Bonynge: Cilea – Adriana Lecouvreur (2 CD, FLAC)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Decca
Size: 563 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Composer: Francesco Cilea
Libretto: Arturo Colautti

Welsh National Opera Orchestra
Welsh National Opera Chorus
Richard Bonynge

Adriana Lecouvreur – Joan Sutherland
Maurizio – Carlo Bergonzi
Michonnet – Leo Nucci
Principessa di Bouillon – Francesco Ellero d’Artegna
Il Principe di Bouillon – Cleopatra Ciurca
L’Abate di Chazeuil – Michel Sénéchal
Jouvenot – Frances Ginzer
Dangeville – Deborah Stuart-Roberts
Quinault – Bryn Terfel
Poisson – Peter Bronder
Il Maggiordomo – Colin Cue

Sutherland is Superb still La Stupenda

I had to write a review of this recording because I think the reviews written so far are extremely unfair. Sutherland’ s voice was huge capable of doing roles from bel canto to verismo. She was the only dramatic coloratura soprano of her generation. Early in her carrier she was able to tackle the heavy Verdi roles and we thought that Wagner was the next step, however she decided to specialize in bel canto and was supreme in bel canto roles. As Adriana she is excellent vocally, capable to exploit its pathos as Magda Olivero and Renata Tebaldi had done before her.Her whole performance has a fluidity and fragrance that reinforces the drama from moment to moment. I have seen Adriana with various casts, Magda Olivero in New Jersey and Caballe and Scotto at the Met.and Sutherland’s performance in this recording is the best.The conducting and orchestra playing is superb. Singers with the caliber of Sutherland do not exist anymore