COMPOSERS: Puccini
LABELS: Conifer
WORKS: The Puccini Experience: scenes and arias from all the operas
PERFORMER: Angela Gheorghiu, Nina Rautio, Johan Botha, Anthony Michaels-MooreChorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Edward Downes
CATALOGUE NO: 75605 55013 2 DDD
A substantially filled disc tracing Puccini’s output and, delightfully, it does not always contain the most obvious choices. Gheorghiu is in radiant form, with ‘Un bel dì’ her most exquisite contribution. Rautio is a vibrant soprano and Botha delivers a dramatic, consistent tenor sound. Michaels-Moore provides impressive characterisations and his resplendent Scarpia makes one hope that his debut in this role is not too far off. Elise McDougall
Puccini: The Puccini Experience: scenes and arias from all the operas
A substantially filled disc tracing Puccini’s output and, delightfully, it does not always contain the most obvious choices. Gheorghiu is in radiant form, with ‘Un bel dì’ her most exquisite contribution. Rautio is a vibrant soprano and Botha delivers a dramatic, consistent tenor sound. Michaels-Moore provides impressive characterisations and his resplendent Scarpia makes one hope that his debut in this role is not too far off. Elise McDougall
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:14 pm