COMPOSERS: Puccini
LABELS: EMI
WORKS: Turandot
PERFORMER: Montserrat Caballé, Mirella Freni, José Carreras, Paul Plishka, Michel SénéchalMaîtrise de la Cathédrale, Opéra du Rhin Chorus, Strasbourg PO/Alain Lombard
CATALOGUE NO: CMS 5 65293 2 ADD Reissue
Despite its starry cast, this 1977 recording is one I would recommend only to ardent fans of the three principal singers. Mirella Freni, a fuller-voiced Liù than one usually hears, sings ‘Signore, ascolta’ more like a prima donna than a young slave; José Carreras is in good form as Calaf, but is somewhat lacking in personality; and Montserrat Caballé is hardly one of nature’s Turandots. She sings splendidly, but fails to act the role convincingly. Alain Lombard conducts stolidly. Charles Osborne
Puccini: Turandot
Despite its starry cast, this 1977 recording is one I would recommend only to ardent fans of the three principal singers. Mirella Freni, a fuller-voiced Liù than one usually hears, sings ‘Signore, ascolta’ more like a prima donna than a young slave; José Carreras is in good form as Calaf, but is somewhat lacking in personality; and Montserrat Caballé is hardly one of nature’s Turandots. She sings splendidly, but fails to act the role convincingly. Alain Lombard conducts stolidly. Charles Osborne
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:32 pm