Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni :: Donizetti - L'elisir d'amore / Pavarotti · Freni · Nucci · Montarsolo

Loving Freni

Carlos James Woodward | São Paulo, Brazil | 01/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Indeed, "L'elisir d'amore" is Pavarotti's greatest opera, for all the best reasons: he is a great actor playing the town's dope in love with the town's belle; the music seems writen for his voice and the famous aria "Una Furtiva Lagrima" hasn't been sung so well since Titto Schippa before World War II.

The Metropolitan's DVD with Pavarotti and Judith Blegen (on sale via Amazon) would afford a good visual impression of how good an actor Pavarotti is, but with the great Mirella Freni, his love for the town's belle is more explicit in his voice. After all, they were both born in Modena, in 1935, and have started singing together since birth, in the same nursery shared at the factory where their mothers used to work! From "L'elisir" to "The daughter of the Regiment", to "La Bohème", to "Madama Butterfly", there are no love scenes that can surpass the Freni/Pavarotti duets.

You too, will fall in love with the "beloved" Mirella Freni,the last and ultimate great Italian Diva of the 20th Century."

Great opera, but don't buy this recording.

Anne Gordon | 05/12/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is such a disappointing recording. The audience noise, including audible sneezes and coughs, seriously interferes with the music. This recording does a disservice to the music."

Stellar cast but...

Paul A. Dunphy | Bogota, New Jersey USA | 02/23/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The cast in this 1979 "Elisir" could not be better. Pavarotti and Freni would soon be leaving Nemorino and Adina behind for roles like Manrico and Tosca which would not do their voices any favors. Here they are still perfection in their roles. The young Leo Nucci is delightful as Belcore and Paolo Montarsolo brings buffo expertise to Dulcamara. Gianandrea Gavazzeni's conducting is crisp and energetic and veteran soprano Eugenia Ratti is a joy as Giannetta.

This is surmised from what can be heard of the performance. Judging from the applause, it was taped from somebody's lap in the audience. For the most part, the voices are distant and hollow, sometimes totally inaudible. If there is a better account of this performance, jump on it...otherwise, look elsewhere."