Search - Donizetti, Ricciarelli, Cupido :: Maria De Rudenz

Enthusiastic performance

John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a highlights disc (about 65 minutes of them) from a live 1981 production at La Fenice in Venice. The sound quality is somewhat variable, apparently depending on where on stage the singers happen to be, but is unusually good for a one-shot theatre production. La Fenice's orchestra and chorus under Eliahu Imbal perform with panache. Katia Ricciarelli turns in some of her finest singing -- and that is very fine indeed! -- ably matched by thge sweet tones of Leo Nucci. There are times when I am as inclined as the La Fenice audience to break into applause spontaneously at the conclusions of some big numbers. Alberto Cupido in the tenor role holds up his end of the performance most enjoyably. This opera is not markedly inferior to most of Donizetti, and the team on this reording make a very persuasive case for it. A real winner at the bargain price!"