Search - Donizetti, Sutherland, Cioni :: Lucia Di Lammermoor

Essential Lucia! Sutherland shines!

08/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Sutherland's first Lucia, recorded in 1961, now also available as a Decca Legends set, well sound remastered. In her first Lucia, Sutherland's freshness, beauty, top register and (arguably) diction are at their finest. I've never been a Sutherland fan mainly because of her mushy diction and I avoided her recordings but wanted my first complete Lucia to be Sutherlands' since this was her signature role. Truly, the woman was born to sing this role! Her coloratura is amazingly flawless and effortless (one thinks she could sing the role in her sleep). Her sweet, fresh (back then) voice make her a most convincing young Lucia. I especially admire her "Regnava ne silenzio" but any other moment is equally ravishing! She is accompanied by an enchanting Renato Cioni; he may not have the spectacular high notes of Pavarotti nor his radiance but there is something uniquely beautiful with Cioni's Edgardo. I've always admired both Robert Merrill and Cesare Siepi and here they are once again sublime. The sound is clear but not perfect; the voices are sometimes suffocated by the powerful orchestra and this reduces the exitement here and there. Pritchard may not be as great as the grand Tullio Serafin who conducted Callas' Lucia and Sutherland's 1959 live performance (her best Lucia) but he is not less memorable.In comparison to the Callas versions, Sutherland is more convincing as the young Lucia because of her sweet sound and beauty whereas Callas is more exiting despite her rougher voice and flawed technique (Sutherland's coloratura is unsurpassed). Joan's second Lucia has the most impressive cast but the freshness is not on the same level. A true opera fan should own both her studio recordings but certainly her 1959 live performance as well as Callas' thrilling accounts."

Supreme!

12/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my number one desert island recording. I don't understand why not more people are buying this one, or reviewing it. My guess is that the Sutherland/Pavarotti version is being marketed as the best. That Lucia is wonderful, but this one is still, far, far, far, better - because of a very young Sutherland. She sounds girlish, her coloratura attacks are all from the top. Her fioritura and trills are without rivals, not even the flute. This Lucia is without question, vastly superior to that Pavarotti one. Sutherland is electrifying. She is very young here, and her abandon in the cadenza is awesome. Recorded somewhere around 1959 or 1960, this recording started it all - Sutherland as the phenomenal singer of our time.Listen to this, and drop your jaw in awe. This Lucia is the reason why most opera fans consider Joan Sutherland, La Stupenda."

One of the finest recordings of the 20th Century!

08/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vocally, Dame Joan had it all, the most beautiful tone quality, the most fantastic technique with super human capabilities, and a huge voice that goes from low G to high F with the greatest of ease! This certainly opens the door for a world of bravura singing. Among her finest moments is this sensational Lucia. She is completely flawless here , what a glorious sound she makes. The high notes are fantasic, staggering, awesome. The entire performance is extremely moving. It really doesn't get much better than this. To hear another of Dame Joan Sutherland's greatest accomplishments, buy her cd "The Art of the Prima Donna". That is Sutherland's resume. Also most note-worthy is Sutherland's 1959 LIVE recording of Lucia di Lammermoor with Tullio Serafin. It's singing like that that earns Dame Joan the supreme title...Prima Donna Assoluta."