Puccini: Turandot

Comments

1. David Thierry says:

   June 9, 2010 at 6:16 pm

   Review by David Thierry for Puccini: Turandot
   Rating:
   But worth $3 I imagine. The sound is like it’s recorded in a tunnel with the microphones at a distance from singers, chorus and orchestra. I believe Stockowski got better sound in the 1930′s for his recording of Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, try a sample. Jussi Bjoerling sings quite well although sometimes the sound makes him sound as though his cheeks have too much rouge and he’s definitely wearing lipstick. When Jussi and Birgitt have their first confrontation she is WAY in the back somewhere singing marvelously and he seems to have stolen the microphone for this duet, he is so much louder and in front. Having rarely heard Tebaldi sing I was definitely curious and she is quite wonderful although Caballe is better by a few hairs and Leona Mitchell in the dvd with Domingo also. Can’t remember if I’ve heard Scotto as Liu but then, there’s that devastating recording Leontyne Price made on her debut album. Good luck Lius. Jussi does his two big arias, Non Piangere Liu and Nessun Dorma quite well but I think I’ll dub Pavarotti unsurpassed in this role although everyone else has done a marvelous job, never mind Domingo’s little crack on that high note in the dvd. If the sound were better the chorus might not sound like an octet but it does when you can hear it. Although the cover art is different I assume this is the classic recording from the 1950′s that once sported a dragon on the cover. Leinsdorf never really had a following. No one apparently thought he was the greatest conductor that ever lived but he always did excellent work as far as I know and certainly made a lot of recordings. For those who like to critique conductors, he’s a good target. I’ve been listening to the recording with Sutherland and Pavarotti every other day for I don’t know how long. A year? Nothing like an iPod to enhance obsession and really clarify music. It is so much more present when it is in your head. With sound like this you can’t fairly compare Nillson and Sutherland but I believe the two are, dare I say, equally good? Dame Joan and Luciano rule.

Leave a Reply