Madame Butterfly

Madame Butterfly
featuring Ying Huang, Richard Troxell, and Ning Liang.
Sony; 2 discs

This is actually the soundtrack to the 1995 film. I have always liked certain numbers from Butterfly, but have never actually explored the opera other than listening to highlights. However, a friend sent a link to Un Bel Di from the film and I was awestruck at the beauty of Miss Huang's rendition of the famous aria. Wishing to hear a little more, I got a copy of the entire soundtrack thinking that I would at least try to find the love duet as well as Un Bel Di. I found it, and WOW! I was really thrilled. After listening to my few favorite parts, I kept rewinding tracks to just hear a little more. Pretty soon I had listened to practically the entire first disc! What comes before Un Bel Di is fantastic. Miss Huang as Cio-Cio San and Ning Liang as Suzuki work very well together and when the music climaxes right before the aria, it sends chills up and down your spine! Mr. Troxell's very high and clear tenor is different from the usual Pinkerton and he is very good in the role of the totally unlikable sailor. The love duet is simply fantastic!

A really phenomenal cast. Well suited to each other and beautifully sung. You can't beat the quality of the recording and the set comes with a full four-language libretto. I highly recommend this for any fan of Madame Butterfly or Puccini.

Lucia di Lammermoor

Lucia di Lammermoor
Featuring Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, and Samuel Ramey
New Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Decca; 2 discs

Unusual interpretation by Caballe. The “Mad Scene” is very different from Joan Sutherland’s style, closer to Callas’ interpretation. Caballe’s famous pianissimo high notes are nowhere to be found and she is somewhat strained on the high-C’s. If you are a fan of Caballe or “Lucia”, this is worth listening to. Carreras is wonderful and his ending aria, which is sometimes an anti-climax, is superb.

Zefferelli's "La Traviata" with Teresa Stratas

La Traviata (1982)
Featuring Teresa Stratas, Placido Domingo, and Cornell MacNeil. Directed by Franco Zefferelli
105 minutes; Universal Studios

This is an “Opera Film”. Actually filmed like a movie, elaborate sets (maybe too elaborate?). More acting from the performers than in a stage production and about twenty minutes of the score was trimmed to make the movie a better length (I have never listened to a complete recording of “Traviata” so I don’t know it as well as some, but I didn’t notice any abrupt sounding cuts or anything). Teresa Stratas gives a wonderful acting performance of the dying Violetta. The scene in Act II where Germont asks Violetta to leave is very well done and vocally pleasing. The lip syncing is sometimes noticeable to a watchful eye but generally all right. The dresses tend to be rather low-cut and a bit immodest. Widescreen, it does have removable subtitles.



Here is a clip from the film of Teresa Stratas as Violetta singing "Addio, del passato".

Turandot

Turandot
Featuring Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, and Montserrat Caballe.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta
Decca; 2 discs

The ultimate "Turandot" out there! Wonderful performances from all the cast. Joan Sutherland is wonderful as the icy princess, easily delivering the challenging vocals. Pavarotti makes a wonderful "Calaf" and who else can sing Nessun Dorma like that? Montserrat Caballe gives a beautiful rendition of Liu’s Signore, Ascolte, pianissimo high-notes floating through the air. Just skip through the tedious Act 2 (nobody could make that entertaining). The end is wonderful with Pavarotti and Sutherland in top form.

Fidelio

Fidelio (TelDec; 2 discs)
Featuring Waltraud Meier, Placido Domingo, Falk Struckmann, and Rene Pape
Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted by Daniel Barenboim
Teldec; 2 discs

A very good "Fidelio". Waltraud Meier is very good as "Leonora" and Placido Domingo is well matched as "Florestan". Strong supporting cast, excellent direction. Struckmann as "Pizarro" is not my favorite, but Pape makes a fantastic "Rocco". One of my favorite recordings of this opera. If you can’t get the DVD of Gabriela Benackova, then this recording is the one to get.

Lucia di Lammermoor

Lucia di Lammermoor (Decca London; 3 discs)
Featuring Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Sherrill Milnes, and Nicolai Ghiaurov
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Conducted by Richard Bonynge
Probably the BEST recording of Lucia out there. This was Joan Sutherland’s second recording of "Lucia", done in 1971, so she is comfortable with the role and vocally brilliant. The rest of the cast is great but Sutherland is "La Stupenda". I would recommend this for any fan of Sutherland, or the opera itself. One of the best recordings of one of the masterpieces in opera.