of the highlights. Guberova is a wonderful Lucia, but she has a "droopy" way of sliding up to things. It could be seen as a portamento, but comes across more as simply slipping and sliding. The habit isn't that distracting, but it is something you won't find with most other Lucia's. I do find her habit of singing a high note softly then increasing the volume a bit annoying. It isn't done like swelling the tone, but rather comes across like one is tentative about the pitch, finds it, and when secure decides to sing it. I know that is not a problem for Gruberova, so I doubt that is why she sings that way. It is just her way. It works in the operetta she often sings, and in the role of Zebernitta in Ariadne, but it is takes from the excitement of the role of Lucia. Still, all in all, her performance is stunning. She has worked it out completely. That is one reason I say to find the complete recording with her (there is another one where she sings with Alfredo Krauss, and it is breathtaking).Neil Shicoff never comes to my mind as a tenor for Edgardo, but he is truly wonderful in the role. I think of him more as a Don Jose, or someone like that. I don't know why. Still, I was pleased with the results. He captured the role and makes it vibrant and alive. Again, one benefits from hearing his entire interpretation over just a few arias. I rate the recording so highly because it is worthy of it. Is it the best Lucia, well, I don't know. My favorite is still the Sutherland/Pavarotti recording. Then again, I have so many recordings of this opera, and love each and every one of them, it is hard for me to say. Each and every singer brings something unique to the roles of this opera, and I am just amazed at how many different, and valid, interpretations are possible in this work. No wonder it was such a box office draw when there were tons of great singers to sing it in the past; one never knew which aspect of the character would be spotlighted by the singer. I have never heard a bad Lucia recording (some cut too heavily, but never bad). I would add this to my list of Lucia greats."

Slipping and sliding

half | Diamond Bar, CA United States | 10/23/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The earlier reviewer who points out Gruberova's "slipping and sliding" is right on the money. Unfortunately, it IS extremely distracting and makes a mockery of what is supposed to be a bel canto role. Gruberova is more than capable of singing without doing it. Why she chose to do it for Lucia is beyond me, but it makes for a very tentative and unsatisfying performance, like a climax which never arrives. Most of the other reviewers rate this performance at the same level as Sutherland's, but that does great, great disservice to the Dame.



It is unfortunate that I have to risk getting flamed for pointing out the truth, but I just could NOT stand idly by :( ....

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