Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Mário Rossi, San Carlo Theater Orchestra (Naples) :: Donizetti: Roberto Devereux

Only OK. It sadly didn't rise to its expectations and popula

Armindo | Greece | 07/20/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I truly believed I'd find perhaps the greatest Elisabetta in Leyla Gencer, especially considering the year of this performance. Almost every other Donizetti opera I have with her ranges from interesting to excellent with Belisario being a personal favourite. Her impressive Lady Macbeth sort of promised me a great Elisabetta (both roles are fierce vocally and dramatically) but vocally I was dissapointed by this performance. She sounds surprisingly unsteady and often tired though she demonstrates Elisabetta's anger well. I also expected a top note at the end of her cabaletta; I could have lived without it if the rest of her performance was better. She must have had an off night because even later performances find her in better vocal state.



Cappuccilli was in his vocal prime and would soon graduate to the group of leading baritones of the time. It's a pleasure to have such a handsome voice with its caressing legato in a role that isn't often sung by top class singers. Rota sings a fine Sara.



I don't think the title role is of secondary importance as a previous reviewer mentioned. If you hear an excellent Roberto Devereux like Jose Carreras (in one of his finest performances ever), you'll immediately realise the difference and how more interesting the opera becomes. Ruggero Bondino is virtually useless here and with this performance gets my vote for one of the most miscast tenors. Sound is standard 60s sound and maestro Rossi merely adequate.



Overall, an OK performance which could have been super with Gencer in better form and Corelli, Bergonzi, Aragall in the title role and Gavazzeni leading the orchestra.

"