Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Charles Gounod, Franz Lehar :: Battle & Domingo Live

Delightful! Two of the all-time great vocal talents!

Michael G. Wilson | Detroit, Michigan United States | 07/12/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kathleen Battle and Placido Domingo delight the listener from start to finish in this complilation. Most notable are the duets from La Traviata and The Merry Widow. In my experience of soprano/tenor performances, one voice usually is stronger or more powerful than the other, thus disappointing to that listener who is seeking a perfect blending of voices. Ms. Battle and Mr. Domingo achieve that perfect blend on each duet on this CD. Their solo performances are equally outstanding. It is no wonder they are in such demand with audiences in Japan where this CD was recorded live, as well as throughout the world."

Three Stars in the Freshness of Their Careers

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not being one for Galas which hire big name stars for the glitz of it then record the event for further commercial reasons, I mistakenly avoided this LIVE! concert recorded in 1988 in Toyko. And yes, there is applause everywhere as one might expect.



But get past these interferences and what is recorded here in all the beauty of immediacy with a live audience is some of the loveliest singing by Placido Domingo (when he was still singing the bel canto roles) and Kathleen Battle (before the opera stages of the world tired of her temper) ever produced. Each singer is given the opportunity for solo arias and these are ringing with the clarity which is the hallmark for these intelligent and sensitive singers.



It is a pleasure to hear these two paired for duets from 'La Traviata', 'Don Giovanni', 'L'elisir d'amore', and especially Gounod's 'Romeo et Juliette' (would that they had recorded the entire opera!).



The third star of this recording is of course James Levine who conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra with depth of experience and attention to nuances from the singers. This is a very fine recording (minus the applause) and recommended for those who miss the halcyon days Battle and the lighter side of Domingo. Grady Harp, April 05"

Kathleen Battle and Placido Domingo live in Tokyo

Terry Purrington | 01/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had a cassette tape of this for years and wanted it in CD. It is one of the best classical performances I own. LOVE IT."